Mount Charles to invest £1m in major food and drink revamp at Belfast International Airport

(L-R) Stacey McAlister Operations Director Mount Charles; Gavin Annon Chief Strategy Officer Mount Charles; Kate Sherry Chief Commercial Officer Belfast International Airport

Mount Charles Group has announced a £1 million investment to transform the food and beverage offering at Belfast International Airport, marking a significant upgrade as part of the airport’s wider £100 million transformation programme.

The investment will see a major revamp of the airport’s Northern Quarter, replacing the existing traditional food court model with a single, high-end restaurant and bar capable of seating up to 180 customers.

The development will also include a new coffee dock delivered in collaboration with Bewley’s.

Mount Charles, Northern Ireland’s largest independent catering, cleaning, events and facilities management company, currently employs 40 people at Belfast International Airport through its Northern Quarter operation.

Staffing levels are expected to double to 80 roles when the new concept launches, with recruitment creating fresh local employment opportunities ahead of the planned reopening in Spring 2026.

The Group said the redesign and upgrade would support Belfast International Airport’s ongoing efforts to enhance the passenger experience, offering travellers a more premium, hospitality-led dining environment.

Gavin Annon, Chief Strategy Officer at Mount Charles, said the investment underlined the strength of the company’s long-standing relationship with the airport, which spans more than two decades.

“This £1 million investment is a tangible commitment to Belfast International Airport and to the people who deliver the Northern Quarter experience every day.  We’re investing in the physical environment – the fit-out and re-design – and in the labour and training required to deliver a premium, hospitality-led offer.

“We’re proud to be creating new, local employment opportunities in the Northern Quarter while supporting local contractors and suppliers who are helping to deliver this transformative upgrade for passengers.”

Belfast International Airport, which is part of the VINCI Airports network, has welcomed the investment as a key element of its wider redevelopment plans.

Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer at Belfast International Airport, said the project would enhance both passenger choice and job creation.

“Mount Charles has been a trusted partner for two decades and this investment in the Northern Quarter forms an integral part of our £100m airport transformation programme. The new offering will deliver an enhanced, higher-quality food and beverage experience for travellers, while creating valuable local employment.”

Beyond the physical transformation, the project highlights the growing role of airport hospitality in shaping first impressions of Northern Ireland for visitors, while also improving amenities for local travellers passing through the region’s busiest airport.

The new Northern Quarter is scheduled to re-open in Spring 2026.