Gate-side in T1, Pork & Pickle does a solid pulled pork
Pork & Pickle sits airside in Terminal 1 at East Midlands Airport, a short walk from most gates, so you can keep an eye on the screens while you eat. It runs standard daytime hours in line with flight schedules, opening early enough for morning departures and usually closing after the last evening wave.
The menu leans local deli: sandwiches, pies, and simple hot dishes rather than big plated meals. Prices sit in the mid-range for a UK airport, around £8–£12 for most mains and sandwiches, with coffee and soft drinks in the £3–£4 bracket. You order at the counter, then grab a table or perch near the bar-style seating.
The pulled pork sandwich is the move here, and it’s the closest thing to a signature dish. Portions are decent for the price, with enough meat that you don’t walk away hungry before a 2–3 hour flight. If you’re flying Ryanair or Jet2 and skipping the buy-on-board food, this is a sensible pre-flight option.
There’s a small breakfast run in the early hours, roughly from the first departures until late morning, with bacon sandwiches and pastries landing around the £5–£7 mark. After about 11:00, the full deli-style menu takes over, so time your visit if you specifically want a hot breakfast before a midday flight.
Drinks cover the basics: draught beer, bottled cider, house wine, and standard espresso-based coffee. Expect roughly £5–£6 for a pint and £3–£3.50 for a flat white. It’s not a bar you’d camp in for hours, but it does the job if you have a 45–60 minute wait.
Practical tip: if your gate is one of the lower 20s in T1, order your food to go; you can be at boarding in under 5 minutes with a sandwich in hand.
Pulled Pork Sandwich