Plaza Premium at Gatwick North occupies the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse — a space that Virgin invested heavily in before vacating in 2021 when it withdrew its Gatwick operation. Plaza Premium took over the fit-out intact and benefits enormously from it: the marble bar, the bird-like chandelier, the curved green booths, the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the fourth-floor altitude that gives the lounge genuinely good natural light across two aspects. It is the most visually impressive independent lounge in the terminal. Amex Platinum cardholders can enter by showing their physical card at reception — no Priority Pass required. Standard Priority Pass is not accepted here. The food does not live up to the surroundings, but for Amex Platinum and DragonPass holders, this is the recommended first stop at Gatwick North.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Terminal | North Terminal — same lounge corridor as No1, Clubrooms, My Lounge, Emirates; take lift to 4th floor |
| Amex Platinum | Accepted directly — show physical Platinum card at reception. No Priority Pass required or used. |
| DragonPass | Accepted — free entry per DragonPass terms |
| Priority Pass | Not accepted — regardless of how the card was issued |
| LoungeKey | Not accepted — confirm before travel |
| Cash Rate | Approximately £44 per person (pre-book at plazapremiumlounge.com) |
| Opening Hours | 4am–8pm daily |
| Food | Hot and cold buffet; inconsistent quality — the lounge’s weakest point |
| Bar | Staffed marble bar; wine, beer, spirits included; cocktails available |
| Showers | No |
| Children | Permitted |
| Natural light | Yes — floor-to-ceiling windows on two aspects; best natural light of any lounge in North Terminal |
| Wi-Fi | Complimentary |
| Former use | Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse until September 2021 |
Location & Getting There
Plaza Premium is in the same lounge corridor as all other North Terminal independent lounges. After clearing security, turn left and follow the signs for Gates 45–55 and 101–113 through duty free. Do not take the escalators — follow the corridor underneath and turn right. All lounge signage is together at this junction. Unlike the other lounges in the corridor, Plaza Premium is on the top (4th) floor — take the lift. The extra altitude relative to the corridor level is one of its main advantages: higher floors mean better natural light and better aircraft views, and this lounge benefits from both.
Access Routes
Amex Platinum cardholders do not need to use their Priority Pass to access this lounge — show the physical Platinum card directly at reception. This is a meaningful practical point: if you have mislaid your Priority Pass card or are using the Amex app rather than the physical PP card, the direct Platinum card route still works. Conversely, if you try to use your Priority Pass (even a PP issued by Amex) at this lounge, you will be turned away — Plaza Premium does not accept PP regardless of source.
| Route | Detail | Guest Policy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum card (direct) | Show physical Platinum Card at reception. Access confirmed per the Amex Platinum benefit — verify current Amex benefit terms before travel as these can change. | Per Amex benefit terms | Free with card |
| DragonPass | Free entry per DragonPass terms. DragonPass is the consumer-facing brand of the same system used by Plaza Premium globally. | Per DragonPass terms | Free with card |
| Priority Pass | Not accepted — including Amex Platinum-issued Priority Pass cards. Use the direct Amex Platinum card route instead. | — | N/A |
| LoungeKey | Not currently accepted — confirm before travel | — | N/A |
| Cash / walk-in | Available. Pre-book via plazapremiumlounge.com for best rate (~£44); walk-in subject to capacity. | N/A | ~£44 pre-booked |
| Airline status / ticket | Not accepted — independent lounge; no airline partnerships at Gatwick North | — | N/A |
The Lounge
The lounge retains the bones of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse almost entirely: the feature marble bar dominates the central section of the room, the chandelier above it is striking, and the curved green leather booth seating along one wall gives the space a character that few independent airport lounges in the UK can match. Floor-to-ceiling windows on two aspects provide natural light throughout the day, and aircraft views are available from the window seating positions — the window-facing semi-circular sofas are occupied early on busy mornings and for good reason.
The seating variety is above average: semi-circular sofas with lounge tables facing the windows, green booths offering more seclusion, dining-height tables along the window wall, and more casual seating clusters in the central zone. The space is generously sized — approximately 1,350 square metres — and has historically run at lower occupancy than No1 below, partly because the access restriction to Amex Platinum and DragonPass limits the volume of card-access guests. This tends to translate to a calmer and less pressured atmosphere than its neighbours, which is one of the main arguments in its favour beyond the design.
There are no showers — a notable absence at a lounge priced at approximately £44 for cash entry. Toilet maintenance has attracted mixed feedback and does not always reflect the quality of the physical environment. This is worth knowing, though it is not a reason to avoid the lounge.
Food & Drink
The food is the lounge’s most consistent point of criticism and represents a meaningful disconnect from the quality of the physical environment. The buffet is adequate but inconsistent: hot dishes rotate and vary in quality, cold options are functional, and the overall presentation does not match the premium impression the room creates. Reviewers who have visited multiple times note that quality is variable rather than uniformly poor — some visits have been described as decent, others as disappointing — which makes it difficult to set reliable expectations.
The bar is the food offering’s counterpoint and a genuine highlight. The inherited marble bar from the Clubhouse era has real quality, and wine, beer, and spirits are all included without supplement. Cocktails are available from the bar. The quality and variety of the bar is considerably better than the buffet and is often the more memorable part of the visit.
How It Compares
Plaza Premium sits in an unusual position in the Gatwick North lounge landscape: the best physical room in the corridor, accessible only to Amex Platinum and DragonPass holders, with food that does not live up to the surroundings. For Amex Platinum cardholders — who include a significant portion of UK frequent travellers — it is the recommended first choice at Gatwick North in most circumstances. The combination of free entry, better design than No1, calmer occupancy, and the retained Clubhouse bar makes it the natural call. The food caveat is real and worth managing expectations around, but it does not override the other advantages. Priority Pass-only holders should head to No1 or Clubrooms instead.
The most beautiful independent lounge at Gatwick North, carrying the legacy of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in its structure and finishes. The natural light, the marble bar, the green booths, and the calmer occupancy set it well ahead of the alternatives in the corridor for design. The food is the recurring weak point and the absence of showers at a £44 cash price is a gap. But for Amex Platinum cardholders arriving without a pre-booking concern, this is the correct first stop. The gap between its physical quality and its buffet remains a frustrating inconsistency that Plaza Premium has not yet resolved.
