Aspire Lounge Belfast City Airport

The Aspire Lounge at Belfast City Airport is a new large, pleasant pay in lounge.

There is hot and cold food, and an impressive bar. The view is impressive, of the runway, the shipyards, and the distant mountains.

In the lounge world it counts as a decent regional lounge, and also acts as the British Airways Belfast Lounge.

It is worth a long stop if you have free entry thanks to Priority Pass, or access via British Airways status or class, however entry prices on the door can be a little steep.

Belfast City Airport BHD Aspire lounge review

The Belfast City Airport Aspire Lounge is a pleasant pay in lounge, and indeed the only other option other than sitting in the multiple bars at the airport.

Revamped in the latter months of 2023, it still has that 'new lounge' smell, and is vastly better than the old square box of a lounge. It is vastly bigger for a start.

The Aspire Belfast City Airport Lounge is past the duty free maze, then go upstairs, turn left before the bars, and at the end of a short corridor, is a large back door with the Aspire BHD lounge.

There is a small reception desk which will collect your entry fee, or check your British Airways credentials, or even Priority Pass, and then you see the lounge.

The brand new Aspire Lounge at Belfast City Airport has multiple seating areas. If you turn a sharp right on entry, there is most quiet part of the lounge, with banks of seating and high room dividers.

Against the window is a pleasant work shelf with power sockets, high seats, and a view out to the runway.

Keep on walking as these seating areas alternate, including an area with high backed swivel armchairs overlooking the apron, and the wobbly lamppost outside that vibrates with the engines of the turboprops! Finally at the end of the seating area is an area with bucket seats, and four booths with benches around fixed tables, and even a mini phone booth. Inland from these with a high bench, with again high seating.

Separating this area from the dining area is an area with small dining tables and benches, and a room dividers made from shelves that form the letter A - for Aspire, of course.

Then right in the middle of the lounge is the buffet area, with two islands with hot and cold food, and an L shaped bench with the bar and soft drinks.

The colour palate is pleasant, with plenty of pine flooring and a wavy carpet.

The seating however, is pretty grey, with grey armchairs on a grey wood floor, grey walls, and plenty of non-descript room dividers.

The Aspire lounge is never that crowded, particularly mid afternoons when you can be the only person in here, except for the evening departures to London when it can become packed again.

The views are pleasant out of the windows, over the sole runway and up to the mountains.

Don't miss the wavy light feature that runs through the lounge, and which is notable in itself.

Food

The catering in the Aspire Lounge Belfast City Airport has been vastly improved of late, and now includes hot food all day.

This is on the middle island bench, with typically a curry, pasta and rice, although it does vary every day.

On the opposite bench are cold cuts with three types of cheese and ham.

Don't miss the sandwiches, under a small plastic cover, and a "soup of the day".

There are also cakes, scones, and clotted cream with jam.

There are also nuts, peanuts, biscuits and crackers, and a basket of crisps if you want them.

Bar

The bar is vastly better than you might expect.

There are several types of red and white wine, on the left of the worktop, and in a refrigerated basin.

Around the corner of the L of the bar is a good selection of spirts, and some special Irish Whiskys.

Beer is Tiger or Guinness, in cans in the fridge.

There is a good coffee machine, and soft drinks on draft, plus three types of juice in jugs.

Business Facilities

There is good fast wifi.

The provision of power points is slightly lacking as not all tables have them.

There is a small newspaper rack, but that's about it. There are no computers.

Bathrooms

Toilets are in the lounge now the Aspire Lounge Belfast City Airport has had a revamp. They are up a corridor beside the dining area.

Access

Priority pass, or pay in lounge - in advance or on the door, which can be quite expensive, starting at £37.

British Airways Silver and Gold, BA Business Class, oneworld Emerald and Silver.

There is also full access for anyone with British Airways lounge access, and the door staff are fairly clued up with the lounge rules.

Video: Aspire Lounge

Aspire Lounge video - Click to play

Aspire Lounge video - Click to play