News Blog

Passengers travelling through Heathrow Terminal 2 are now able to enjoy a bite to eat or a glass of wine at a striking new wine bar and restaurant from SSP – The Vinery. Designed to offer an indulgent yet accessible pre-flight experience for Terminal 2 passengers throughout the day, The Vinery has an extensive wine list and curated food menu.

With its spectacular design and central location, The Vinery provides all-day dining and space to have a coffee or cocktail in a relaxed setting. An eye-catching 360-degree seamless screen will show bespoke imagery providing a real wow factor and drawing customers in from the moment they exit security.

SSP UK & Ireland’s CEO Kari Daniels said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Heathrow passengers to this stunning new venue, which is truly one of a kind. We have a long-standing partnership with the airport, where we’ve had success operating Starbucks and M&S Simply Food, and now we are operating our first bar in Terminal 2. Heathrow has an outstanding global reputation and we’re delighted to enhance this through our new concept, which we’re confident will make the customer experience even better.”

The tailored food menu focuses on dishes made-to-order using high quality ingredients from local producers, including smoked salmon purveyor H. Forman & Son, which has been curing and smoking fish in London since 1905, and Paul Rhodes Bakery, founded by former Michelin-starred chef Paul Rhodes. Each dish includes a recommended wine pairing to enhance the dining experience.

At breakfast time, passengers can choose from items such as an indulgent full English Vinery breakfast, or prosciutto di Parma or sun-blushed tomato baked British eggs, while lighter options include coconut yoghurt and granola or smashed avocado and chilli on toast, to which smoked salmon, scrambled eggs or smokes beechwood bacon can be added. During the rest of the day, there is a selection of open sandwiches, including Italian charcuterie, artisan cheese and English garden signature platters, Wiltshire ham and Sussex charmer cheddar hot sourdough toasts and freshly made Caesar salads. SSP’s chefs have also hand-selected a range of cheeses from local suppliers as the perfect accompaniment to The Vinery’s wine range. In line with SSP’s ambitions to improve the sustainability of its food offer, The Vinery’s menu is more than a third plant-based or vegetarian, and there is no beef on the menu*.

The comprehensive curated wine list has varieties from around the world as well as celebrating English wines, including single vintage Brut Reserve, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs from award winning Kent producer Gusbourne, alongside wines from Nyetimber and Harrow and Hope. The Vinery also utilises the Coravin system, allowing the bar to sell even its most premium wines by the glass. Meanwhile, all front of house staff have received WSET training to guide customers through the vast choice on offer, while Gusbourne’s Head of Wine Communication and Master Sommelier, Laura Rhys MS, will host wine tastings throughout the year.

The Vinery also offers themed tasting flights, including an English theme and fine wines option curated in partnership with London wine merchant Jeroboams. A broader drinks menu features coffee from Bristol-based Extract Coffee Roasters, as well as tea, classic cocktails, craft beers and soft drinks.

Fraser Brown, Retail Director at Heathrow, commented: “As the UK’s hub airport, Heathrow is proud to support the global growth of British businesses by showcasing them to an international audience. Our partnership with SSP has led to the introduction of many exciting brands to Heathrow, and with the opening of The Vinery we are delighted to introduce passengers from all over the world to premium English wines and a new range of menu options crafted using the best of British ingredients.”

Throughout the bar, digital technology has been used to make the passenger experience as convenient and efficient as possible. Order At Table technology, available in multiple languages, gives diners an easy way to view the menu and make their choice, while a digital wait-time screen and the option to pre-order a selection of menu items helps guests to manage their time as they wait for their flight. A Sommelier app, developed alongside Gusbourne’s Laura Rhys MS, guides customers to recommended wine pairings, and can be accessed at special tasting tables.

The Vinery will also host “English Wine Weeks” throughout the year. These celebrations of the best that UK vineyards have to offer will take place during the harvest season, in the run-up to Christmas and at the start of June and include tasting workshops with Laura Rhys MS, prize draws and special discounts.

Gusbourne Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan White said: “We are delighted to be working closely with SSP on the Vinery project. The wonderful food and service offered at this premium new wine bar are the ideal accompaniment to our award-winning vintage English wines. We look forward to playing our part in providing a luxurious pre-flight experience for London Heathrow passengers travelling through Terminal 2 this summer and beyond.”

*More information on the environmental impact of different food types is available via Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992.