Gordon Ramsay’s Airport Restaurant Will Go Global

The day after Londoners were given the good news that they will soon (finally, via Grind) be able to get a decent cup of coffee in the city’s airports, the UK’s most well-known celebrity chef has announced that he will expand his restaurant brand’s presence in that sector too. He currently operates just one airport restaurant — Gordon Ramsay Plane Food — in London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

Ramsay has agreed a new deal with SSP — the same company with whom Grind are partnering for expansion — to develop a more far-reaching presence for his ‘grab-and-go’ food and drink concept in major travel hubs globally.

As reported by Passenger Terminal Today online, “Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To Go will feature dishes from the chef’s Plane Food restaurant in London Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5), which provides express and picnic options for travellers pushed for time.”

Ramsay, presumably after several through-rounds with a PR, said: “I’m excited to be partnering with SSP to bring my global vision of Plane Food To Go to the busy traveler. Plane Food To Go is a truly revolutionary concept that will roll out worldwide and build upon the massive success of the original Plane Food dining experience from Heathrow T5. As someone who is in a different airport terminal every week, I know first hand how much Plane Food To Go will enhance every on-the go traveler’s dining experience.”

While Mark Angela, chief commercial officer for SSP, said:

“Gordon Ramsay has some iconic dishes for which he is known across the world and we’re very excited to be working closely with his team to make sure these become an integral part of the Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To Go customer experience.

“Gordon pioneered the idea of quality take-on-board meals with his Plane Food picnics eight years ago. He’s got lots of ideas about creating high-quality, healthy food to take on the plane in easy to eat formats, and together we’re going to take that to the next level.

“Our customers will have a unique opportunity to experience stand out dishes, all given the Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To Go twist as the team recreate them specifically for the grab-and-go market.”

The specific locations have not yet been revealed. But if nothing else, perhaps — by inspiring other to follow suit — this is the beginning of a much needed overhaul of the limited and dated dining and drinking options in London’s major travel hubs.