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BA Gatwick South First lounge review
  • British Airways
  • British Airways Executive Club

BA Gatwick South new First lounge review

  • 14/07/2018
  • Michele

Last week I reviewed BA’s Gatwick South Club lounge and the check-in area. Today I will be looking at what is on offer for First Class and Gold Card Holder/Oneworld Emerald passengers. I originally reviewed the lounge a day or so after it opened. Since then I have visited multiple times so I will be looking at what the lounge is like nearly 18 months after opening and sharing some 360° photos.

In this post:

  • Check-in
  • Lounge Eligibility and opening times
  • The Lounge
  • Food and Drink
    • Breakfast
    • Rest of the day
    • Drinks
  • Work area
  •  Toilets
  • Conclusion

Check-in

British Airways Gatwick Club check in
BA Gatwick check-in

There is a separate entrance for First and Club passengers but it is not like the First Wing at Heathrow. It just leads you to a First desk at the end of the main row of check-in desks. Afterwards, you have to head upstairs to the Premium Security channel to get to the lounge. Once through security there is a short cut signposted to the left to the BA and No 1 lounges. From the main departure hall go to the upper level and there is a passageway to the lift by JD Sports.

Lounge Eligibility and opening times

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 #theta360uk – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

To access the British Airways Club lounge you must be:

  • flying on a scheduled British Airways flight in First
  • a Gold Member of the British Airways Executive Club on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or  oneworld® partners
  • an Emerald member of any of the oneworld airline frequent flyer programmes on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or  oneworld partners
  • over the age of 18 years, or if under 18 years you are accompanied by a responsible adult. (Local laws relating to the consumption of alcohol will apply.)

Until 27 October 2018, the summer opening times are 05:15 – 20:00. This was a change from the previous 7am opening which caused a very crowded Club lounge in the morning. It will be interesteing to see what happens over the winter.  The BA website still shows the old opening times.

The Lounge

The entrance to the lounge is the same as the Club lounge and you just turn left rather than right when you have checked in. (always have to turn left!)

British Airways Gatwick First & Club lounge entrance
British Airways Gatwick Club & First lounge entrance

Once inside, the area is fairly small but feels light and airy with the floor to ceiling windows. If you are into planes there is a fantastic view of the runway and apron whilst you sip your champagne!

BA Gatwick south First lounge review
Champagnes and planes – is there a better combination?

One of my favourite features were the starburst lights which I thought added a bit of modern elegance.

BA Gatwick First lounge review
Main seating area in lounge

In between the seats are tables with panels of UK and European plug sockets as well as 2 USB ports.

Gatwick First lounge review BA

 

The lounge has several different areas. There is the main seating area that has a little nook with armchairs if you want some peace and quiet.

BA First Gatwick lounge review chairs
small seating area within lounge

The main area leads into the buffet and dining area with some smart dining booths lining the area and the adjacent business centre.

Food and Drink

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 #theta360uk – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Breakfast

The breakfast selection is pretty extensive and similar to what you would get in the T5 lounge. They have fruit, yoghurt, smoked salmon and cheeses in the cold selection. There is also the usual full English in the hot selection as well as porridge. Over by the tea and coffee you could choose from a selection of pastries. BA now serves Union hand rosted coffee on board and in some lounges including Gatwick. If nothing takes your fancy on the buffet, you can also order food from the menu but only from 7am. Toast is available but you have to order it (that is the only to order item before 7am).

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Breakfast menu

 

 

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Cold breakfast selection
BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Pastries and coffee

 

Full English and a buck fizz – tiny plates though

Rest of the day

They switch to the lunch menu at 12pm and put out a range of salads, sandwiches and a vegetarian frittata. There is also soup and a selection of hot food.

BA First lounge Gatwick review buffet
Fish cakes and curry on the buffet

Here is an example selection:

  • Rice
  • Peperonata penne pasta
  • Roasted root vegetables
  • Parmentier Potatoes
  • Cream of tomato soup
  • Honey roasted bacon loin with parsley sauce
  • Kedgeree fish cake with mango chutney
  • Moroccan spicy beef
  • Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi

 

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Bread and dressings

The sandwiches and salads were very similar to Heathrow but slightly less selection as there was no separate tapas section like Heathrow has.

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Lunch selection

If you don’t fancy any of the buffet food, then there is an order menu which changes regularly although certain staples like the burger are usually on there. Roving Reporter and I sampled a couple of dishes on the order menu – the burger and the pulled beef.

BA First lounge Gatwick review menu
Pulled beef

Both were extremely good and better than the Heathrow equivalents. I find the staff in the Gatwick First lounge particularly friendly and helpful compared to Heathrow. Though I have yet to meet Lionel who is something of a star amongst my BA Gold and GGL Facebook group members who meet him in the Gatwick lounge!

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Order menu Feb 17
Order menu October 17
BA First lounge Gatwick review menu
The famous BA burger – pretty good at Gatwick

I did like the rather tempting selection of cakes they put out at lunch time, including a gluten free one. I managed to resist them so can’t report on whether they tasted as good as they looked!

BA Gatwick First lounge

Drinks

BA First lounge Gatwick review champagne bar
Champagne bar

The wine selection varies wildly I find with a few gems appearing now again among more pedestrian offerings. There are usually 3 white including a French burgundy, a new world white and one other. Examples include a Pouilly Fume, Montagny Premier Cru, Springfield Sauvignon Blanc., Creation Sauvignon Blanc, Vouvray and a Simonsig Wooded Chenin Blanc. The champagne is usually Henriot Brut and Rose but due to supply issues it has been varying lately but this was due to be resolved by mid July 2018.

BA Gatwick South First lounge review
Red wine selection

The spirit selection appeared pretty much the same as the Club lounge. There were initially 4 vodka’s including Ciroc which I hadn’t seen in Club, Red label Johnnie Walker, Baron Otard cognac and Gentleman Jack. (EDIT: They have now replaced the JW Red with JW Blue as per Heathrow.) The main difference from the Club lounge is the 2 Champagnes by Henriot, one white and one rose. I enjoy the rose Champagne though I am not so keen on the white one.

BA First lounge Gatwick review champagne
Champagne and white wine selection

Work area

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 #theta360uk – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

There is a very similar work area to the Club lounge although at least this one has natural daylight. Like the Club lounge it has PCs, a printer and plenty of sockets. It does have some very strange choices for artwork though that looked a child had drawn them but apparently, they are by Tracey Emin. Shows what I know about art!

Rather odd artwork
BA Gatwick First lounge
Work area

 Toilets

If you want a shower you have to use the Club ones. The toilets were fine and certainly better than the Heathrow ones.

BA Gatwick First lounge

Conclusion

The BA First lounge at Gatwick South is a pleasant space to spend some time and it has a bit of ‘wow’ factor in the decor and views. The order menus deliver some tasty food options, usually with friendly and speedy service. The wine selection is slightly disappointing compared to Heathrow but better than the Club lounge. However, it is definitely an improvement on the old lounge. I much prefer it to the crowded and hot BA Heathrow First lounge.

You can see more on my You Tube video:

 

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  • British Airways
  • british airways executive club
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3 comments
  1. Jan Beugel says:
    27/03/2018 at 2:48 pm

    Gentleman Jack is made by Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, Tennessee and as such is not a Bourbon. A Bourbon is made from Kentucky Grain……..Jack Daniels do not use Kentucky Grain!!!

  2. mikeact1009 says:
    14/07/2018 at 8:07 am

    Shame Club Europe is not treated as First.

  3. Tilly71 says:
    14/07/2018 at 2:06 pm

    @mikeact1009:
    To be fair im seeing a lot of south galleries business lounge in this first lounge. Coffee machines the same, similar offering at lunch etc.
    Main difference w/o be ordering of food from a menu and pribably less crowded. I hope to be trying out this f lounge early next year.?

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