Real ale at East Midlands Airport
Castle Rock Brewery managing director Colin Wilde and chairman Geoff Newton
The Castle Rock Taproom and Kitchen has opened in the main upstairs departure lounge at East Midlands Airport. It is the latest development in the airport’s on-going £12 million refurbishment.
The new bar and food area, branded by and named after the Nottingham based brewer, was initiated by Autogrill Catering UK, the airport’s catering operators, keen to showcase local providers. Autogrill Catering UK is part of HMSHost International.
The taproom and kitchen, which will be operated by their staff following cellar and bar training by the operational team at Castle Rock Brewery, offers a full range of pub food and drink including Harvest Pale, the real ale recently voted CAMRA UK supreme champion.
Michiel Reuvers, Autogrill’s senior business development director, says: “As a global airport restaurateur, we’re very excited to bring these new restaurants to East Midlands Airport. Both the Castle Rock Taproom and Kitchen and, the other newcomers, including Flat White and Burger King, are great concepts and we’re sure we’ll further delight passengers’ appetite.”
Speaking for Castle Rock, the brewery’s chairman Geoff Newton, says: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Autogrill, East Midlands Airport, and the other partners, on what for us is something completely new.”
Brewery managing director Colin Wilde says: “For us to see our locally brewed Harvest Pale on sale in the departure area at East Midlands Airport, the region’s leading international venue, gives us a feeling of great pride. Autogrill’s determination to involve a local supplier such as us gives UK and East Midlands passengers a chance to enjoy that last bit of home before flying away. More importantly, perhaps, it gives our international visitors a reminder of all that is good about East Midlands food and drink giving them an incentive to return.”
In December 2013, the airport partially opened its new security hall, having invested an additional £1.5 million in this area. The full security hall and queuing space is expected to be opened in April, with the next phase of retail space expected to open in time for the summer season.
