Lounge Review: The Escape Lounge (MAN – Terminal 3)

On our way to Corfu, we had a layover at Manchester Airport (MAN). During this time, we got to check out The Escape Lounge in Terminal 3 (British Airways, Iberia, Ryanair, and Vueling operate from here). We were almost not allowed in because the lounge attendant said it was reservation only, but we lucked into two seats and got to spend some time inside.

To access the lounge in Terminal 3, you need to take the elevator to L. It’s funny that the sign near the elevator says “Walk Up Guests Welcome.”

Once off the elevator, you need to head down the hallway pictured above.

Access

A desk is straight ahead upon entering the lounge to check credentials. The attendant quickly informed us that the lounge was full and that reservations were required.

I had never heard of booking a lounge reservation in advance, but sure enough the site offers them. The cost is £35.99 if you don’t have Priority Pass or DragonPass. Even with a Priority Pass or DragonPass card, you need to book a reservation online here.

Anthony’s Take: This lounge had the best food of any Escape Lounge that I have been to and certainly was among the tastiest that you can gain access by having a Priority Pass membership. The lounge entry was a bit odd as we were initially told that reservations were needed and that those could not be made less than 24 hours in advance. I questioned this further and they magically found two seats for us. We did see lots of name cards scattered across tables throughout, but I’ve never heard of a lounge only taking reservations and not allowing walk-in guests (although the signs say that’s okay).

Bar

There is a bar next to the buffet. Liquor, beer, wine, and soft drinks were all served by a bartender.

There was also a case of Carlsberg beer under the buffet.

A self-serve coffee machine was nearby.

Orange, Apple, and Blueberry Juice.

Water and a soda dispenser.

Food

Lunch was being served during our visit. Food is found on a buffet right inside the front of the lounge. This included some hot dishes, soup, sandwiches, charcuterie, salads, bread, desserts, and more.

Carrot & Coriander Soup

Citrus Chimichurri Chicken

Seasoned Chicken

Sundried Tomato Alfredo Pasta

Buttered New Potatoes

Maple Beans

Pork & Thyme Sausage Roll

Potato Salad

Other salads, sandwiches, and charcuterie.

Doughnuts and muffins

Seating & Decor

As mentioned above, the lounge was crowded when we were there and they were not letting anyone in without reservations. There are a lot of passengers that use this lounge and during peak times it is packed. There are tables and chairs around the space in different configurations, but decor is limited.

Our seats had a great view of the terminal below.

These world clocks were the only notable decor.

A plant and these panels also brightened the space a bit.

I would have taken more pictures, but one of the lounge attendants came over and told me that taking photos was a security issue and against airport policies. I could not take any more photos at this point and she wanted to know whatI was doing with them. I told her I wanted to post them online and on social media. She was fine with this answer, but asked me to refrain from snapping more.

Amenities

This lounge offers free Wi-Fi, magazines, and the food and beverages mentioned above. The Wi-Fi was speedy and I was able to do some work while we waited.

Overall Impression:

This lounge is a good size and has a delicious buffet. The reserved seating is an interesting way to handle overcrowding, but many tables remained empty while we were there.