Well, I'm in the club rooms waiting for my flight to Madrid. Mixed feelings. iM more concerned about the staff behaviours than the lounge itself, but here are my findings!

Checked in business class at the Iberia Express counter in the Gatwick South Terminal. I asked the lady what the lounge arrangements were and she breathed in sharply through her teeth (clearly dreading me asking that question) saying 'Well at the moment it's the Clubrooms, but they're having renovation work done too. Apparently they keep running out of food too, so I'm not sure.' She sure did set my expectations low and I was preparing to be turned away or for a rubbish experience.

I got a 5/10 experience. The girl who met me at the door didn't say a word to me (despite my cheeriness!), took my boarding pass, keyed some details into the computer and handed it back to me without saying a word. I found a quiet area to sit down - there were probably only about 10 people in there, but the nice furniture (very grey though!) was covered in newspapers, tables hadn't been cleared. I waited ten minutes to be served at my table which is no big deal.

I opted for a glass of beer and the Asian noodle broth. The beer was fine but the broth was an unappetising wallpaper paste gloop, bland and over cooked. A guy near me had a nice looking salad.

I didn't much enjoy hearing the boss lady ordering her staff around or charging around the lounge like a heat seeking missile in stilettos trying to look busy.

One of the waiter guys was really nice. The female staff I came into contact with were ether aggressive or apathetic.

In terms of help yourself food and drink there are canned soft drinks (Schweppes/Coke), coffee machines, fruit bowls and pieces of marble cake and caramel slices. That's it as far as I can tell.

The environment itself has the potential to be quite nice - but the poor/non existent buffet, unappetising food and disaffected staff let it down. It's a bit 'All fur coat...' If you get my drift. I preferred the other No 1 lounge in the south terminal which is also being refurbished.