Gate-side in Terminal 1, The Draft House pours real ales
The Draft House sits airside in Terminal 1 at Birmingham Airport, a short walk from the main departure screens. It runs from the early morning wave of 05:00 through late evening flights, so you can grab something before a 06:30 Ryanair hop or after a 20:45 Jet2 departure. It’s a pub first, food second, with the bar visible from the main concourse.
Beer is the headline: expect rotating cask and keg options, often including UK names around the £6–£7 pint mark. There’s also bottled lager, basic wine by the glass, and standard spirits with mixers in the £7–£9 range. If you want a pre-flight drink without trekking back to the landside Wetherspoon, this is the closest option once you’ve cleared security.
Food is standard pub fare: burgers, fish and chips, pies, and a few lighter bites, with most mains sitting in the £12–£18 bracket. Portions run larger than the nearby coffee chains but smaller than a full city pub, so it works for a quick plate before a 2–3 hour flight. Kids’ options are usually available and cheaper, but still airport-marked on price.
Service speed varies with the departure banks: at 07:00 and 17:00 you can wait 15–25 minutes for food when several gates out of T1 are boarding at once. At quieter times, you might see food in under 10 minutes and an almost instant drink at the bar. Seats fill quickly during those peaks, so don’t bank on walking in 30 minutes before a full A320 leaves.
Tip: check your gate on the BHX screens before you sit; The Draft House is handy for the central T1 gates, but if you’re sent to a remote stand bus gate you’ll want to leave at least 15 minutes to reach final call without rushing your last sip.