UK airport’s £30,000,000 upgrade will include new shops and a hidden speakeasy

Bristol Airport is in the middle of a multi-million transformation, with the expansive plans aimed at significantly improving passenger experience.

Over 10 million passengers pass through the doors of Bristol Airport each year, making it one of the most important transport hubs in the South West.

And to cater for a mounting appetite for better facilities and more space, the airport announced an ambitious £400 million expansion plan – with the ultimate goal to extend the airport’s site to allow a growth in passenger numbers to 12 million.

Things kicked off with the £60 million construction of a transport hub and car park, including the creation of a new multi-storey car park that can provide over 2,000 parking spaces.

Now, the airport has moved onto one of the most exciting elements of the plan: a £30 million terminal extension project which will see Bristol Airport’s departure lounge turn into a girlie groups’ heaven.

Picture double the number of shops and restaurants, comfy seating to download season four of ‘Bridgerton’, and even a hidden speakeasy bar.

What will Bristol Airport’s new Departure Lounge look like?

In February, it was announced that civil engineering and building contractor Farrans had been awarded the £30 terminal extension project.

The company announced on its social media that the ‘innovative’ plans would commence in a ‘live environment’, meaning all passenger routes would remain open during the construction process.

So, if you’re looking forward to your Easter weekend in Mallorca, don’t fear – the airport’s not going to close its doors anytime soon.

According to the contractor, work has already commenced on the two-floor terminal extension which will infill an area between the existing terminal building and the departure gates.

The new area will play a crucial role in the airport’s goal to increase to 12 million passengers per year, with 17 new units added, including a mixture of new shops and restaurants.

Plus, there will also be space for convenient island retail units and more seating, ‘designed with comfort in mind’.

The arrivals hall will also be gaining a new domestic arrivals reclaim area with an additional baggage carousel and an increase in capacity by 20%. Accessibility in immigration will be improved with new lifts and stairs.

Andrew Goodenough, infrastructure director at Bristol Airport has shared that ‘floor space is going to increase by almost 45%’ and that there will be a whopping total of ’38 retail and food and beverage outlets including premium brands and dining options’.

The airport has also teased that construction will include a ‘hidden speakeasy bar’, however no further details have been revealed.

While there is still much more to come, passengers have already been taking to TikTok to express their appreciation for the airport’s ‘calm’ and ‘tranquil’ Escape Lounge – a newly established premium space located on the first floor of the departure lounge.

Designed to ‘elevate the pre-flight experience’, the lounge features an additional 140 seats and floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out on to the Eastern apron.

There are multiple zones for relaxing, working, eating, or enjoying one (or three) glasses of fizz before boarding.

Welcome to any passenger in the airport, customers can pre-book a spot in the lounge for £34.99 per person. The maximum stay is three hours.

When will Bristol Airport’s new Departure Lounge open?

According to Bristol Airport, passengers should be able to start seeing the new shops and restaurants open to the public from Spring 2027.

The goal is then to complete the entire Departure Lounge transformation by January 2029.

What else is changing at Bristol Airport?

The overarching £400 million project involves a variety of differentc, smaller projects – aimed at improving every aspect of the airport’s function.

Developments that have already been completed include an £11.5 million project to introduce state-of-the-art technology into the airport security process.

Enhanced screening updates now means customers can keep personal items in their hand luggage, a feature that’s been rolled out across the majority of the UK’s major airports.

As previously mentioned, the new transport hub, which was officially unveiled in July 2025, has also been deemed a major feat.

Alongside the multi-story carpark, the airport has also introduced a new ‘drop and go’ zone which offers better pedestrian links to the terminal.

Next is the Terminal Transformation, a long-scale initiative which involves investing in a range of projects over the next five years to totally transform the customer experience. The new departure lounge is the first of many.