Southampton Airport's food and drink options are set for a major overhaul.

SSP Group, a global operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations, announced a new partnership with the airport on May 13.

The deal will see SSP Group take over the operation of the two existing bars at the airport, both landside and airside.

Over the next year, the company plans to invest heavily to transform these into modern bar kitchen concepts.

The new units will be joined by a Starbucks, which is set to open at the airport later this year.

Cathy Granby, business development director of SSP UK and Ireland, said: "We’re really excited to be adding Southampton Airport to our portfolio of UK airports as we continue to grow our operations into locations where our customers need us.

"As we prepare for the peak summer trade, we’re sure that our new units will quickly become the best part of the journey from Southampton Airport and make grabbing a bite to eat or drink an essential pitstop when passing through."

The transformation of the airport's food and beverage outlets is part of a wider effort to improve passenger experiences and support the airport’s growing passenger numbers.

In the past year, Tui, EasyJet, and Loganair have all announced new routes across Europe from the airport.

Craig Norton, head of retail development at Southampton Airport, said: "We are delighted to welcome SSP Group as our new food and beverage partner.

"This exciting transformation will greatly enhance the experience for our passengers, providing them with a wider variety of high-quality and value-for-money options.

"These new food and beverage outlets will be integral to making Southampton Airport a top choice for travellers.

"We eagerly anticipate the positive impact of SSP's investment and innovation on our airport community."

The partnership with SSP Group also strengthens the airport's ties with AGS Group, which owns several UK airports, including Southampton and Glasgow, where SSP operates several food and beverage units.

The changes at Southampton Airport are part of a series of operational developments aimed at improving passenger experiences.