A review of Joe and The Juice in Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2
Liv is the Tourism Writer for the Manchester Evening News. She is an NCTJ-trained senior reporter who joined the team in 2021. She previously worked as a reporter for The Bolton News.
I had breakfast at the new Joe & The Juice at Manchester Airport(Image: Liv Clarke)
After dropping off my bags and clearing security, one of my many airport departure rituals is grabbing a pre-flight drink, snack or meal.
I know some passengers relish an early-morning pre-departure pint, but I prefer to take a far more sensible approach, which is why shortly after 7am one Thursday morning I went in search of breakfast in Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2.
The airport is currently nearing the end of a £1.3billion transformation programme which has seen Terminal 2 undergo an extensive renovation and expansion.
Many passengers will have already experienced the new-look terminal when the first section opened in 2021. Eventually when the rest of the terminal opens in the coming months it will become the so-called ‘beating heart’ of the airport, with 70 per cent of passengers using it.
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The overnight oats came with blueberry compote and fresh berries, with granola an extra you can add on (Image: Liv Clarke)
It was the latter I went in search of, keen to branch out from my usual airport favourite: Pret A Manger.
The food and drink spot is located in a new section of the departures lounge, around the corner from Boots and past the Apiary. It did take me a while to find out, having set off marching in the wrong direction past Archie’s at first.
Eventually I found it and Joe & the Juice does have a nice corner location, overlooking Pandora and a duty free shop, as well as a seating area. Overall, it’s an excellent people watching spot.
The cafe is light and spacious with lots of seating options, whether you want to perch on a stool and watch people walking to their gate, or need a table to get some last-minute work done.
Compared to the other food outlets I walked past it felt very quiet in comparison, probably due to the fact it’s still relatively new. It did mean it felt rather tranquil – an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of the main departures lounge.
I’d been to a Joe & The Juice once many years ago when I was abroad, so I didn’t really know what to expect. In terms of food, the menu did appear rather limited with a couple of breakfast options, sandwiches and cakes, although there were no pastries.
The Feel Good juice, which costs £9.20(Image: Liv Clarke)
Of course as the name suggests, there’s a lot of juice options, as well as the usual selection of hot drinks.
Keeping it simple I chose overnight oats which came to £4.95, with added granola for an extra £1.35, along with an Americano which cost £3.55.
The oats were creamy with a satisfying texture, served with a blueberry compote which added a nice level of sweetness. A few fresh blueberries were scattered on top as a finishing touch, adding a burst of flavour.
The granola gave it a nice texture and was very flavoursome, with a hint of spice to it. I washed it all down with the coffee which I couldn’t fault, giving me that much-needed caffeine hit after my early alarm.
Wanting something more, I decided to go back and order one of the famous juices. I spent a few minutes ogling the menu before settling on the Feel Good juice which contained a very healthy-sounding combination of carrot, turmeric, ginger lemon, apple, olive oil (a staple of all of their juices apparently) and ice.
Yet I gasped when I saw the price – £9.20 – more than my coffee and oats combined if I’d forgone the granola. I even remember when decent cocktails used to be cheaper than that.
Joe & The Juice has opened up in a new section of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2(Image: Manchester Airport)
The juice was freshly prepared so maybe that’s behind some of the cost, and it was a rather hefty 16oz (around 454ml) cup.
I took a sip of the bright orange liquid and it was tasty: refreshing, not too sweet with a depth of flavour that reflects its extensive ingredient list. Yet the price of nearly £10 still felt steep for a drink that didn’t even offer the nutritional benefits of fruit pulp.
Still, everyone has their beverage of choice and I imagine the stall will be a hit with loyal Joe & The Juice customers and those who’d rather start their holiday with a fresh juice than an airport pint. I would definitely return to try one of their sandwiches, but I’d probably stick to a coffee.
So, if you don’t want to pay £9.20 for a juice, well you won’t have to. Terminal 2 will have a food and drink option for whatever taste and budget you have.
Who knows, many next time I might just give the early-morning pint a go.
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