Gate-side in Terminal 1, Frankie & Benny’s is your sit-down option
In Birmingham Airport’s Terminal 1, Frankie & Benny’s sits airside on the main departures concourse, a few minutes’ walk from most UK and short-haul gates. It runs through the morning rush into the evening, so you can usually get a table for anything from a 6 a.m. fry-up to a 7 p.m. pre-flight burger and beer.
This is standard UK-Italian-American chain food: think burgers around £13–£16, pastas in the £12–£15 range, and pizzas a bit under £15. Portions tend to be big enough that one main each is plenty; adding starters and desserts can easily push a simple meal for two over £45 before drinks.
Breakfast runs in the early hours, with full cooked plates, pancakes and lighter egg dishes typically sitting between £8 and £13. Coffee is standard chain quality, fine for a caffeine hit if you don’t have time to queue at Costa or Starbucks elsewhere in Terminal 1. If you’ve got a 60–90 minute buffer before boarding, this is a calmer option than eating at the gate itself.
Service speed varies with the security rush; at peak 6–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. bank times, mains can take 20–30 minutes from order. Staff usually try to clock your departure time when you sit down, so say your gate and boarding time clearly if you’re under an hour from departure. For a tight 45-minute window, stick to burgers, pizza or salads and skip starters.
The bar covers the usual airport suspects, with draught and bottled beers, house wines, simple cocktails and soft drinks. A basic pint comes in around the £6–£7 mark, and a glass of house wine lands in the same bracket. It’s easy to run up a £20 drinks tab for two if you add cocktails to a meal.
Tip: Check your boarding pass and terminal screens before sitting; once a gate at BHX T1 posts, you can be looking at a 7–10 minute walk from Frankie & Benny’s to some of the farther stands.