Ten‑minute dash before boarding? Gatwick regulars just hit Pret.
Pret A Manger at London Gatwick (North and South terminals, airside) runs on speed first, taste second. Think £4–£6 sandwiches, £3-ish filter coffee, and self‑service fridges that let you grab food and be at your gate within 5 minutes if the queue is short. Frequent flyers on BA and easyJet threads basically treat Pret as the default when a security queue or last‑minute gate change blows up any sit‑down plan.
There are multiple branches in both North and South, with most opening around 04:00 and trading until the late‑evening departures thin out, roughly 22:00–23:00. Seating is limited at several airside units, especially in South Terminal, so assume takeaway and plan to eat at the gate or on your Ryanair or Wizz Air flight. Expect airport‑inflated prices: posters note the same chicken baguette or latte runs higher here than a high‑street Pret in central London.
Food is standard Pret fare: baguettes, wraps, salads, and protein pots in the £3–£7 range, plus pastries and crisps. Regulars mention grabbing two sandwiches or a sandwich plus a protein pot to dodge buy‑on‑board pricing on low‑cost carriers. If you land late, know that the popular baguettes often sell out by evening, leaving wraps and veggie choices as the main options.
Drinks are straightforward: espresso drinks up to about £4, filter coffee cheaper, and chilled cans/juice in the fridge. One FlyerTalk user swears by contactless or Apple Pay; tapping out is consistently faster than paying cash and can save a couple of minutes when you’re racing for a 21:00 departure. Coffee queues usually move quicker at the airside Prets than at landside chains, especially between the classic morning wave banks.
Tip: If your connection at LGW South or North is under 45 minutes gate‑to‑gate, walk straight to the nearest Pret, grab fridge food plus coffee, tap contactless, and eat at the gate instead of hunting for a table.