Bournemouth Airport unveils Bourne & Acre Bar and Kitchen ahead of Easter getaway
Bournemouth Airport has unveiled its brand new restaurant, Bourne & Acre Bar and Kitchen, transforming its former venue into a contemporary dining destination inspired by the River Bourne and Bournemouth’s famous gardens.
Opening in time for the busy Easter break, the new restaurant adjoins the airport’s main departure lounge and offers around 300 covers. Since January it has undergone a comprehensive nine-week transformation by SSP Group.
Bourne & Acre offers a contemporary menu designed to suit travellers throughout the day, from hearty breakfasts to relaxed pre-flight dining. Morning favourites include a full English, eggs Benedict and American-style pancakes, while the all-day menu features dishes such as British beef burgers, chicken schnitzel, katsu curry and freshly battered haddock and chips, alongside salads, small plates and plant-based options.
Families are catered for with a dedicated children’s menu, while the bar serves a wide selection of wines, beers, cocktails and premium soft drinks, as well as low and no-alcohol alternatives.
The opening cements the 10-year partnership agreed last year between Bournemouth Airport and SSP, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide.
“The Bourne & Acre marks our first significant development to the food and beverage offer at Bournemouth Airport, delivering on our promise to transform passenger experiences with greater choice, value and quality,” said Stuart Buchanan, Chief Property and Business Development Officer at SSP UK & Ireland. “One of our key focus areas has been expanding our bespoke airport bar and kitchen concepts grounded in a strong sense of place. The Bourne & Acre is another example of this strategy in action, with a distinctively local feel throughout the space, and we’re sure it will quickly become the best part of the journey for passengers using the airport.”
The launch comes during a period of significant growth and investment at Bournemouth Airport.
Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “The opening of Bourne & Acre is another important step in our ongoing transformation and a great addition to the passenger experience. Over the last 12 months we’ve delivered a wide-ranging programme of improvements across the airport, including an expanded baggage reclaim hall with new, larger carousels, a brand-new immigration and arrivals hall, and a phased expansion of our main car park providing more than 800 additional spaces.
“We have also introduced a new behind-the-scenes outbound baggage facility, expanded check-in, and installed new security screening equipment which allows passengers to travel with up to two litres of liquids.
“Following our busiest summer on record in 2025 – when passenger numbers rose by 28% to almost 1.1 million between April and October – it’s important our facilities keep pace with demand. Bourne & Acre is a key part of that, giving passengers a high-quality, locally inspired space to relax and dine before their flight.”
Bournemouth Airport currently serves 42 destinations and employs around 450 staff at peak season. It is owned and operated by Regional & City Airports (RCA) and contributes around £200 million to the local economy each year.