Shake Shack Gatwick

"Perfect for: pretending you’re not in an airport For a few glorious moments—before you gulp down a motion sickness tablet with your pint—Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen manages to convince you that you’re in a proper brewery, and not in Gatwick. If it’s possible for an airport restaurant to be cool, then this American spot is cool: the booths are stylish and made for lingering, thanks to the plug sockets and the fact that a departure screen will probably be in your eye line. The crispy chicken and bacon with waffles has no business being this tasty. When granola arrives with a leafy garnish, you’ll rightly ask, “am I still in an airport?”. If you’ve ever wondered where people who enjoy their airport experience are going, it’s here." - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, jake missing, daisy meager

"Whether it’s a golden glow, warm maroon signage, or the shape of a green burger, the reassuring familiarity of your favourite fast food outlet is always welcome in an airport. The Gatwick North Terminal outpost of Shake Shack is just that and will serve everyone’s needs from breakfast to dinner: to sit in with a crispy patty Shack burger opposite one of the two departures screens, or to swing by and grab a bacon, egg, and cheese before heading straight to your gate. Both are supremely satisfying, gooey creations that can be in your hands in under 10 minutes, and in your stomach in sub-20." - Jake Missing

"There are Shake Shacks open all over the city and it’s likely Londoners will visit all of them before this one. But this entry, given the chain’s many available openings, is more of a symbol. A symbol of both how far Shake Shack — a U.S. burger monolith but still a relative U.K. upstart — has spread itself across the city, and of the fact that fine, good burgers, and, more crucially, breakfast rolls are now waiting in a place where eating can reach its lowest ebb. Prepare for take-off." - James Hansen