Your irony may be misplaced given that the choice of retail outlets in T5 are unsurprisingly more upmarket than in STN or LGW! Boots and WHSmith seem to be the only outlets I'd use on a regular basis when shopping in the UK .... or have I missed something? :)

And only then because its forced on one. With the Liquids Regulations prohibiting more than 100ml, you are obliged to bin your 29p bottles of Supermarket still water pre-security and buy them again airside at 2 for nearly a Fiver. Nice little earner at BHX.

There was an interesting thread earlier about drinking fountains which concluded they were few and far between. However there is a legal requirmenet in UK for licensed premises to provide free water.

Time for people power?:D

Manchester Terminal 1 has a water fountain on the route out of security into duty free, It is reasonably prominent and certainly used. Well done them.

Mind you cannot recall seeing one in Terminal 3. (Not used T2 for a long time)

Whilst that is true, the water may well be free but the 'supplier' CAN charge, if they so wish, for the use of the glass and a Service Charge.
Must try that out at Wetherspoons BHX airside next time out. Lol!

Don't see the problem...
 

If you don't need or want it, don't buy it; I can't see the difference between this and walking through any town to (for example) the railway station. After all, you don't feel pressurised into buying a bottle of brandy, 400 ciggies and a bottle of Chanel No.5 plus a yard-long Toblerone on your way to work each day do you?

Except that shops in many towns are rapidly disappearing! But I take your point.

It was a bit tongue in cheek, I admit😁

Not many towns make you walk a hugely circuitous route to get to the railway, just to ensure you pass every outlet

I am always amazed that so many fashion/luxury watch/goods outlets are empty of customers and the staff just sitting around. Large airports that I use often, BKK, SIN, HKG, BRS, SYD LHR, I avoid shopping. When travelling back to BKK, I buy my allowance at BKK. Saves having to lug it through the journey from wherever. Travelling back to POM, I get my allowance at the boarding airport and lug it back. (believe me if you are living in POM you need your allowance at a decent price)

At POM I look for local crafts to take back as gifts to my Thai friends (they love em) same recently during my Pacific journeys at HIR, VLI, NAN and TBU. Though I'm most probably paying way over the odds for them. I also avoid book shops at airports too. Prices are more expensive than in the local city in my experience.

I'm even more amazed that they always manage to be overstaffed for the business they do. A constant comment coming back about a shortage of security checking staff is of how difficult and lengthy it is to get airside passes and clearance for staff working there. Which the high end merchants seem amazingly able to overcome.

tells you all you need to know about their profit margins airside.. Aldi they ain't....