UK. TRG Concessions has opened a casual dining restaurant at London Gatwick Airport based on the “relaxed, fun and vibrant” dining style of California’s premier wine region.
Sonoma is a collaboration between the travel concessions operator and restauranteur Russel Joffe, co-founder of the original Giraffe brand. Located in the North Terminal, the all-day dining concept has been designed to meet the demands of modern airport travellers through the menu, internal design and use of technology.
The 6,500sq ft restaurant has ‘pay at table’ and click-and-collect capabilities, as well as digital menu and food service time displays at the entrance.
Sonoma has 300 covers as well as a dedicated bar with wine on tap and a selection of craft beer and spirits. Its cuisine is inspired by “the Californian way”, according to TRG, meaning “easy going breakfasts and healthy all day eating”.
An open kitchen allows passengers to watch, hear and smell the food being prepared, and showcases the fresh rotisserie chicken and open pizza oven.
TRG Concessions has invested close to £3 million (US$4 million) in Sonoma, which replaces both the Garfunkel’s and Armadillo restaurants. TRG said it expected to serve more than one million passengers a year. Managing Director Nick Ayerst commented: “We are delighted to have retained this restaurant space within Gatwick North Terminal and excited to introduce this fresh new concept to Gatwick’s passengers.
“It has been a fantastic development process and collaboration with such a skilled and experienced restauranteur in Russel Joffe. Sonoma will bring a unique family dining offer to the North Terminal; catering to different dietary requirements and bringing together current food and drink trends as well as offering the favourites that we know are well loved in this space.”
Sonoma Co-Creator Russel Joffe added: “I am delighted to be working with TRG Concessions again in bringing a totally new and fresh all-day dining concept to the Gatwick North Terminal. Having operated airport restaurants with TRG for over 15 years, I understand the needs of both business and leisure travellers and Sonoma will deliver high quality and great value dishes in a unique environment morning, noon and night.”
Gatwick Airport Head of Retail Rachel Bulford said: “Our North Terminal is currently going through a significant period of transition, and the opening of Sonoma is an exciting milestone in that development. It’s been great working with TRG on bringing this innovative restaurant concept to life.
“We have an impressive array of food & beverage outlets already in place at Gatwick, but Sonoma succeeds in offering something new for our passengers. I’m sure the delicious food and relaxed, California-inspired surroundings will establish Sonoma as a firm family favourite for the future at Gatwick.”
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The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. Last year’s FAB took place on 20-21 June in Helsinki. FAB 2019 will be held in Dallas, hosted by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on 26-27 June.
