Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Pret À Manger will open a new café inside Antwerp Central Station’s former ticket hall, marking a major expansion for the British coffee and food chain.
To access the ticket office, travelers have long had to trek to a branch located farther inside the station. Although there are differing views on the chain’s introduction, most travelers value the culinary selections over the station’s appearance.
“The entrance hall of Central Station is very impressive; it’s where you form your first impression,”
says city guide Tanguy Ottomer. He understands that chains like Pret À Manger are coming, but he doesn’t think the location is suitable.
It’s a lost chance, in my opinion as a city guide who is passionate about heritage. The ticket hall may have been converted into a pleasant restaurant, a tourist bureau, or a miniature museum about the station. Along with the other stores along the rails, he would include eateries like Pret À Manger.
Passengers at Central Station find it especially important that there are plenty of dining options.
“It’s convenient for people coming off the train,”
says a passenger on a bench in the main hall.
“There are already plenty of other places to eat; it’s certainly not the first chain. This one could join the list.”
“There’s also a Starbucks here, which is also a large chain that doesn’t fit the station’s style. This lunch spot is the same for me,”
adds a traveler from Ghent.
Visitors who come to Central Station for photos say the lunch spot contributes to the station’s pleasant atmosphere.
“But they could have done it better; it doesn’t fit in with the rest,”
says Marie Elise, a visitor from the Netherlands.
Some travelers also regret the disappearance of the ticket office.
“I don’t mind the addition of lunch areas, but I do mind that they’re replacing the ticket offices. Currently, you have to go all the way to Pelikaanstraat. I don’t think that’s traveler-friendly,”
they say.
The NMBS says the choice for the chain was a well-considered one.
“Pret À Manger has extended opening hours and a wide selection of food for travelers. The chain will also have to respect the heritage value in the design of the restaurant,”
says Dimitri Temmerman, spokesperson for the NMBS.
It is not yet known when the cafe will open.
When will the Pret shops at Antwerp Central and Brussels open?
The Pret À Manger cafés at Antwerp Central Station plus Brussels Central and Brussels Midi stations are due to open in late 2025.
Pret, in conjunction with Belgium‘s national railway company, SNCB/NMBS, and SSP (a food and drink operator in transport hubs and airports), has indicated that the cafés will open this year with the aim of serving fresh prepared food and organic coffee, for both commuters and local residents.
While opening dates have yet to be specified, the openings will occur this year or in late 2025, as part of their expansion into Belgium, and the intention of providing fresh and quick meal options for people traveling through main transport hubs.
