London – Heston Blumenthal's latest restaurant The Perfectionists' Café, has opened in the newly-revamped Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport.
The menu is based on Blumenthal's 2006 television cooking program and subsequent book, In Search of Perfection. The series revolved around Blumenthal's quest for the perfect iteration of classic British fare such as roast chicken and fish and chips. It is these perfected recipes that are to be found on the menu at the airport restaurant.
The focus on classics is also expressed in the restaurant's décor, designed by hospitality interiors firm AfroditiKrassa. The design harkens back to the 1960s and 1970s – the heyday of airline travel. Inspired by tv and cinema such as Mad Men and Catch Me If You Can, the interiors are made up of vintage blues and mustards with leather seating and accents of brass. There are subtle nods to the airport the restaurant sits in, with benches created in the shape of a propeller – a feature only noticeable from a birds' eye view.
Airport dining is no longer relegated to Wetherspoons and Prêt à Manger. For more on how airports are becoming new hubs for experiential retail, read our Airport Retail market report.