London-Delhi is a regular-ish route of mine for work and play and the recent lack of a proper lounge was odd seeing the volume of premium traffic DEL has. I flew back this week and got to try the Encalm 'Privé" lounge for the first time (last time I came back to London from DEL, I was so late they told me they are holding the flight and I need to run - so no lounge time!). This is one very impressive facility and should not be confused with the Encalm lounge on the floor above, which is, at most times, a zoo. Access to the lounge is for J/F passengers (across all airlines) only and high status, so VS Gold also gets you and a guest in. You must get an invite pass at check in.

Once inside the space is massive, full of natural light and seems to have lots of areas to the sides with different styles of seating, bathrooms (inc. showers), meeting rooms and a VR games room (games are chargeable). The main space and restaurant area feels like a five-star hotel main dining room both in buffet layout and in the variety and quality of food on offer. It has a central bar in the middle of the main space. I was there over breakfast and saw them switch to lunch, you are spoilt for choice. Had a chat to the head-chef while I was there and they obviously take a lot of pride in this. Coffee is brought to your table on order (but I found this service slow and a little annoying, so just went to the machines myself so I could customise). Note there are no announcements in the lounge so keep an eye on screens, and some of the gates are a long walk away.

Some pics below, aside from the LHR Clubhouse, I think this is now one of the best lounges on the VS network - substantially better than BOM.


Entrance


Central Bar









Library, with printers and workstations


















Secondary seating area, with another alcoholic bar and barista coffee