Eurostar is reopening its Premier Lounge at Gare du Nord after a total renovation. Located at 22 rue de Dunkerque, right next to the station, this lounge is intended for passengers in the new Premier class deployed on the ex-Thalys European routes - France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany - as well as Carte Blanche and Etoile members. The 139 m² space can accommodate up to 160 people, including 39 seats.
The redesign was entrusted to London architect Chris Bagot, who was already responsible for the layout of the Eurostar cross-Channel terminal lounge at Paris-Nord station. He claims to have " create a comfortable and practical lounge that meets passengers' needs with ease ". Inspired by Parisian bistros and cafés, the new decor is cosy and refined, combining a choice of light-coloured woods, traditional furniture and designer pieces. It is also more respectful of the environment, thanks to the use of sustainable materials.
Situated between the Rue de Dunkerque and an inner courtyard planted with trees, the Eurostar Premium Lounge features a relaxation area with a cocktail bar open Monday to Friday from 3pm. It's a friendly, inviting space that already enhanced the Eurostar cross-Channel lounge when Chris Bagot gave it a makeover. For work, the Eurostar Premium Lounge offers business travellers bistro tables and high tables, as well as a closed booth for discreet telephone calls. There is even a more intimate area where you can isolate yourself by closing a curtain. Passengers also have access to press titles, newspapers and magazines, as well as a range of snacks and drinks.
Towards harmonisation of the various lounges
With this renovation, Eurostar is continuing to move upmarket and harmonise its lounge offering, which currently includes 5 Eurostar Premier Lounges on its network, i.e. two in Paris-Nord and two in Brussels-Midi - one of which is for cross-Channel journeys - as well as a lounge in London-St Pancras for customers travelling to Brussels, Amsterdam, Lille and Paris. The Brussels lounge, also designed by the same architectural firm, reopened its doors to passengers in January.
While Amsterdam's new cross-Channel terminal was inaugurated last FebruaryTo date, it still does not include a lounge for Premier class passengers. This harmonisation, both in stations and on board trains, is helping to strengthen the brand identity, and is a way for this SNCF subsidiary to complete the merger with Thalys and prepare for the arrival of future competitors on its European routes and to London.
