LeeT

Yes we have all used the VS Clubhouse in LGW and whilst not a patch on the LHR Clubhouse it certainly is head and shoulders above the F Lounge pre-BaxterStorey and therefore will be worse still given the 'enhancements' by BA and its catering contractor...

FrancisA

I agree that we need to give BA constructive feedback, but I think in the case of LGW, it would be wrong to expect the catering to be the same standard and choice as at LHR.

The LGW catering (before the change over) was much like the LHR catering used to be before the move to T5 (and the new T3) lounges. In the old terraces and F lounges in T1 and T4, there were limited food offerings, mostly of the cold buffet type. (However, not forgetting the chef's kitchen in the old T4.) This is how things stayed at LGW.

The Gate Gourmet on-board catering strike brought additional food into the lounges, in particular salad bars. These stayed after the strike ended. The move to T5 (and T3) at LHR brought substantial new hot food choices, including a hot food buffet. BA offered nothing like this previously, except pre-flight dinning for eligible passengers only. The opening of T5 five years ago therefore marked a significant improvement in the lounge catering at LHR, which was not matched at LGW, other than with the salad bar in the Terraces lounge.

The point I am making this that LGW used to be pretty similar to LHR in lounge catering terms. It is the dramatic improvement at LHR that left LGW behind. However, now we seem to have far worse catering than ever. No proper hot food choices in the F Lounge, not even soup apparently, and very limited choices (if there is any choice at all) of everything else.

BA's idea of "simplification" seems to be to reduce choice down to "take it or leave it"

crazyarmadillo

Had our very first trip from LGW to LAS. We have always gone from LHR since we started flying with BA again, and were somewhat concerned. The 777 was of some concern with no OPUP potential from CW to F, the lounge, the terminal itself and also landing at an earlier hour catching other passengers entering the US.

Our return flight was back to LHR, so only had this one leg to worry about.

However, all went quite well, but, I am afraid to say, the lounge is disappointing indeed.

I am a great fan of BA and love (exaggeration maybe) T5, so was not expecting what was there at LGW.

Felt claustrophobic, nowhere to sit, too warm, food options very limited.

On the positive side, the fridge was well stocked with beverages and was checked to ensure it was filled regularly, and the Mushroom and also the egg and bacon dishes were hot and tasty.

Didn't have time for terraces nor the priority pass lounge, but would try those, should we ever venture to LGW again.

gcuk

Very limited offering in the Flounge tonight. 2 soups, tomato and red pepper or parsley and chilli - obviously an assumption that everyone likes spicy options - I don't. Only cold meat was chorizo and some tired looking salad. A couple of cheeses and that was it. Very disappointing.

windowontheAside

My first visit to the Flounge this afternoon and I was very disappointed.

I was hoping to find something I could have for lunch, preferably hot. I didn't expect the same variety as LHR, but I did expect one or two hot dishes on a buffet with a reasonable salad bar. I guess I should have read this thread first and tempered my expectations.

OK, so there's no hot dishes. Why not? It's hard to see how this offering is appropriate for a Flounge.

But even putting that aside, the salad bar was woefully stocked. Despite labels for ham and chorizo there was none of each. The quiche was soggy and there were precisely four sandwiches, two of which had fallen apart. The salads were similarly uninspiring.

I asked one of the staff for a bacon sandwich. He looked at his watch and told me they no longer did them. I pointed out the only item available to order was the bacon baguette and he said "Oh, you want a bacon BAGUETTE?". Well excuse me! And I'd hardly call what arrived a baguette.

If they can offer various breakfast offerings during the morning, why can't they at least match that during the rest of the day? Or offer something like jacket potatoes which are undemanding and fairly tolerant of being kept warm?

I took the chance to flick through the visitors book. Going back several pages, all the comments bar one were complaints. Does anyone read those?

I was really disappointed by the whole thing. I honestly don't think I'll bother going back next time I go through LGW. I didn't visit the Jlounge, but it's hard to imagine a lower lounge offering than the sad state I experienced today.

FrancisA

If you read post 17, I've set out the recent history of lounge catering. Hot buffets are a new thing arriving at LHR only with the opening of T5. LGW remained as before until recently.

Once LGW was a major hub for BA with many long haul routes and a much more extensive short haul network. Not any more - BA are no longer the biggest player at LGW and seem disinterested in the LGW product. They don't seem to know what to make of it.

This decline has been mirrored in a drop in lounge capacity - third floor space relinquished and Flounge made smaller. The decline has now come to the FLounge menu. Previously the "rest of the day" menu offered soup and a pasta dish as hot options, together with a cheese board and afternoon tea. Now we are down to just bacon rolls.

In many ways this is more shocking than the decline in the FLounge at LHR. At LHR real paying F pax have the CCR. At LGW the FLounge is the lounge for F pax and all that BA think someone paying Ł000s for a flight merits is a bacon roll!

This is shocking, truly shocking.

BahrainLad

Any recent reports of the breakfast offer in the LGW F Lounge? Will be flying out on Friday morning and just wondering if it's worth going a bit earlier to have breakfast, or pick up something in the terminal.

PUCCI GALORE

Dear Mr Ambassador - I am not really the best person to answer as I really find some of the fuss and pa-lava about the blessed Lounge quite OTT. I have been in there several times lately and breakfast was usually being cleared away. I ordered the bacon sandwich for HI (I think) and frankly there seemed to be plenty of things to eat. To be honest, I think that the Flounge is in the wrong place as it is comparatively pokey and you can see nothing. That, of course, is not your question. What I would say is this, never mind the menu ask the staff. I have found them so helpful and pleasant as mostly they are treated like bits of dirt by the High and Mighty from either Lounge. I suspect that if you fancy something and they can do it - they will. The Manager's office is in that corridor leading to the baths on the left past the kitchen.

Wherever you are off to - have a lovely time, Honey!!

Can I help you

It's Honey now is it, what does he have that I don't have?

Yahillwe

CIHY what did you do last night???? Am dying to know what I missed.

BahrainLad

Honey, bien sur!

Can I help you

Nothing naughty, I know it sounded that way.
Let's just say a good time was had by all and lots of alcohol was consumed.

corporate-wage-slave

The menu in post 1 is still correct. It's basically continental breakfast plus bacon bagettes (or baked beans on toast). There's actually a larger selection in Galleries Club next door, simply because there is more space, but they don't get the bacon, and GC can be terribly busy at this time of year.

If you want a better more comprehensive cooked breakfast, then there are plenty of options outside. For something less substantial then Flounge is fine, and the staff there are great.

VC10 Boy

I do find the LGW lounge well stocked with magazines Bahrain Lad. Now I know this has no bearing on your brekkie, but it will also save you a visit to W.H. Smith.

Have you tried J.W. Blue on your cornflakes in the morning? It's a Danish delicacy I hear.

BahrainLad

I am slightly ashamed that I have done that, but only as a test.