Many firsts were made during the opening of the new Terminal 2 and anyone wanting a drink to celebrate them needed to look no further than Fuller’s new air-side pub.
The historic family-run company which has its brewery just 8.3 miles away in Chiswick, proudly unveiled London’s Pride - named after its most famous brand of beer - yesterday (Wednesday).
Planning for the new venue took two years and now it is in place it covers 5,000 square feet and can accommodate 200 customers.
Divided into different areas, guests can relax with a drink, recharge their laptops, download their emails and even buy a book while they wait for their flight to depart.
There is an open kitchen were they can watch chefs preparing fresh food to order including the Fuller’s Full English breakfast which uses Sandridge farm bacon from pigs that have been reared on spelt - hops and grain produced from brewing London Pride.
There is also a section for ‘grab and fly’ that will sell hot and cold food to take away and will stock Fuller’s merchandise for purchase.
The new pub has a modern style but is keen to hold onto its traditions; the founding members of the Fuller, Smith and Turner partnership are pictured on the wall by the bar together with a timeline detailing significant points in Fuller’s history.
Also there is wall art dedicated to the oldest wisteria plant in the UK that has been growing on the brewery grounds since the early 19th Century.
Exclusive to the new pub is a beer perfectly in keeping with the aviation industry.
Wingman is a light, golden beer made with the finest English malt and hops and an abundance of fruit character that promises a satisfying, refreshing taste.
Jonathon Swaine, Managing Director of Fuller’s Inns, said: “London’s Pride is in a league of its own and we are incredibly proud to have this as the latest addition to the Fuller’s estate. It is set to be one of our flagship pubs and it is very exciting to see Fuller’s on an international platform.”
Fullers clearly had fun creating the new pub as back in April it decided to pull an April Fools prank in the pages of its Griffin magazine.
Readers were led to believe it had just completed work on a pipeline stretching from the brewery to the airport which would see London Pride delivered direct from the vat to the pump.
No doubt a great many companies around London would be interested in such a pipeline if and when it actually becomes a reality.
