RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

[lightbulb]

Any news on the EMR lounge at St Pancras re-opening?

 

[Deerfold]

Has this changed, I thought the lounge at Glasgow was Avanti?

You appear to be right. Not sure where that came from!

 

[Butts]

Any update on LNER "putting the kettle back on" ?

 

[Vespa]

Notice no mention of Avanti lounge in Edinburgh Waverley, is there a reciprocal agreement to use LNER lounge on an Avanti 1st Class ticket ?

 

[Voyager lad]

Notice no mention of Avanti lounge in Edinburgh Waverley, is there a reciprocal agreement to use LNER lounge on an Avanti 1st Class ticket ?

Not that I’m aware of. Avanti ticket holders can’t use the LNER lounge, unless they maybe hold a ticket to London Terminals under any permitted route (ie via either east or west coast)

 

[ServerHoster]

Notice no mention of Avanti lounge in Edinburgh Waverley, is there a reciprocal agreement to use LNER lounge on an Avanti 1st Class ticket ?

I think so, last time I visited I had a VTWC ticket and they let us in.

 

[Butts]

As there are "Currently no refreshments for your safety" according to the website not a lot of point visiting Waverley Lounge.

What a load of hogwash - more likely they don't want to cough for the staff to serve people as in The Avanti Lounge at Euston.

If Hotels can let you help yourself to drinks (presumably safely) why can't they ?

 

[Mordac]

As there are "Currently no refreshments for your safety" according to the website not a lot of point visiting Waverley Lounge.

What a load of hogwash - more likely they don't want to cough for the staff to serve people as in The Avanti Lounge at Euston.

If Hotels can let you help yourself to drinks (presumably safely) why can't they ?

Just like generic Health and Safety before it, Covid is a great excuse for not doing things you don't want to do anyway.

 

[Butts]

With Avanti's pretensions of grandeur will we ever see a Rail Lounge that provides the same level of service as an Airport one ?

Obvious candidate has to be Euston.

If the introduction of Standard Premium means the levels of provision are going to increase substantially in 1st Class then perhaps this is no longer a pipe dream ?

 

[superjohn]

Does anyone know when the new first class lounge is due to open at York? I'm wondering if it will be in time for my booked trip in October.......which should have been in December.

It’s taking shape at long last. The poster says it “will open later this month”. It is tucked away in the corner between platforms 1 and 3, in what I think was previously a car rental place.

I wonder if they will relocate the five car Azuma up stopping point on platform 5 when it opens? It is currently about as far from the lounge as it could be and I can’t see a reason why.

 

[73128]

Paddington first class lounge now (from a quick passing peer through the window on Wednesday) offers a full range of hot and cold drinks. Unclear what if any snacks are available.

 

[Bungle73]

LNER have just tweeted that the York first class lounge is now open!

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1421183998831771656

 

[Butts]

LNER have just tweeted that the York first class lounge is now open!

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1421183998831771656

What sort of fayre is on offer ? - Kings Cross or Newcastle level ?

 

[Bungle73]

What sort of fayre is on offer ? - Kings Cross or Newcastle level ?

I only know what's shown in the promo video. Looks like the standard standard snacks and drinks out of a machine. I haven't been in the Newcastle lounge for years.

 

[Butts]

I only know what's shown in the promo video. Looks like the standard standard snacks and drinks out of a machine. I haven't been in the Newcastle lounge for years.

You haven't missed much...Biscuits if your lucky ,whereas Kings Cross normally has a bit more.

 

[raveon]

Website still says:
“There are currently no refreshments in our First Class Lounges until further notice. This is for your safety.”
Is this out of date? What’s the situation at Kings X now?

 

[Bungle73]

Website still says:
“There are currently no refreshments in our First Class Lounges until further notice. This is for your safety.”
Is this out of date? What’s the situation at Kings X now?

Someone queried this on the Tweet

Question: Any refreshments been served yet

Response: Yes, tea, coffee, water, crisps, biscuits etc! ^JT

 

[Butts]

Anyone been in The York Lounge yet ?

We need an eye witness account.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Anyone been in The York Lounge yet ?

We need an eye witness account.

My wife and I used the York Lounge this afternoon (Friday). It was a very pleasant experience. The issue is that this is literally the first First Class Lounge on the railways that I have ever used! So I cannot judge it against others although I have used many such airline lounges against which it compares favourably.

It has only been open for a couple of weeks obviously (as a previous poster mentioned) and is decorated in the usual bland style of lounges everywhere. The lounge itself is divided between areas with what I would describe as "business desks with high chairs - like school desks" for those who want to use laptops, tablets etc. and the much more comfy armchairs and separate tables - which is what we used. As we entered the lounge through 2 sets of sliding doors (keeping the noise out), the LNER lady pounced on us (not in a hostile manner) to check our tickets (Advance First Singles to Newcastle). That check satisfied she made us welcome, pointing out the food (crisps and cookies it seemed) and drinks. The hot drinks were, of course, from a machine but included tea, coffee (including decaf) and hot chocolate - perfectly adequate if not up to the standard of the multiplicity of coffee shops on the station. There was a fridge containing drinks - at least water bottles - but if there was anything stronger then my wife (who raided it) didn't mention this...

There were not more than 3 other people in the lounge during the 45 minutes we occupied it. There are 2 toilets, both suitable for the disabled, and clear departure screens mirroring those outside plus a TV screen showing BBC News 24 with very quiet volume but subtitles. The staff (2 ladies in nice red uniforms) were friendly and informative.

All-in-all, it seemed to us a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of this magnificent station and considering the £24 total we paid for 2 first class tickets for our trip (Senior Railcard discount included), the complementary tiger and hot bacon rolls, beer and lemonade on the train itself, it seemed exceptional value. Of course this might not seem the case if the two of us had paid the Anytime First Class Single fare of £112, for which the "standard snacks and drinks out of a machine" or "biscuits, if you're lucky" would have seemed paltry fare.

We shall use this lounge again.

 

[Bungle73]

My wife and I used the York Lounge this afternoon (Friday). It was a very pleasant experience. The issue is that this is literally the first First Class Lounge on the railways that I have ever used! So I cannot judge it against others although I have used many such airline lounges against which it compares favourably.

It has only been open for a couple of weeks obviously (as a previous poster mentioned) and is decorated in the usual bland style of lounges everywhere. The lounge itself is divided between areas with what I would describe as "business desks with high chairs - like school desks" for those who want to use laptops, tablets etc. and the much more comfy armchairs and separate tables - which is what we used. As we entered the lounge through 2 sets of sliding doors (keeping the noise out), the LNER lady pounced on us (not in a hostile manner) to check our tickets (Advance First Singles to Newcastle). That check satisfied she made us welcome, pointing out the food (crisps and cookies it seemed) and drinks. The hot drinks were, of course, from a machine but included tea, coffee (including decaf) and hot chocolate - perfectly adequate if not up to the standard of the multiplicity of coffee shops on the station. There was a fridge containing drinks - at least water bottles - but if there was anything stronger then my wife (who raided it) didn't mention this...

There were not more than 3 other people in the lounge during the 45 minutes we occupied it. There are 2 toilets, both suitable for the disabled, and clear departure screens mirroring those outside plus a TV screen showing BBC News 24 with very quiet volume but subtitles. The staff (2 ladies in nice red uniforms) were friendly and informative.

All-in-all, it seemed to us a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of this magnificent station and considering the £24 total we paid for 2 first class tickets for our trip (Senior Railcard discount included), the complementary tiger and hot bacon rolls, beer and lemonade on the train itself, it seemed exceptional value. Of course this might not seem the case if the two of us had paid the Anytime First Class Single fare of £112, for which the "standard snacks and drinks out of a machine" or "biscuits, if you're lucky" would have seemed paltry fare.

We shall use this lounge again.

The hot drinks machines in LNER lounges are usually high quality bean to cup machines though.

 

[vic-rijrode]

The hot drinks machines in LNER lounges are usually high quality bean to cup machines though.

OK, we had tea.

OK, we had tea so I was too harsh on the coffee which didn't look too good on an adjacent table.

 

[Butts]

My wife and I used the York Lounge this afternoon (Friday). It was a very pleasant experience. The issue is that this is literally the first First Class Lounge on the railways that I have ever used! So I cannot judge it against others although I have used many such airline lounges against which it compares favourably.

It has only been open for a couple of weeks obviously (as a previous poster mentioned) and is decorated in the usual bland style of lounges everywhere. The lounge itself is divided between areas with what I would describe as "business desks with high chairs - like school desks" for those who want to use laptops, tablets etc. and the much more comfy armchairs and separate tables - which is what we used. As we entered the lounge through 2 sets of sliding doors (keeping the noise out), the LNER lady pounced on us (not in a hostile manner) to check our tickets (Advance First Singles to Newcastle). That check satisfied she made us welcome, pointing out the food (crisps and cookies it seemed) and drinks. The hot drinks were, of course, from a machine but included tea, coffee (including decaf) and hot chocolate - perfectly adequate if not up to the standard of the multiplicity of coffee shops on the station. There was a fridge containing drinks - at least water bottles - but if there was anything stronger then my wife (who raided it) didn't mention this...

There were not more than 3 other people in the lounge during the 45 minutes we occupied it. There are 2 toilets, both suitable for the disabled, and clear departure screens mirroring those outside plus a TV screen showing BBC News 24 with very quiet volume but subtitles. The staff (2 ladies in nice red uniforms) were friendly and informative.

All-in-all, it seemed to us a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of this magnificent station and considering the £24 total we paid for 2 first class tickets for our trip (Senior Railcard discount included), the complementary tiger and hot bacon rolls, beer and lemonade on the train itself, it seemed exceptional value. Of course this might not seem the case if the two of us had paid the Anytime First Class Single fare of £112, for which the "standard snacks and drinks out of a machine" or "biscuits, if you're lucky" would have seemed paltry fare.

We shall use this lounge again.

With all due respect The Lounge sounds like it has a reasonable ambience but I fail to see how you can add a rejoinder like that.

Most British Airways Lounges have a Free Bar (including champagne) and quite an extensive choice of hot and cold food available.

Might I add I would not expect that in a Railway Lounge but was curious about your comment. It's nice that a Major Station like York finally has this much overdue facility.

 

[Bungle73]

The LNER website has been updated to include the York lounge.

 

[raveon]

Newcastle has also reopened now.

 

[Butts]

Newcastle has also reopened now.

Wow Tea and Biscuits all round then - one of the poorer stocked venues in my experience.

Anyone been in Waverley recently ?

Wondered if they have snacks and drinks back yet.

 

[Tester]

Wow Tea and Biscuits all round then - one of the poorer stocked venues in my experience.

Anyone been in Waverley recently ?

Wondered if they have snacks and drinks back yet.

In Waverley lounge now - absolutely nothing on offer.

Better off at Wakefield!

 

[Butts]

In Waverley lounge now - absolutely nothing on offer.

Better off at Wakefield!

That's ridiculous - are they living in a time warp ?

Do you mean not even a Coffee Machine on ? - let alone the biscuits to accompany your beverage ?

 

[Tester]

That's ridiculous - are they living in a time warp ?

Do you mean not even a Coffee Machine on ? - let alone the biscuits to accompany your beverage ?

Correct - hot drink machine out of use; fridge empty and nothing else present. A glorified waiting room!

 

[Vespa]

Noticed Liverpool First Class lounge is still closed and spoke to one of the Avanti staff, it appears it's unlikely to reopen again....

 

[Butts]

Noticed Liverpool First Class lounge is still closed and spoke to one of the Avanti staff, it appears it's unlikely to reopen again....

Only Manchester Piccadilly open out of the NW ones, Runcorn and Crewe also closed.