It includes four food and beverage destinations including the all-Ireland brand Freshly Chopped, where ‘healthy fast food’ is created in open-theatre chopping stations.
The concept, which has seen an investment of over £1 million from catering and facilities management company, Mount Charles, has created an additional 30 new full and part time jobs, with a total of 70 people now employed at The Northern QTR.
Head of sales and marketing at Mount Charles, Gavin Annon, said: “We are excited that the Northern QTR is now open, and the early feedback from passengers has been fantastic.
“Our aim was to completely overhaul the existing units to create a food and beverage offering that would enhance the customer experience and rival that of any top tier airport in the UK, and we are confident that the Northern QTR will deliver this.”
Joining the team at the official launch of the Northern QTR was Faye Annon, granddaughter of Mount Charles’ chairman, Trevor Annon. She came along to help raise awareness of two charities; Angel Wishes and DBA UK.
Four years old Faye has a condition called Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), a rare bone marrow failure disorder which means her bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells to sustain her life.
She receives blood transfusions but a bone marrow transplant is the best option to improve her quality of life.
Trevor Annon said: We’re delighted that Faye was well enough to help us launch our new collection of restaurants today and as we begin our journey with the Northern QTR, we as a family are also on a journey to find a cure for Faye. She is a remarkable little girl and I’m so proud to have her as my granddaughter.
“We are now trying to find a match for Faye to have this life changing, bone marrow transplant and while not a cure for DBA, it will exclude the need for blood transfusions.”