Wetherspoon has confirmed the opening date for its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport. The Belle Vue will open in Terminal 2 on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The pub is named after the city’s historic Victorian showground, which housed a pub, zoological gardens, and a stadium with a greyhound racing and speedway track. The Belle Vue Stadium was a focal point for social life in the city until 2020, when the final event was held there. The area remains home to the National Speedway Stadium, opened in 2016, as part of the Belle Vue Sports Village.
Design and location
The 338 sqm pub, located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge, will have more than 300 covers. Its design is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. Artistic impressions show a clubhouse-style design with a blend of classic and modern features, complete with sports memorabilia on the walls.
The Belle Vue will be the final major food and drink venue to open as part of the airport’s decade-long, £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. The programme has seen the terminal more than double in size and win a UNESCO-backed architecture award, with a mix of high street names and Northern brands in the departure lounge.
Official comments
Stephen Turner, Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re very excited to be able to reveal more detail about Terminal 2’s new JD Wetherspoon pub The Belle Vue, which will encapsulate the spirit and traditions of sporting entertainment in Manchester.”
“This will be the first JD Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport and it is fantastic to have yet another household name taking its place among those opening units in the terminal, as part of its £1.3bn transformation.”
JD Wetherspoon Chief Executive John Hutson said: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
Related Wetherspoon hotel plans
The announcement follows a report that JD Wetherspoon applied to vary a premises license with its new Southport hotel. The chain is transforming the vacant upper floors of its Sir Henry Segrave venue into 29 hotel rooms. Plans submitted to Sefton Council detailed alterations to the ground-floor pub, including a hotel reception, an extended kitchen area and refurbishments. JH Architects have pledged to preserve the building’s historic character, particularly its 19th-century heritage. Most of the original exterior will remain untouched, with only limited alterations for additional fire exits and a new entrance.
Located a 10-minute walk from the beach, the guest house will feature en-suite rooms within the same historic building as the bar. Rooms at the chain’s other hotels typically cost between £60 and £80 per night, though prices vary by booking time. There are 55 Wetherspoon hotels across the UK and Ireland. Planning permission was granted in 2024, and the project is nearly complete, as JD Wetherspoon plc has applied to vary the premises licence, seeking approval to update the licensed layout plan and remove children’s hours conditions.
