Transporting guests to a golden age of travel, a luxury train operator is rolling out the red carpet with a brand-new 1930’s-era private dining and events carriage.
The new addition, dubbed “Celia,” will feature room for up to 12 guests in the converted 1932 carriage aboard the British Pullman, a Belmond Train. The car boasts its own bar, dining area, and lounge, along with dedicated stewards, a pantry and kitchen, and the opportunity to transition into a theatrical space or dance floor, the company shared with Travel + Leisure.
And for guests who want to go all out, a private chef can design customized menus using seasonal British produce.
Envisioned by the award-winning director Baz Luhrmann and costume and production designer Catherine Martin of Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby fame, the carriage has been designed to create a scene straight out of one of their big-budget films.
“Stepping inside the carriage is like being transported into another world, and one in which guests are invited to become part of the story,” Luhrmann said in a statement shared with T+L. “Celia, at its heart, is a magical mystery tour – a traveling dining experience for friends or an intimate celebration, filled with food, music, wine, laughter, and performance. All of this unfolds as you drift through the countryside, feeling as though you’ve stepped inside A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a playful and exceptionally unique way to explore the UK, at your own pace and according to your own rhythm and story.”
The new train car will depart from Victoria Station in London and will be available across all British Pullman journeys. Bookings for the exclusive use of the carriage start at £15,000 ($20,424) and include transfers within the greater London area, according to the company. The new carriage is expected to launch this summer.
Martin said in the statement she hopes the journey offers a “rare opportunity to inhabit the nostalgia of another era,” adding she imagines travelers “eating, dancing and falling in love, taking photographs, celebrating life’s great moments and adventures — all within a world that offers a pause from the chaos of everyday life.”
In addition to this carriage, the British Pullman runs murder mystery lunches and welcomes Michelin starred chefs on board to create elaborate and delicious dinners. The luxury train operates year-round stopping at picturesque destinations across the country, including in Kent, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and Surrey.
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