London Gatwick passengers will soon be able to sample the delights of Middle Eastern cooking when stylish Lebanese restaurant Comptoir Libanais opens its first airport restaurant in North Terminal later this year.
Passenger research driving F & B strategy
Gatwick’s research which shows that travellers want to see a greater variety of cuisines from higher quality restaurants has been the driving force for the airport’s food and beverage strategy – and a key reason why Gatwick was keen to work with Comptoir Libanais.
Healthy, varied menu
Offering a healthy, varied menu, dishes range from Lebanese breakfasts to coffees and pastries, quick snacks and casual dinners. The restaurant will also provide a diverse range of vegetarian and Halal choices as well as a children’s menu. Food is served fresh and fast – a must for air passengers – and Comptoir Libanais will even offer a takeaway service with easy-to-carry aircraft packaging for time-pressed travellers.
The 1,800 square foot restaurant, which will be run by TRG Concessions, will feature Middle Eastern patterned tiles and a modern Lebanese ambiance. Bringing a touch of the souk to the airport, passengers will be able to purchase a range of products from lanterns and teapots to embroidered handbags and cooking ingredients.
Gatwick’s busy restaurants
The arrival of Comptoir Libanais will complement several new restaurants which have opened in Gatwick’s North Terminal. These include Jamie Oliver’s first airport eateries – Jamie’s Italian, Jamie’s Bakery and Union Jack’s Bar – as well as the UK’s largest airport YO! Sushi and new offerings from Pret A Manger and Starbucks. New and established retailers have seen strong results from their Gatwick-based outlets, with the airport’s Pret A Manager, Frankie and Benny’s and Costa stores ranking as the busiest in the UK.
Across both terminals, airside and landside, 11 new or refreshed food and beverage outlets have opened since 2011. In North Terminal these include Jamie’s Italian, Jamie’s Bakery, Union Jack’s Bar, YO! Sushi, Pret A Manager, Starbucks, Caviar House and Prunier, The Red Lion Bar and Restaurant. In South Terminal these include: The Beehive Bar and Restaurant, Apostrophe, Giraffe, Caviar House and Prunier.
Charlotte Christiansen, Business Development Manager for Catering at London Gatwick, said: “Comptoir Libanais will offer an exciting new dining experience thanks to its unique ambiance and exceptional menu which caters for a wide variety of tastes. It also fits perfectly into the needs of the modern air passenger – serving up healthy, flavoursome food in a timeframe to suit each individual’s needs.”
Tony Kitous, Founder and Creative Director of Comptois Libanais, said: “We are thrilled to be opening at Gatwick Airport, as it provides us with a unique opportunity to welcome a diverse clientele of travellers to enjoy Comptoir Libanais’s cuisine. What could be better than sharing some baklawa on the plane?”
About TRG Concessions
TRG Concessions is the UK’s leading operator of airport restaurants and bars. As the specialist travel food and beverage operator of The Restaurant Group plc, it operates a number of own brands and carefully selected franchise partners suited to that market. Comptoir Libanais will be the 13th food and beverage outlet that TRG operates in Gatwick.
About Comptoir Libanais
Comptoir Libanais brings Lebanese home-style dishes to the high street. It opened its first restaurant at Westfield Shopping Centre and has since launched several more restaurants across London.
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