WHSmith Café

Most people just say “WHSmith at ABZ” and walk past

The café inside WHSmith in Terminal 1 is its own thing, even if most passengers only clock the magazines and meal deals. You’ll find WHSmith Café airside in ABZ T1, after security, on the main concourse used for airlines like British Airways and easyJet. It’s a basic set‑up: counter service, a few small tables, and a fridge full of cold drinks for grab-and-go.

Food here tracks standard UK high-street pricing: expect around £3–£4 for filter coffee or a latte, £4–£6 for pastries or pre-packed sandwiches, and occasional £3–£5 meal-deal style offers when combined with snacks and a drink. Hot options are limited; think pre-made paninis and sausage rolls that get reheated rather than anything cooked from scratch. If you want a proper sit-down meal, you’ll be happier elsewhere in T1.

Opening hours flex with flights, but WHSmith Café typically opens early morning around the first departures, often before 05:30, and stays open into the evening while T1 is running rotations to hubs like Heathrow and Amsterdam. That makes it a realistic caffeine fix for the 06:00 bank when other spots can still be waking up. Card payments are standard; contactless and mobile pay are widely accepted.

This is mainly a time-and-convenience play. If you land with a 30–40 minute gap before boarding, grabbing a coffee and packet snack here is quicker than waiting for a table at a bar. The seating is right in the T1 flow, so you can keep an eye on the departure boards mounted a few metres away while you eat.

Practical tip: if your gate is already showing in T1, get your drink in a takeaway cup and walk down; ABZ is small enough that you can usually reach farthest gates in under 5 minutes with coffee in hand.