As the travel industry slowly grinds back into action, there’s a universal acknowledgement that better experiences are the way to encourage more people to get moving. Amex has announced the opening of its latest Centurion Lounge, a refined new space in London Heathrow’s Terminal 3.
Amex’s first UK foray into a curated lounge is a festival of British design cues, from art and product design, through to beauty and body products, as well as the food and dishes served up to travellers. Open to American Express Platinum and Centurion Card holders, the Heathrow space joins a select group of spaces including JFK, LAX, Miami, and Hong Kong.
The Heathrow lounge is given a warm, welcoming atmosphere, courtesy of dark wood surfaces, metallic accents, panelled detailing, and plenty of soft light sources. The last includes a selection of models from Tom Dixon’s studio, including the ‘Melt’ and ‘Beat’ pendant lights, ‘Spot’ surface lights and ‘Boom’ wall lights. Lee Broom’s ‘Crystal Bulb Pendants’ and ‘Orion Globe Lights’ also feature.
Furniture has been sourced from several British makers, including the Bristol-based Konk Furniture; the ‘Always’ chair and ‘Lasso’ stool have been supplied by Naughtone; and other tables and accessories are courtesy of Deadgood.
Classic and contemporary artworks are scattered throughout the space; notable pieces include original fashion photography by Norman Parkinson and new works by the painters Stephen Marshall and Carne Griffiths, as well as architectural drawings.
There’s a well-stocked bar, and the food menu has been overseen by chef Assaf Granit of London’s Coal Office restaurant, who is also one of the founding partners of The Palomar and The Barbary. Drawing on London’s long history of multicultural cuisine, Granit is offering an eclectic variety of dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world.
Finally, there’s a pleasant surprise in the Centurion Lounge’s washrooms, with a collection of Soapsmith products by founder Samantha Jameson. Waiting for a flight just became much less of a chore.§
