Manchester seeks high-flyer for ‘sky bar’
By Laura Chesters
Milligan’s retail makeover to culminate in conversion of former control tower
Manchester airport plans to convert its 20 metre-high former control tower near terminal 1 into a bar with views across the Cheshire Countryside.
Manchester airport’s plan is led by its commercial team and property entrepreneur John Milligan, and follows his transformation of the airport into a retail destination.
The terminal reopened this autumn after a £50m redevelopment.
The team has this week begun a search for a top-name operator to convert the unused control tower into a 1,100 sq ft luxury bar with 360 degree views. The bar will be accessed through terminal 1.
Milligan and his team were commissioned in 2005 for a five-year period to improve the airport’s falling sales revenue. Since security restrictions were introduced in August 2006 that limited the quantity of liquids passengers could carry, Manchester airport’s retail sales have fallen by 50%.
Airport operational revenue has also come under pressure.
Commercial director Andrew Harrison joined from Marks & Spencer in 2005 and is now leading the search for the operator of the former control tower.
Under Milligan’s leadership the airport has been redesigned. All the “land-side” retail has been moved “airside” to the passenger departure area, which has been overhauled along with the check-in sections.
Milligan wanted to “create places where people are inspired to shop”.
He added: “It is all about understanding the customer and increasing airside dwell time.”
The most important issue was to reduce visitor stress, so he introduced clear signage, prebook parking facilities and cut check-in times.
The airport retail space now totals 350,000 sq ft and generates £100m of rental income a year. Passenger sales have increased by 16.5%.
Milligan is also working on improving City airport in east London, following his success at Manchester.
He said: “The property industry should look outside its own industry to learn from other industry and businesses. Working with airports has allowed us to do this. When retailers saw what we were doing at Manchester they were all happy to step up to the plate and improve their stores.”