Birmingham: Airport Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thread

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I wonder if it's like the airlines where they get a good deal initially but rents soon increase.

I guess a retailer such as Austin Reed serves more of a niche market and although I have no evidence I'd imagine the business traveller is more likely to turn up at the airport 30 mins or so before and go straight to the plane. I guess the likes of Next and Superdry are much more mainstream and will suit both any business travellers who do like to shop aswell as families/singles/couples going on their holidays. I assume JD Sports is still open?

Possibly.The more successful or the more money you take the more rent/rates you pay.Each individual concession negotiate their own deal with the airport company,so what goes for one does not always go for another.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Some airports take a percentage cut from the takings of retail outlets. This is why you often see more expensive prices in airport shops. This practice is widespread at many airports especially with food outlets with many of them operated by Select Service Partners who offer franchise stores for Marks & Spencers; Delice de France; Burger King; Starbucks; City Bar & Grill; SoHo Coffee; Mi Casa Burritos and many others.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Birmingham Airport ties up with LS travel retail for new stores

Birmingham Airport has welcomed five new stores from LS travel retail. Hugo Boss, The Watch Collection, Eye Love, The Fashion Place and Discover England opened in the Departures lounge with a sixth store – Victoria’s Secret - planned to open in November.

The airport said the new stores followed strong growth in long-haul markets in the past year – including direct charter flights to China and an Air India service to Delhi and Amritsar.

Birmingham Airport Head of Commercial Richard Gill said: “These world famous brands have significantly enhanced our retail offer to passengers. These stores will transform the look and feel of the departure lounge into a premium shopping experience, giving passengers the luxury brands they desire.”

Click the link for the full article and some photo's, I can see what Brummiegem meant about Hugo Boss and The Watch Collection looking like the Bullring.

http://www.moodiereport.com/document.ph ... c_id=40868

 

[Brum X]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Birmingham Airport ties up with LS travel retail for new stores

Birmingham Airport has welcomed five new stores from LS travel retail. Hugo Boss, The Watch Collection, Eye Love, The Fashion Place and Discover England opened in the Departures lounge with a sixth store – Victoria’s Secret - planned to open in November.

The airport said the new stores followed strong growth in long-haul markets in the past year – including direct charter flights to China and an Air India service to Delhi and Amritsar.

Birmingham Airport Head of Commercial Richard Gill said: “These world famous brands have significantly enhanced our retail offer to passengers. These stores will transform the look and feel of the departure lounge into a premium shopping experience, giving passengers the luxury brands they desire.”

Click the link for the full article and some photo's, I can see what Brummiegem meant about Hugo Boss and The Watch Collection looking like the Bullring.

http://www.moodiereport.com/document.ph ... c_id=40868

Am i reading too much into this, they mention Air India and thats justified, especially when they are reported to be going daily very soon, however x3 charter flights to China ??????

Do they know something we dont and are planning for something BIG in the near future ????

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I think BHX will be using direct flights to China wherever they can in press releases, if it can add a little weight to something permanent in the future then I'm all for it.

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

The Victorias Secret unit is now open.Not sure when the first day of business was,but it was definitely open this morning.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Is that all the new units now open?

Hopefully BHX will update their website with the new stores soon.

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

For now,yes.
I am hearing that there is another bar coming in airside.The Wetherspoons is also being moved further back or it may also be being expanded.Some of the storage units behind Wetherspoons are being emptied in preparation.
One of these units is a food preparation facility for the Pret a Mange outlet so they will possibly be taking up a facility elsewhere.
I'll let you know when I find out more.

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

There are a few changes both landslide and airside in the pipeline,although not all confirmed.

LANDSIDE.

The 'est presso' unit on the first floor that you pass going through to the security screening area is to close this Sunday 23/11/14.
As yet I do not know if it will be replaced by something else or what the plan is for this area.It is quite a large area so I doubt if it will stay empty for long.

Also rumoured to be closing somewhat surprisingly is the Deli Hut on the the ground floor.
If I hear anymore I'll let you know.

AIRSIDE.

As mentioned before the new bar is to go in the area where Costa is now.I am told it is a 'Giraffe' bar,although this name or brand means nothing to me!!
Meanwhile Costa is moving to the space opposite Bugrerking and the new Victorias Secret outlets.
It would appear that the seating area for Burgerking is to be reduced to make way for the new Costa.Work has already started on this unit so I guess it will be ready late December/early January,again I'll let you know when I know more.

As you can see there is a fair bit going on within the terminal,and further developments may yet be announced!!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Thanks for the update 🙂

Est Presso does cover a very large area so I can only think it's changing hands otherwise the departures level will look very empty indeed.

It'll be a real shame if The Deli Hub does close as the food is delicious, it's not in the greatest location however somewhat lost in the area between check in and arrivals, I'd bet a good chunk of people using the airport do so without ever knowing it's there. Hopefully they could be relocated.

Giraffe will be a nice addition to the airport, there's one in Solihull and I believe one to open in Grand Central (the old Pallasades) next year, it'll hopefully take some of the pressure off Wetherspoons and The Meriden Bar as there seems to be a string of moans about lack of seating at busy times.

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I have to admit I had never heard of the Giraffe brand until I was told one was coming to BHX.Now I know a little bit more about them so thanks for that.
As you say the lack of seating both within the bar areas and the lounges has been an issue for a long time.It seems to me actual seating areas get smaller as more retail units are added and the airport gets busier.
We all know the airport authority want pax to make use of the retail units and bars so creating a seated/waiting area is not high on the priority list.Besides if you know the airside area then you will be aware of seating areas on the international pier and in the old T2.
That said not everyone likes the shopping experience for one reason or other so it can look as though there are few places to relax while waiting for your flight.It is very much a case of you can't please everybody all the time,so hey ho you take your choice. 🙂

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I agree. I think I've said before that as only an occasional traveller these days I quite like a look around the shops and a bite to eat beforehand but I can imagine for a regular traveller that just wants a quiet place to sit it could be quite frustrating. It must be very hard to get the balance right but with airlines demanding better deals from airports retail was always going to become a money spinner.

Do you have any idea how the new All Bar One in the South (or is it North? :dunno: ) departure lounge is doing?

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I still call it T2(Eurohub).Then again I am slightly old fashioned and don't like change.
As far as All Bar One is concerned I don't know how it is doing.Colleagues tell me it is expensive but I wouldn't know as I don't use any of the food outlets very often.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

I still call them T1 and T2 also.

Several years ago the terminal names were changed from 'Eurohub' and 'Main Terminal' to help avoid confusion. Now it seems we've gone full circle with T1 and T2 dropped in favour of the 'North Landside Area', 'South Landside Area', 'North Departure Lounge' and 'South Departure Lounge', I can't see how that can be easier to follow than T1 and T2 :s_no

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Photo courtesy of BHX Twitter

https://twitter.com/bhx_official

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

A quick update.
Est Presso closed as scheduled on Sunday night,but also so did Frankie and Bennies.
Fear not however,I'm told it is for a make-over/refurb.Not sure when it will reopen. :good:

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

That's good to hear.

Est Presso was starting to look a little shabby so I'm not surprised but I thought Frankie & Bennies wasn't too bad?

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

An update re.est presso area.
The seating area now has Upper Crust signage around the outside of it.So putting 2and 2 together would suggest that Upper Crust is taking this area over.
What is not so clear is whether the serving unit is staying where it is or moving into the central area as this is still boarded up.

Frankie and Bennies is showing as a December reopening.Exactly when i am not sure,but I would have thought just before Christmas.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Thanks for the update 🙂

If Upper Crust do leave their serving unit to set up in the middle it would be nice if The Deli Hub could move in.

 

[Brummiegem]

Re: Birmingham Airport - Retail and Food & Drink Outlets Thr

Really not sure what is happening with the Deli Hut.It is still open for business at the moment but rumours persist that it is closing!