If you’ve flown from Manchester Airport Terminal 2 over the past few years, chances are you’ve visited the 1903 Lounge. While it was one of the airport’s better premium lounges, increasing passenger numbers meant it was beginning to struggle. Finding a seat during busy periods could be stressful, queues often formed just to get inside, and it no longer felt like the relaxing start to a holiday that a premium lounge should provide.

Recently I also found it hard to get a booking at all at the 1903, after a business class flight to Australia this January, it because apparent that this was because the 1903 was also being used for all the business class flights following the closure of terminal 1.

Thankfully, Manchester Airport has addressed those issues with the opening of The Executive by Escape—a completely new premium lounge that sets a new benchmark for airport lounges in the North.

First Impressions

The biggest improvement comes before you’ve even entered.

Unlike the old 1903 Lounge, where premium guests queued alongside visitors to the standard Escape Lounge, The Executive has its own dedicated entrance and reception desk. It’s a small detail, but after navigating security, the last thing anyone wants is another queue before they can finally relax.

From the moment you step inside, it’s clear this isn’t simply a larger lounge—it’s an entirely different experience.

As the first lounge in Escape Lounges’ new Executive collection, and the largest Escape Lounge anywhere in the world, the space has been designed to feel luxurious without ever becoming overwhelming.

Rather than one vast open room, the lounge has been cleverly divided into a series of beautifully designed spaces inspired by Manchester’s heritage. Every area tells a story—from The Dock, celebrating the city’s transport links, to The Loom, showcasing Manchester’s textile history with stunning artwork by local artist Oriana Loucaidou.

There are cosy corners for those wanting peace and quiet, comfortable seating overlooking the runway for aviation enthusiasts, dining spaces for breakfast, and dedicated work areas for business travellers. It feels calm, spacious and thoughtfully designed.

Food & Drink

Breakfast will feel familiar to anyone who used the 1903 Lounge, with a traditional cooked breakfast forming the centrepiece.

However, there are some welcome improvements.

Alongside the usual favourites are regional additions including Bury black pudding and an excellent pork and haggis patty, adding a little more character to the morning menu.

It’s also refreshing to see the lounge championing local producers. Chorlton Cheesemongers supply British cheeses, while Martin’s Bakery, Ground Effect Coffee Roasters, JW Lees Brewery, Manchester Gin and Grandpa Greene’s Ice Cream all feature throughout the lounge.

These partnerships help give the lounge a genuine sense of place rather than feeling like a generic airport offering.

Proper Coffee Makes a Difference

One of my favourite additions is the dedicated barista station.

While coffee machines remain available, guests can now order freshly prepared coffees made by a barista using Ground Effect Coffee Roasters’ locally roasted beans.

For coffee lovers, this alone is a noticeable upgrade over the old 1903 Lounge.

The One Change I Didn’t Love

There is one decision I’m less convinced by.

The previous 1903 Lounge offered self-service drinks stations, allowing guests to help themselves whenever they wanted.

The Executive replaces this with a fully staffed bar.

The drinks selection remains excellent, including Champagne, Prosecco, premium spirits, beers and wines, but at busy times queues inevitably form.

Personally, I’d happily trade table service for self-service in this setting. One of the pleasures of an airport lounge is avoiding queues altogether, so waiting for a drink feels slightly at odds with the experience.

It’s a small criticism, but one worth mentioning.

Facilities

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the toilets.

Compared with the handful of shared facilities in the old lounge, these are exceptional.

Beautifully designed, immaculately clean and decorated with colourful artwork from Salford printmaker Nell Smith, they genuinely feel more like a boutique hotel than an airport lounge.

Attention to detail extends throughout the lounge, with commissioned artwork from Manchester artists, subtle nods to the city’s industrial heritage, and lighting that changes throughout the day to create different moods.

Even as you leave, there’s a playful Manchester-themed touch—a bee-inspired prize machine where guests can exchange a token for a small gift before heading to their gate.

Is The Executive Lounge Worth It?

Absolutely.

The Executive by Escape fixes almost everything that had begun to hold the old 1903 Lounge back. It’s larger, quieter, beautifully designed and far less stressful from the moment you arrive.

The addition of proper barista coffee, improved facilities and locally sourced food and drink gives it a distinctive Manchester identity that’s often missing from airport lounges.

Would I change anything? Yes—the return of self-service drinks would make the experience even better.

But that’s a relatively minor criticism of what is now, in my opinion, the best airport lounge at Manchester Airport and one of the finest airport lounges outside London.

Manchester Food Tourist Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)