Review: No1 Lounge London Gatwick South Terminal

Lucky, you reference the forced maze of shops at LGW South. If you turn left just before the escalators leading down to the shops you can walk straight down a corridor on to the upper level and head straight to the lounge.
Surprised no premium check-in. I pass through Gatwick daily and normally see some dedicated desks. Perhaps you were just too early.

I used this lounge prior to CI70 (departs @ 9:15pm) in mid-December and it is was quite busy at that time of the evening. Agree with the food options: menu not very enticing and self-service was limited in choices (fruit, nuts and pretzels). The bar tender was kept busy with all the visitors. It's OK for a short while and more comfortable than elsewhere in the South Terminal.

Earliest westbound transatlantic flight depends on your definition of “earliest”. Some flights from MAD to South America depart just after midnight.

We couldn't get in using Priority pass but The Grain Store was decent

I hate lounges where you can only get an alcoholic drink via a server. Not only does it create a bottleneck, but it means I can't get my drink exactly as I want it.

I am fine if there is a tended bar, particularly if you want cocktails made professionally. I just think that there should always be beer, wine and spirits available on a self-service basis as well.

Same with food. Although I sometimes like to be served, I also want the option of self-service. So that I can pick my own items for a full breakfast or buffet lunch, for instance.

All that said, pretty good that Norwegian gives you access with Premium fares given that they still aren't very expensive.

Wow - I need to visit there at 4am! I can assure you the experience is nothing like that from 9am until 8pm!

I still think The Grain Store beats it hands down ; P

Lots of urinals?

You wern't forced to go through the shops you could have stayed on the same level by taking the little exit just about security marked 'access to lounges' or words to that effect and I'm sure there are logos of the various lounges as well.

It even says on the lounge website

"After security follow signs for No1 Lounges and Clubrooms. Located between Dixons and JD Sports"

I thought you'd been to LGW before or you could have done a post asking for advice about flying from LGW and got an answer!

Yes it gets busy but if using PP you can pre-book for £5 on the website. Like it or not that's the way to avoid being turned away with PP access - though I guess you'd be okay at 4.30am. You can also pay an extra fee to access the "Clubrooms" (at both terminals) which are run by the same management but on the floor below, accessed from the same entrance - you can see the sign in the photo above. I think it's about £15 or so, you get a full a la carte menu and unlimited fizz/cocktails. I've not been for a while and only ever for breakfast. I'd say the food and drinks to be the same quality as the Virgin Clubhouse.

I've been to this lounge twice, and both times it was hellish. First I waited in line to get in amid the protests of Priority Pass holders who were being turned away.

Once inside, it was more like a Greyhound station than a lounge, with people sleeping on the couches or otherwise spread out as though they were camping. There were trashy day-drunks, people smoking in the restrooms and dirty service items everywhere.

Food took forever, but the bartenders were pleasant and doing their best to keep up.

Who were the 'reserved' spaces meant for? My experience of this, in other lounges etc, is that they remain unused for the entire duration of my lengthy stay, while every other portion of the space is heaving with guests looking for anywhere to sit. A brash acquaintance of mine heads straight for these reserved seats as if they are meant for her, and has never been asked to move on! Go figure, as the Americans say.....

I loved your photos especially the photo of the back seating area on the left side. It reminded me of where my parents and I sat last May. It is an all right lounge with very limited choices. Yes. All guests are entitled to one meal off the menu list including PP guests.

It’s always packed and you wait in line to get checked in behind all the tourists with 23 children paying for lounge access or flying Norwegian “premium” - one of my least favourite lounges in the world...

I pass thru GTW about 2X a month and find the way this lounge is run unacceptable. Most of the afternoons the reject PP members unless holding reservations yet the club is only 50% occupied. The hostesses at the lounge are about as rude as can be. I found The Grain Store to be the best option. Decent food, good service, and no wait.

Your comments would not have been quite so kind if you had entered later as it gets packed and yes sometimes with a load of unruly children running around. The food can be stale and the bacon butties are minute, you need to order at least 2. There is no self service bar which is good in the fact that it stops the early inebriates getting more inebriate, but yes it can cause long waits. The one thing that amazes me is the fact that they don't serve Chardonnay.....a basic wine I would have of thought as opposed to their disgusting Pinot Grigio. I would not pay the exorbinate fee to use this Lounge.

Looks like you missed the sign leaving security that would have diverted you to the left - rather than down the escalators - so you can bypass most of the shops on the way to the lounges!

I fly Norwegian premium a lot and there's always a (very fast) dedicated premium queue and desk. Maybe it was just so early

The No 1 lounge does fill up but my experience is much more positive. I've always found the staff friendly and the food orders fast. Alcoholic drinks are available at the bar (not just from the servers) but I've never seen self serve. The food (from the menu and the buffet) is pretty OK

I think one of the reasons that lounge is nice is because it was the lounge BA were using for quite some time after the North/South swap with EasyJet. They basically had to make it at least a BA Club standard and did a decent job with it.

A totally pointless review as a quick check of Tripadvisor will give a much truer picture of the horrors of No:1. Many, many years ago it was a fairly pleasant experience but now it’s been massively oversold with the double whammy of cost cutting. You can’t please all the people anytime must be the company motto. Unless free with your ticket I’d suggest using one of the restaurants at airport for a far nicer time.