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Epernay lands at Manchester airport
Epernay, the Champagne bar with branches in Manchester and Leeds, has begun its expansion into the travel retail sector with a new venue at Manchester airport.
Launched last week in the airside part of Terminal 1, the 160 cover bar mirrors the style and offer of Epernay’s city centre sites.
However, as a reflection of the broader clientele base and environment of this new location, the airport branch also includes a food menu.
As with its downtown venues, the drinks list here features nearly 100 Champagnes, including a number of older vintages and rarities.
There are 11 different Champagnes available by the glass, with Ayala as the house pour. A selection of “speciality Champagnes” is also available to order by the glass, changing on a seasonal basis.
With 18 houses represented in the main list, there’s plenty of choice from the biggest names, although the group has yet to make a concerted foray into the world of growers’ Champagnes.
Dominic Jacobs, general manager of the Leeds bar, suggested that this is simply a matter of finding the right partner. As the group expands, he noted: “It would be nice to do an exclusive deal with someone.”
In addition to a concise but carefully thought out selection of still wines, beers and spirits, the list includes four pages dedicated to cocktails.
The Champagne cocktails are a particular labour of love, setting the old favourites such as Jerry Thomas’ Classic Champagne Cocktail alongside more inventive creations.
Epernay’s first food menu has a distinctly rustic French feel. Alongside the obligatory airport all day full English breakfast, as well as eggs Benedict and French pastries, diners can choose from dishes including oysters, cheese and meat platters, French onion soup or beef Bourguignon.
With all dishes priced below £10, the classy Champagne theme is deliberately balanced by an inclusivity that aims to appeal to punters who might not set foot in the city centre branches.
Five years after launching its first venue, Epernay has now confirmed that it plans to pursue further openings within the travel retail sector during 2011, with one firm project already in the pipeline.
Gabriel Savage, 30.11.2010