The second of the popular dedicated leisure departure lounges joins that opened at Gatwick three years ago in adding more extras to the holiday experience just when it is needed: as soon as the customer is checked in and ready to switch off.

Local stars Suzanne Shaw of Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s Chris Fountain were joined by the mischievous Minions straight from Universal Orlando Resort’s forthcoming 3D CGI Despicable Me attraction, Vegas showgirls and a Caribbean barman - all representing the three destinations currently served directly by Virgin Atlantic from Manchester - at the opening.

The v-room Manchester is a funky and colourful 400m space overlooking the main passenger concourse, just yards from the departure gates. Comfortably able to accommodate up to 100 customers at a time, it has been beautifully designed with an attention to detail and style that reflect both its Manchester location and the destinations about to be enjoyed by its customers. Once checked in by Virgin Holidays staff at a dedicated reception, guests are free to enjoy three distinct areas:

v-room for kids:
A water-themed zone for babies, toddlers and little ones to romp around in and burn off some energy before boarding the aircraft, featuring soft play facilities, a magnetic wall and interactive games.
v-room for tweens:
The gaming zone, where a wall-sized screen will immerse big kids and adults in a selection of X-Box Kinect games, is joined by an ‘outside-inside’ space with free internet access, plasma TVs and funky furniture.
v-room for adults:
An adults-only area featuring specially commissioned artwork, in which grown ups can chill out with the day’s paper, use the free wi-fi or just relax before a well-earned holiday. A spacious information area, manned by Virgin Holidays staff, is available for any questions or to book excursions.
A hot and cold buffet, serving a mixture of breakfast and brunch dishes and beverages every day, is available to all guests and is included in the entry price. A full bar is available for those wishing to purchase an alcoholic drink before flying.

Over 60,000 people have enjoyed the v-room at Gatwick since it opened and pre-orders for the Manchester facility have already exceeded 5,000.

Admission to the Manchester v-room will be charged for adults, and children (infants are free), with complimentary access for all Virgin Holidays customers staying at a Platinum Collection hotel. Tickets are on sale now for Virgin Holidays customers departing from Manchester Airport from 1st July 2011. To find out more, visit www.virginholidays.co.uk/vroom