Yoko Ono's unusual request for custard creams at Liverpool John Lennon Airport left staff confused. The 93-year-old artist visited the airport in 2001 when it was renamed in honour of her late husband, John Lennon.
Unexpected request revealed
Lynne Downey, who looked after Yoko during her visit, revealed the unexpected request during a chat with the ECHO. She said: "I met Yoko Ono when she came years ago and she requested custard creams. She opened a custard cream and licked the cream off, put it back on the plate and didn't eat any of the biscuit."
Lynne has been part of the airport staff since she was 19. Speaking to the ECHO about her 30 years working for the Speke airport, she said: "There's been loads of highs and loads of lows. I've grown up here. I was 19 when I started and I've had all my life experiences. Marriage, childbirth, deaths in the family. I've shared all them life journeys with my colleagues."
Airport bar's unique atmosphere
The ECHO spotlighted the airport bar as a unique location that operates in its own suspended reality where normal rules do not apply. In a place where everybody is in transit, time zones go out the window and any time feels suitable for a first pint.
Lynne has witnessed the evolution of drinking culture at the airport. When she started, the only place serving alcohol was a ferry terminal style café where booze was only available to customers flying international. Now, it's a far cry from the sophisticated bar/kitchen that overlooks the runway.
While the security of a career at the airport has kept Lynne at the bar, she also said seeing people in a positive frame of mind before going on holiday is infectious. She added: "Once you get here, it's hard to leave. People will come here and they will stay. There's so many people who leave and they eventually ask to come back. It's unique."
Staff enjoy holiday energy
Thomas Robinson is another member of staff who has enjoyed a long career at the airport. The 31-year-old started at Burger King 14 years ago and has worked up to be part of the team at Sable.
Thomas enjoys the responsibility of being a person's first port of call on their holiday. He said: "It's a different kind of energy [from other bar work]. People come in happier. It's different from the outside world. People are drinking red wine at 5am. It's wild. I've worked here so long so something has kept me. It's just the people."
When partygoers in nightclubs start thinking about wrapping up their night, the Sable Bar enjoys its busiest period. Thomas added: "It opens at 3am and then people are just bevvying. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are wild in here. The other days are a bit more relaxed."
