corporate-wage-slave

Galleries Club Lounge London Gatwick (North Terminal): Catering options from April 2013

From 25 April 2013 the food options in the Galleries Club lounge at London Gatwick North Terminal have changed, after BaxterStorey was appointed to run the food and beverage operations. This lounge is available to Club Europe, Club World, BA Silver and oneworld Sapphire members travelling oneworld, with the LGW Flounge available next door for First / Gold / Emerald passengers.

[Note: A particular thank you to the staff in the lounge here, who were exceptionally helpful to me and indeed the other passengers. Some of them have worked in the LGW lounge complex for many years and have seen many changes. It is noteable that the guestbook in LGW is much less vitriolic than those in LHR, despite the weaker food offerings].

Breakfast Menu
Available from 5:15 to 12 noon.

Note that there are no bacon rolls in this lounge, nor was there before BaxterStorey. Flounge users do have bacon bagettes available all day.


Beverages

Rest of the day
Noon to close

Help yourself
Further information on this period would be appreciated.


Afternoon tea
Served from 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Photos
These photos relate to the food offerings during the breakfast period:













Recent page from the guest book - mix of positive and negative views:


And finally some BaxterStorey publicity:


Comments
My perception, backed by discussions with staff and some other regular users of the lounge, is that the BaxterStorey changeover has had positive and negative changes. The sandwiches are much bulkier and tastier, and more decortatively served. The cakes are popular, as is the new quiche / flan and soup offerings. The taste of the porridge varies from day to day, it appears some staff are better at it than others, but at least it is homemade. The lack of takeaway portions has caused friction, however. For example one twice a year guest like to snaffle "a couple" of mini packs of Marmite to go on holiday with. It now comes out of a big jar. It seems trivial to me, but it certainly upset that traveller.

Update tracker
30 May - opening post
2 June - correction to juices.

T8191

Looking forward (vaguely) to testing in 10 days' time. Usually arrive around 0900 and depart 1200, so may get to see and photo both meal options.

I was always personally content with the breakfast offering, but then I'm an undemanding customer!

Genius1

The menu makes mention of fresh fruit juices - is this really the case? I was under the impression the Club lounges only stocked concentrated juice.

corporate-wage-slave

And you would be correct! It's obviously concentrate from the photos. It does say "fresh" on the crib sheet I have but the best one could say is it is freshly served! I'll correct it above.

srbrenna

I will be there at end of August so will report back.

Genius1

It would be so nice if BS could provide the hot bacon/mushroom rolls and toast - that would make LGW as bad as LHR, not worse

TCX69

No Champagne in here??

There isn't this morning. Unless my eyes are deceiving me!

KARFA

Just ask one of the staff and they will bring you a glass. The mention on one of the threads to a bottle being left on the side was very much an exception. Champagne in LGW Galleries Club (and in the LHR GC lounges) is usually on request rather than free pour.

T8191

Breakfast offering now also includes sliced (pressed) ham and cheese (cheddar).

That was introduced late last Summer, and was a suggestion I made to the BS and BA managers I happened to meet last Spring ... when I commented on the last of savoury options available. So they do actually listen (at least, they do at LGW)

jackr27

Tried the tomato soup earlier... tastes very much like Heinz Cream of Tomato. Awful stuff.

MaximusDecimusMeridius

I was in the LGW Galleries lounge at the weekend for an early morning flight. I thought the food selection and quality was very good. But I did not want bacon rolls or champagne

The pasties were especially good and the coffee drinkable.

The food offered in flight was poor. I was travelling Economy on a short European flight. They offered a Strawberry and Banana Bircher muesli. It was vile. It has to be the worst food offering I have ever had on a flight. Even worse that the half a tinned pear with a squirt of Birds Eye Dream Topping that was passed as dessert on a Monarch flight to Sardinia in 1983!

I would have willingly swapped it for a Ducks Tongue which I hear is now being offered to lounge customers at Chengdu

mjh0

Oh, don't get me started. What is the obsession with sodding Bircher muesli? It is truly nasty.

MaximusDecimusMeridius

Now I like a good bircher Muesli. There was one in the Lounge and it was good. I make my own at home, it's fab.

This was not Bircher muesli despite what the packaging may have said. It was pink gloop with bits of (one presumes) oat grains floating around in it.

Icky.

ratechaser

Just stumbled across this thread as I've never experienced the LGW BA lounges and will have an opportunity to do so next April. All I can say is, good grief! Exceptionally poor offering, especially compared with the VS CH - my kids will not be happy about the lack of hot food, not to mention being unable to have their nails done (yeah, very much first world problems).

I think maybe a quick breakfast at Cafe Rouge is called for, before heading in there for a glass or two of champagne...

PJSMITH0

Likewise as an ex VS gold it took some getting used to. However in the LGWGold/first lounge there is hot food so you could sneak in and get yourself a nice bacon roll.