With today’s announcement, American Express opens yet another Centurion Lounge this year, at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Located in Terminal 3. This will be the brand’s first Centurion Lounge in Europe but American Express’ third Centurion Lounge to open this year.
It’s no small lounge either. Spanning over 7,000 square feet (650 square meters), the new lounge takes design cues from London interiors while incorporating the signature features Card Members know and love. The new space is pretty slick and certainly will elevate the lounge experience in Terminal 3, which already features some pretty impressive spaces.
On entry, there’s an impressive living wall made of moss, that apparently reflects the designs of Hyde Park. Inside the lounge there’s a myriad of design and art touches including pencil drawings by Minty Sainsbury and custom furniture from UK-based designers such as Konk, Naughtone and Deadgood, and ultra modern lighting designs by two of our favourite designers Lee Broom and Tom Dixon.
The other elements all scream luxury and comfort. From Chef Assaf Granit of Coal Office fame in London who has brought to life signature dishes such as Kubalah bread, fried pita chips with tahini, shakshukit, a beef & lamb dish with confit tomatoes and tahini, and for dessert, an “Oh ‘My Baklava’” olive oil cake with pistachio anglaise and rose water diplomat.
There’s also a British-inspired tea cart with both hot and cold beverage selections including immune booster drinks, mango infused coconut water, peach iced tea and more. The absolutely stunning bar will have offerings from legendary mixologist Jim Meehan, whose menu features British cocktails like the Wayne’s Collins, a mashup of the Tom Collins and White Negroni, and non-alcoholic mixtures like the Hare of the Fog, a Negroni riff featuring England’s own Seedlip spirit and Aecorn aperitifs. The lounge will feature global wines sourced from France, Italy, Argentina, and more – exclusively selected by Wine Director Anthony Giglio.
To delight the olfactory senses, the lounge also uses seasonal Soapsmith products by Samantha Jameson. The line of six signature scents is inspired by different areas of London and made by a family of highly skilled soapsmiths with local ingredients. The scents will be rotated seasonally in the lounge, starting with “Hackney,” a tribute to the borough where Samantha grew up – although our sensory memory of the sights and smells of Hackney aren’t something that should be bottled up.
“We are delighted to be the first major hub airport in Europe to host an American Express Centurion Lounge. As travel restrictions continue to ease and key markets open back up, the new Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 will be a most welcome addition for passengers in need of a quiet place to relax before setting off on their journeys,” said Fraser Brown, Director of Retail and Property at Heathrow.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Centurion Lounge experience to our Card Members traveling through London’s Heathrow Airport and make their return to travel even more special,” said Pablo Rivero, Vice President & General Manager, Global Lounge Experiences. “From bespoke interior design to signature bites from a Michelin-Star chef, we continue to raise the bar for airport lounges by providing truly unique, top-notch premium experiences.”
The Big Picture
