Butts
Veteran Member
I was in the Berwick Lounge today for the first time in ages. No buzzer you just walk in. I was in there for an hour and despite Virgin Staff coming in no ticket check. Coffee Machine plus Biscuits and Water - that's it.
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RailUK First Class Lounge Guide
- Thread starter Ascot
- Start date
I was in the Berwick Lounge today for the first time in ages. No buzzer you just walk in. I was in there for an hour and despite Virgin Staff coming in no ticket check. Coffee Machine plus Biscuits and Water - that's it.
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R
RailUK Forums
Allot like the Doncaster lounge then, every time I have been has been no staff there checking tickets you just walk in and settle down.
Sam
Butts
Veteran Member
Not been in that one, is it the same offering as Berwick or a bit more extensive - ie a packet of crisps and a muffin as well as biccies.
From what I can remember (as it has been a while since I have been) it had biscuits and a hot drinks machine, but that was about it.
Sam
I was in there a couple of weeks ago. There were no clean cups so I couldn't have a hot drink. Only one variety of biscuits and no other food. The only cold drink was water.
I've never seen anything other than biscuits at the Doncaster, Berwick and Wakefield lounges.
West coast lounges are much better than east coast.
Butts
Veteran Member
I was in the Edinburgh Lounge this Morning - Add Orange Juice , Muffins, and Crisps to that available at the three you mentioned.
Has anyone tackled Virgin on "****ter" et al as to the disparity between West and East Coast Lounges ?
I was there last Saturday and there was a limited amount of orange juice, water hot drinks and some biscuits, however there was no muffins. Perhaps weekdays only?
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Butts
Veteran Member
Indeed they are trying to discourage "weekend freeloaders" like you
I paid £7.20 for my Advance 1st from Falkirk to Berwick so expect the best
Nothing but the best for Butts.Indeed they are trying to discourage "weekend freeloaders" like you [emoji38]
I paid £7.20 for my Advance 1st from Falkirk to Berwick so expect the best
Sam
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Biscuits and crisps have been a standard feature of the Edinburgh lounge for years. They finally added juice that was previously only seen at Newcastle and Kings Cross. I have never seen muffins in any of their lounges - although given they are on the menu on almost every single train I can imagine they will have put them in some of them.
Personally I preferred the Pullins Bakery 'cake bricks' to the muffins. Not because the muffins aren't gorgeous (they are) but because they changed every week.
Personally I preferred the Pullins Bakery 'cake bricks' to the muffins. Not because the muffins aren't gorgeous (they are) but because they changed every week.
Butts
Veteran Member
I'm sure the "West Coast Muffins" are bigger but I may be imagining it. Chored a few from the Birmingham International Lounge a couple of months back. I like the "Uglies" Chocolate Biscuits which don't seem to have crossed over.
Just been in the lounge at EMT Parkway. Despite the website saying their lounges are open on weekdays only, there is a sign on the door that says it's open 0630-1200 on Saturdays. Weekday opening hours are the same as above.
Seemed to have the usual offer of tea and instant coffee, as well as a bowl of snacks (mini pretzels, nuts, biscuits and macaroons). There's a fridge of orange juice and apple juice plus bottled sparkling water. Ambient still bottled water was also available.
Lounge was unstaffed so it's all self service. No ticket check either, just walk in off the concourse.
Seemed to have the usual offer of tea and instant coffee, as well as a bowl of snacks (mini pretzels, nuts, biscuits and macaroons). There's a fridge of orange juice and apple juice plus bottled sparkling water. Ambient still bottled water was also available.
Lounge was unstaffed so it's all self service. No ticket check either, just walk in off the concourse.
Butts
Veteran Member
That normally applies to the exterior, I'm sure they could find a venue within the myriad of empty offices.
Has anyone on Facebook asked about the disparity between the West/East Coast 1st Class Lounge offering ?
Don't know tbh. I was just reading the comments on this one post that popped up in my feed where they were plugging their FC Lounges.
Thanks (I am still awaiting an official reply from VTEC to this question which I sent to them about a month ago!).
It is a pretty lame excuse though. Considering VTEC manage York station and as has been pointed out there are a number of empty offices (those between platforms 8 & 9 spring to mind) so they could easily find room if they really wanted to. There are also some empty offices between platforms 7 & 9 (I think it is 7 near where the buffet place in the centre platforms is located)
Also, I know it is currently a sore point but they could also convert the soon to be closed travel centre as a lounge, but apparently they want to lease that out to other 'retail', poss an M&S Simply Food or mini Waitrose (according to the VTEC chap who was dispatching trains at York on the strike day last week).
Either way, it is currently a poor state of affairs for such a major rail interchange right in the middle of Virgin EC's patch.
Alan
Butts
Veteran Member
In the Newcastle Lounge yesterday. Tea/Coffee Water and Biscuits and no ticket checks. Trying to recoup some of my £75 - see infrastructure and stations section 
47271
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Apr 2015
- Messages
- 2,983
I think I may have posted this upthread but I just go in the Royal York hotel lounge, virtually part of the station, if I'm waiting there. You can sit in a much nicer lounge than any of Virgin's with pleasant service and free wifi for the price of a coffee. Or if it's that time of day, have a drink in the York Tap.
Bishopstone
Established Member
Gatwick Airport first class lounge seems to have opened. It's a small room on the concourse, near to the escalator/stairs down to platform 6 which is used by Up GatEx services starting at the airport half-hourly.
Just a few red sofas, with power/USB points adjacent. There's a small counter on which were bottles of mineral water and a bowl of fruit: presumably complimentary. Unstaffed, as I passed briefly, and accessed via a push button door. No notices regarding ticket acceptance, so not sure whether a FC single to Horley or (more plausibly) Brighton would suffice, or whether they intend to restrict it to the Victoria GatEx trade.
There's a Costa Coffee Express machine outside, in the general circulation area, not yet connected. As yet, there is no signage on this to suggest first class folk will get freebies.
I was on an unofficial connection tonight, hence no time for pics, but I'll grab some soon unless I'm beaten to it.
Just a few red sofas, with power/USB points adjacent. There's a small counter on which were bottles of mineral water and a bowl of fruit: presumably complimentary. Unstaffed, as I passed briefly, and accessed via a push button door. No notices regarding ticket acceptance, so not sure whether a FC single to Horley or (more plausibly) Brighton would suffice, or whether they intend to restrict it to the Victoria GatEx trade.
There's a Costa Coffee Express machine outside, in the general circulation area, not yet connected. As yet, there is no signage on this to suggest first class folk will get freebies.
I was on an unofficial connection tonight, hence no time for pics, but I'll grab some soon unless I'm beaten to it.
Butts
Veteran Member
Heard an interesting snippet of information in the Virgin Edinburgh Lounge on Thursday Evening when I was on my way up to Aberdeen with my son.
The Coffee Machine was u/s and the guy tidying up said he would have to get one of the "youngsters" from the information desk downstairs to fix it. He was a train dispatcher and was moaning that although Virgin were crowing about jazzing the lounge up that did not extend to having a permanent member of staff in there. He and other employees were expected to do that in-between performing other duties.
Conversely when I was in the Birmingham New Street Lounge yesterday there were two members of staff in there.
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Visited the BHI Lounge yesterday afternoon and this evening - Coffee Machine out of order both times.
However tonight those wonderful packs of chocolate raisins / peanuts were in situ. First time I have seen them for ages !!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Visited Darlington Lounge for the first time today. Hope it does not get busy as there is hardly room to swing a cat in there
Judging by the "Biscuit Barrel" which only contained three packets they were not expecting a rush :cry:
As no one seems to have the bottle or inclination to ask Virgin East Coast on Twitter why their Lounges are so poorly stocked with fayre compared to West Coast I am going to have to write and ask them.
All this bull**** heralding the refurbished Lounges on VEC fails to mention the ambience may have improved but the "freebies" have not
The Coffee Machine was u/s and the guy tidying up said he would have to get one of the "youngsters" from the information desk downstairs to fix it. He was a train dispatcher and was moaning that although Virgin were crowing about jazzing the lounge up that did not extend to having a permanent member of staff in there. He and other employees were expected to do that in-between performing other duties.
Conversely when I was in the Birmingham New Street Lounge yesterday there were two members of staff in there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Visited the BHI Lounge yesterday afternoon and this evening - Coffee Machine out of order both times.
However tonight those wonderful packs of chocolate raisins / peanuts were in situ. First time I have seen them for ages !!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Visited Darlington Lounge for the first time today. Hope it does not get busy as there is hardly room to swing a cat in there
Judging by the "Biscuit Barrel" which only contained three packets they were not expecting a rush :cry:
As no one seems to have the bottle or inclination to ask Virgin East Coast on Twitter why their Lounges are so poorly stocked with fayre compared to West Coast I am going to have to write and ask them.
All this bull**** heralding the refurbished Lounges on VEC fails to mention the ambience may have improved but the "freebies" have not
Bishopstone
Established Member
In addition to fruit, there were a couple of pastry baskets in the new FC lounge at Gatwick today. Aside from the usual Pain au Chocolat and Croissants, there were - quite randomly - a number of Fondant Fancies, looking suspiciously like those sold in boxes by Mr Kipling. Anything 'free' is appreciated, though I'd still prefer a hot drink over eatables.
Butts
Veteran Member
No hot drinks ? - that's crazy especially with an "exceedingly good...." what refreshment do they offer and who is running it ?
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Bishopstone
Established Member
Fruit and pastries. Bottles of mineral water, sometimes.
It's Gatwick Express branded, but not specified which FC tickets are valid for entry, though I'm sure the target market is Victoria-bound GatEx fares.
All Line Rover
Established Member
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- 17 Feb 2011
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- 5,263
Do the "new" Gatwick Express trains have 2+1 first class seating, like their predecessors?
All Line Rover
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 Feb 2011
- Messages
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What a joke. There isn't even a dividing door.
Butts
Veteran Member
Has anyone visited The Grand Central 1st class Lounge at Wakefield Kirkgate ?
Kindly update with whats on offer - I didn't even know it existed until I saw an ad on a leaflet for it today.
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Anyone got any experience knowledge of this facility, apart from the leaflet I can't find any trace of it anywhere else.
Beginning to wonder if it exists at all
Kindly update with whats on offer - I didn't even know it existed until I saw an ad on a leaflet for it today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Anyone got any experience knowledge of this facility, apart from the leaflet I can't find any trace of it anywhere else.
Beginning to wonder if it exists at all
It does exist but I have no idea beyond its existence as it was shut when I was there.
Butts
Veteran Member
Polarbear
Established Member
I sampled the Huddersfield first class lounge on Friday 4 November. A rather nice place to while away some time & very comfortable. More like a modern hotel reception area
Facilities include self service hot & cold drinks, biscuits, crisps and some dips (olive tapenade & mango chutney). Access is by showing your ticket to a camera, which was an issue with my ticket due to the small print on it!
Facilities include self service hot & cold drinks, biscuits, crisps and some dips (olive tapenade & mango chutney). Access is by showing your ticket to a camera, which was an issue with my ticket due to the small print on it!