SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has opened Flax & Soda, a striking new casual dining restaurant celebrating the best of Northern Ireland as part of Belfast International Airport's £100 million investment program.
Located in the centre of the airport's transformed Departures Lounge, Flax & Soda is a 280-cover space offering a flexible, all-day dining experience tailored to a wide range of passenger needs.
The venue places Northern Ireland at its core, proudly sourcing from a network of trusted local suppliers. Regional ingredients are showcased throughout the menu and bar offer, from high-quality meats and freshly baked breads to locally produced dairy and a carefully curated selection of local beers and spirits.
Local influences impact every touchpoint of the passenger experience. SSP is working with local favourite Knead Pizza, a firm staple of Belfast's iconic Common Market, to bring an authentic taste of the city to the airport for passengers to enjoy. Design elements throughout the space also celebrate Belfast's rich history and culture, with a bespoke mural of the city by local artist Keith Drury, titled "Best of Belfast", serving as a striking centrepiece.
"One of our key focus areas has been expanding our bespoke airport bar and kitchen concepts grounded in a strong sense of place. Flax & Soda is another example of this strategy in action, celebrating the region through a distinctly local proposition that perfectly complements our broad portfolio of F&B units at Belfast International Airport," said Stuart Buchanan, Chief Property & Business Development Officer at SSP UK & Ireland. "We're confident that Flax & Soda will quickly become the best part of the journey for passengers using the airport."
In 2025, Belfast International Airport embarked on a five-year journey to transform passenger experiences, withSSP playing a significant role in improving the range of F&B outlets into a modern, passenger-friendly hub of dining options. In the last six months, the food travel experts have already introduced new grab-and-go outlets Soul & Grain, Starbucks and Burger King alongside a fresh look and increased capacity for iconic bar, The Lagan.
The final phase of F&B developments is expected to be complete later this year, including a brand new 300-cover premium bar and kitchen concept.
Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer at Belfast International Airport, said: "Flax and Soda is a most welcome addition to our food and beverage landscape at Belfast International Airport and reflects our vision to transform the airport experience. With a focus on celebrating local flavours and ingredients, this new family-oriented restaurant is designed to offer our passengers a fresh and innovative dining experience. Flax and Soda is more than just a dining destination-it's a tribute to the vibrant culture that makes Belfast and the entire region unique."
Attachments
Original document
Permalink
Disclaimer
SSP Group plc published this content on April 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 28, 2026 at 15:56 UTC.
SSP Group plc is a United Kingdom-based operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations. The Company specializes in designing, creating and operating a range of food and drink outlets in airports, train stations and other travel hubs across six formats: sit-down and quick service restaurants, bars, cafes, lounges, and food-led convenience stores. Its extensive portfolio of brands features a mix of international, national, and local brands. Its segments include North America, Continental Europe, the UK, and APAC and EEME. The North America segment includes operations in the United States, Canada and Bermuda. The Continental Europe segment includes operations in the Nordic countries and in Western and Southern Europe. The UK segment includes operations in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The APAC and EEME segment includes operations in Asia Pacific, India, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and South America. The Company operates in approximately 38 countries.
This super rating is the result of a weighted average of the rankings based on the following ratings: Valuation (Composite), EPS Revisions (4 months), and Visibility (Composite). We recommend that you carefully review the associated descriptions.
Investor
Investor
This super composite rating is the result of a weighted average of the rankings based on the following ratings: Fundamentals (Composite), Valuation (Composite), EPS Revisions (1 year), and Visibility (Composite). We recommend that you carefully review the associated descriptions.
Global
Global
This composite rating is the result of an average of the rankings based on the following ratings: Fundamentals (Composite), Valuation (Composite), Financial Estimates Revisions (Composite), Consensus (Composite) and Visibility (Composite). The company must be covered by at least 4 of these 5 ratings for the calculation to be carried out. We recommend that you carefully review the associated descriptions.
Quality
Quality
This composite rating is the result of an average of rankings based on the following ratings: Returns (Composite), Profitability (Composite) and Quality of Financial Reporting (Composite), and Financial Health (Composite). The company must be covered by at least 2 of these 3 ratings for the calculation to be performed. We recommend that you carefully read the associated descriptions.
ESG MSCI
ESG MSCI
The MSCI ESG score assesses a company’s environmental, social, and governance practices relative to its industry peers. Companies are rated from CCC (laggard) to AAA (leader). This rating helps investors incorporate sustainability risks and opportunities into their investment decisions.
