I've mentioned recently my
experience in the King's Cross lounge last week. Both coffee machines out of order and they've made a number of cutbacks in the last few months such as getting rid of coke, replacing proper cups with disposable cups, replacing glasses with nothing (you need to use the disposable hot drinks cups).
This week was a little better than that last experience. One of the coffee machines was working and the lounge was being kept tidy
Other lounges on the VTEC network:
Newcastle: the biscuits seem to be no more. It was drinks only my last few visits. The hot drinks machine was working and there's water in the fridge (normally juice too - sometimes they run out). Can get messy at busy times. The lounge used to be staffed in the GNER days, NXEC made it self service after it was closed for a while initially blaming faulty heating and then staff shortages. East Coast didn't do much with it except stick up some photos of Sir Bobby Robson (perhaps to do with when they named the train after him) and some other NUFC footballers. VTEC originally promised this lounge would be staffed, but it never happened. Because of this it can get untidy during busy periods.
Darlington: small but due to the station design it's by the reception area, they can check who's going in and also ensure the lounge is stocked and well maintained. So it's quieter, tidier and also better stocked than the Newcastle lounge. This one had 3 different types of biscuits. I don't expect much more from a first class lounge outside of a major station.
Berwick: was quiet when I visited, also unstaffed and like Newcastle anyone can walk in (although they do check occasionally). Was stocked when I was there (only one variety of biscuits) but I heard a complaint on Twitter that there hadn't been a water delivery to the lounge in days. I'm not sure if this was a one off or happens regularly, anyone know?
Edinburgh: not been there in a while but the lounge is like as others have described. It never used to be that way under GNER. The lounge used to have its own reception area and facilities wise was almost at par with King's Cross. Back in that day in a staffed lounge you were served tea, coffee, water and biscuits at your seat, the Go Eat buffet menu was available to purchase as well (food and drink), the only difference was King's Cross offered the full buffet menu including hot food and Edinburgh was just sandwiches and other cold items. Back in that day there was also a nice tropical aquarium in the lounge, it disappeared under NXEC, I wonder if it was taken away or did they forget to feed the fish!
Doncaster: been there once since the refurb and as my purpose of the trip was to test the new Draughtmans Alehouse in the station I only popped into the lounge for a quick look. As reported by many biscuits never seem to be available here. It's always been unstaffed even under GNER (I first used it in 2002, although it was unstaffed it used to have a desk by the door which indicates it may have been staffed at some point in the past).
Leeds: still not visited it since the refurb. I has to be better since the VTEC refurb, even GNER seemed to have neglected this lounge so it was in a sorry state before the refurb happened.
Wakefield: never been
Best first class lounge visited: Paddington - I like the traditional section. The range of food and drink is better than VTEC offer in any lounge and the tables were cleaned very quickly.
I do agree that the VTWC ones are better than VTEC. I wonder if it's because of Virgin's airline heritage they know they need to offer something more in the lounges (but also realise they can't go overboard with the offering like an airline can). East Coast had generally nice lounges under GNER but they were mostly neglected under NXEC and EC didn't change much about them. They had the right idea with the refurb programme but they seem to have run out of money and are literally taking the biscuit from some lounges!
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