· BrewDog and SSP have opened the doors to their new bar at London Gatwick’s North Terminal
· The bar will be the first to open in the UK under the BrewDog and SSP partnership
· The partnership will also see SSP open more BrewDog bars at airports and railway stations in the UK over the next few years
· Earlier this year BrewDog announced bold expansion plans to treble its bar footprint over the next seven years – with the ambition to hit 300 bars by 2030
5 December 2023, Ellon - BrewDog, the independent craft brewer, has opened its new bar at London Gatwick’s North Terminal under a partnership with SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide.
BrewDog Gatwick is the first UK bar to be opened with new partner SSP Group. The two companies recently launched a BrewDog bar at Amsterdam Centraal Station, the first of its kind in a travel location in mainland Europe.
London Gatwick is the latest location in BrewDog’s expanding global footprint, which now spans 100 bars and hotels across the world, with plans to open another 200 venues in key markets across the globe over the next seven years. The new venture follows openings in the US, Hong Kong, India and Australia in the past few months, building on the success at landmark sites in London Waterloo and Las Vegas.
The new bar will offer travellers 20 lines of draft craft beer, including BrewDog Headliners such as Lost Lager, Wingman, Punk IPA and a BrewDog Gatwick exclusive, Flight Squad. Also on offer will be curated guest beer taps, Wonderland cocktails, BrewDog Distilling Co. spirits, Hawkes Cider and a wide selection of wines, as well as the famous “Press for Beer” button – the legendary feature from BrewDog’s high street locations. From the food menu passengers can tuck into BrewDog’s famous wings and another London Gatwick exclusive, smashed patty melts, featuring the brand’s classic combination of The Patriot and Buffalo Chicken. Breakfast is served daily until midday, and will feature breakfast burgers and loaded flatbreads through to smoothie bowls, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian choices, as well as a children’s menu.
Beyond food and drink, BrewDog Gatwick offers travellers a range of other features, including Zoom rooms for quiet calls, a photobooth and a game-zone with a selection of PlayStation and Xbox games.
Over the next few years, the partnership will see SSP open and operate a number of BrewDog bars at airports and railway stations across the UK. The move into the travel sector will expand BrewDog’s reach, with London Gatwick handling over 32.8 million passengers in 2022, and brings the brand’s range of award-winning craft beers to international travellers and those on the move.
James Watt, BrewDog co-founder and CEO, said: “We’re so pleased to open our epic new bar at London Gatwick, with our brilliant partners SSP. Whether you are heading off on holiday or a quick work trip, the bar is packed with BrewDog’s fantastic features for passengers to pass the time. Opening at airports and transport hubs is a key part of our growth plans to reach a wider global audience and ultimately make everyone as passionate about craft beer as we are.”
Kari Daniels, CEO SSP UK & Ireland, said: “Following the successful opening of our first BrewDog in Amsterdam, we know it’s a brand that travellers absolutely love. Our shared ambition and combined expertise means we and BrewDog have been able to create something really special here at London Gatwick. Our understanding of the travelling consumer means we’re confident it will have massive appeal to the particular passenger demographic at this important international airport, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming our first guests here this week.”
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “We are delighted to welcome BrewDog to London Gatwick, being their first major airport bar in England. BrewDog is an incredibly popular brand and, consistent with our objective of offering more choice that our passengers will love, will no doubt prove to be a real hit from opening! The menu has a fantastic range of food and drink for passengers to enjoy before jetting off, while the Zoom pods, photo booth and Game Zone provide a real point of difference and ensure there really is something for everyone. I’m certain BrewDog will prove a popular addition to the North Terminal and passengers will enjoy sampling the Gatwick exclusives, as well as everything else BrewDog has to offer.”