Spanish meatballs and braised pork cheeks are among the delights at East Midlands Airport’s newest food and drink venue as the site marks its 60th anniversary. To coincide with the milestone, the airport is celebrating the opening of its new Alembic bar, which officially opened during anniversary celebrations on Wednesday (April 4).
The Mediterranean restaurant focuses on breakfast and tapas food and is inspired by an Alembic still – a copper pot used for the distillation of liquids, particularly spirits such as whisky, gin, and rum. Items on the breakfast menu include oatmeal brûlée and a chorizo, feta and egg croissant roll.
The restaurant has been launched by HMSHost UK, which leads food and beverage concepts in the UK for Avolta, a Swiss-based travel retailer. Beth Brewster, senior coordinating director for Avolta, said: “We’re really excited about our Alembic concept, which taps into what we do brilliantly – creating amazing dishes using locally-sourced products, and complementing them with locally-sourced spirits.
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“2025 is a really exciting year for the food and beverage part of Avolta’s business in the UK, with even more exciting news coming soon. Alongside our duty-free business, we’re focused on creating a great experience for both our partners and our customers.”
The locally-sourced spirits at the restaurant are produced by the White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire. The producer’s award-winning Wire Works Whisky, best-selling Shining Cliff Gin, and Cask-Aged White Peak Rum are all featured on Alembic’s extensive drinks menu.
The restaurant was officially opened at East Midlands Airport’s anniversary celebration by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur and the airport’s former managing director Penny Coates.
Alongside the new Alembic restaurant, visitors to the airport will see other improvements including a new-look security hall with next-generation scanners and new toilets throughout the terminal.
Alembic guests on Wednesday were welcomed with a specially created anniversary mocktail. Other items on the restaurant’s tapas menu include lamb kofta, sweet and sour chicken and salted potatoes.
East Midlands Airport’s customer and planning director Mike Grimes said: “We are absolutely delighted that this new restaurant concept has been kicked off at East Midlands Airport as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations.
“I’m sure our customers are going to love the locally sourced dishes and drinks available at Alembic, which is part of a whole range of new improvements to enhance the customer experience at the airport.”