Gatwick to Be the FIRST Airport in the World to Offer a Jamie's Italian and Union Jack's Designed Exclusively for Passengers to Enjoy in the North Terminal

    WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND, February 19, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gatwick Airport today announces that Jamie Oliver will be bringing a brand new restaurant concept to Gatwick's North Terminal this summer. The one-off offering, to be launched in June, will include a bespoke 'grab and graze' Jamie's Italian Bakery - exclusively designed for Gatwick - which will provide passengers with high quality food, to take onto the plane or eat on the go.

The new restaurant area will include a Jamie's Italian, a Jamie's Italian Bakery and a Union Jacks Bar - the newest concept from Jamie Oliver serving an all British menu. The new combined offering marks the very first dining experience from the British chef to be launched in an airport in the world and highlights Gatwick's commitment to reinvigorating the airport environment and providing passengers with their ideal dining experience.

Charlotte Christiansen, Business Development Manager, Catering & Services at Gatwick Airport commented: "Our partnership with Jamie Oliver heralds an exciting time for us as we continue to roll out our billion pound investment programme across the airport. With 70 per cent of departing passengers shopping, drinking or dining at Gatwick, we've worked closely with Jamie Oliver to create a concept that would appeal to all of our passenger groups - whether it's a family or couple that have the time to sit down for a meal in Jamie's Italian or Union Jack's, or those simply wanting to 'grab' food to 'graze' on the plane.''

The Union Jacks site at Gatwick - the first stand-alone Union Jacks Bar to launch in the UK - will include a bar on the balcony of the North Terminal, serving a bespoke menu of British small plates including specially selected dishes from the current Union Jacks menu and a full selection of delicious filled sandwiches. In addition, the bar will provide customers with an 'open' beer cellar offering a large number UK sourced/produced beers and an all British wine list.

Jamie's Italian will be located adjacent to Union Jacks and will provide diners with a spectacular view of the airfield. Glass-fronted food preparation areas will showcase an antipasti bar, hanging charcuterie and a fresh pasta making area, plus a full-sized pizza oven will be installed for fresh pizzas.

Jamie's Italian Bakery will offer customers a wide choice of fresh pizza and brownies, and salads, all perfect for travelers to takeaway.

Occupying 6,000 sq ft, this exciting new restaurant offering has been designed specifically with Gatwick passengers in mind and forms part of Gatwick's GBP1.2 billion investment programme to transform the airport and provide fresh, modern facilities. Many passengers have called for more fine casual dining options1 in the departure lounges so this sees Gatwick taking yet another step in significantly enhancing the passenger journey to, through and from the airport.

Jamie Oliver said: "This will be something really special. I've worked with my team to take the very best bits from Jamie's Italian and Union Jacks and build them into something beautiful and exciting just for Gatwick."

About Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is the UK's second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for around 32 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. Gatwick Airport offers a wide range of services - including flight information, shopping, eating and different airport car park options. These options include short term parking, long stay parking, meet and greet parking at Gatwick airport. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the award winning Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.

Website: http://www.gatwickairport.com

# # #