Great Northern Market
The Opportunity
S+Co was engaged by specialist airport hospitality operator ARE to support their bid for a new 10,000ft² restaurant within Manchester Airport’s soon-to-be-completed Terminal 2. The brief: to create a unique dining concept and bespoke brand that ARE would own and operate.
Client
Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE)
Services
• Architecture
• Interior Design
• Brand and Graphic Design
• FF&E specification.
• Signage and Wayfinding design and procurement
Collaborators
• United Creatives
• ScoMac Catering
• Morris & Spottiswood
• Marcus Method
Our Response
In collaboration with graphic designers United Creatives, we proposed a multi-kitchen street food market concept featuring seven kitchens, a bar, and a speciality dessert counter. Named The Great Northern Market, the space was designed to reflect Manchester’s industrial heritage and vibrant culture, incorporating bespoke murals by local artists. The goal was to offer airport visitors an authentic taste of Manchester, with a food and drink experience catering to early-morning travellers and late-night diners alike.
A key challenge was navigating a back of house space spread across three levels. S+Co’s hospitality expertise was critical in ensuring smooth operations despite this complexity. We carefully planned the flow between the prep kitchen, cellar space, and storage areas, accessible only by lift and stair, to ensure that kitchens could be restocked, food prepped, cooked, and served seamlessly.
The bid was successful, and the project is now under construction, set for completion in May 2025. S+Co’s brand team is currently finalising mural designs and expanding key design elements across signage, menus, and digital displays - bringing The Great Northern Market to life.
