British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England

Ushering in a new era of bespoke luxury train travel, Celia will serve as a premier venue for grand banquets and intimate celebrations, seamlessly transforming into a theatrical space for performances on all British Pullman itineraries. Celia seats up to 12 guests, and in addition to its dining area, features a lounge and bar, as well as a kitchen.

A Space of Architectural Indulgence

Drawing inspiration from the British countryside, Shakespeare, and the extravagant and flamboyant flair characteristic of a Baz Luhrmann film set, the design concept of Celia follows the narrative of the Australian director's fictional muse Celia. An emblem of playfulness and after-hours mischief, the imagined West End leading lady was gifted her own Pullman car in 1932 in honour of her era-defining performance as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As such, every detail of the carriage weaves together her life story and Shakespearean vernacular, creating a dreamlike cinematic atmosphere through every aspect of the carriage's interiors.

Stepping onto Celia you are immediately transported into another world. A bygone era of nostalgic luxury, Celia's layout mimics the acts of a play and is revealed one by one thanks to two gigantic velvet curtains which individually space out and reveal on cue the carriage's storied compartments. The first is the bar lounge, a cinematic sanctuary complete with parquet floors and walls decorated in intricate patterns, floral motifs and enchanting fairies. In the separate snug, an elaborate pink, red, green and yellow carpet rolls its way up to a plush tasselled purple velvet sofa decorated with pillows. The magic continues in the Dining Room. A celebration of contemporary heritage, patterned marquetry mirrors the quintessentially dandy English landscape. Gentle florets feature prominently throughout the interiors, especially the pansy — a symbol of British nostalgia, love and, for the Victorians, forbidden romance. Throughout, bold greens, blousy browns and deep reds mimic the theatrical flair of the West End stage, as do the naval style windows and backlit glass ceilings designed to give the impression of being inside a theatrical jewel box. Elsewhere, green and maroon scalloped chairs make up the elaborately detailed timber dining table.

To encapsulate the world of Celia, all of the carriage's spaces were meticulously considered from conception. Catherine Martin utilised the expertise and vision of several hand-selected British artisans, working with long-term Belmond collaborators including marquetry artisans Dunn & Son, leading British bespoke furniture designer Bill Cleyndert, Tony Sandles Bespoke Glass studio, embroiderers Hand and Lock, and J.K Interiors. Historic British manufacturer of fine bone china, Duchess China, collaborated with the designer on the tableware's look and feel. Catherine Martin also handpicked British suppliers for the carriage's food and beverage elements, including David Mellor for the cutlery and Waterford Crystal for the glassware. All of the plates, glassware and dishes have been individually selected to give the impression that they are part of someone's own personal collection of crockery. A signature scent, personally selected by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, has been developed to further immerse guests into the world of Celia.

All of Celia's interiors allude to the English landscape the British Pullman traverses through. Pansies — a reference to the flower that is squeezed into the ear of Titania in Shakespeare's play — feature heavily throughout the carriage's textured pieces. Materiality is also at the heart of Celia's design story. The marquetry in particular has been crafted to evoke the feeling of being part of the train's 1930s narrative. Tri-coloured wooden masterpieces line the carriage depicting fantasy scenes which find their roots in the pastimes of rural England. Celia the actress is caught in the moment, immortalised in the marquetry as Titania. To add to the textured feeling of the carriage, parquet floors complement the marquetry to give the impression guests are travelling through England's storied forests. All the textured materials and interchangeable mood lighting has been installed to add to the sense of cinema in the carriage and can be adapted and customised on every British Pullman journey. A fabric-covered ceiling has also been added to exemplify the space's acoustics and help enhance live performances.

A New Era of Bespoke Experiences for the British Pullman

Every element of Celia has been created to be bespoke. From the moment guests make a booking they will have direct access to a personal guest experience curator, a brand-new addition specifically created for Celia guests. All aspects of the experience will be meticulously planned — from off-train excursions to personal menus and wine preferences — discussed and agreed upon directly with the carriage's dedicated chef and team before boarding the British Pullman.

On the day of the journey, guests will be collected via private luxury transfer from any London hotel or within the Greater London area and brought to London's Victoria Station. On arrival, guests will be chauffeured to board Celia and enjoy welcome drinks, courtesy of their own dedicated team of stewards for the day.

The journey begins in the bar and lounge area of the carriage, where champagne flows and stories begin to unfold. To heighten the suspense, giant theatrical curtains have been installed to give guests a sense of cinematic theatricality throughout. When lunch or dinner is served, the curtains will open to reveal the dining space, while the bar and lounge will have been transformed into an entertainment space equipped with a stage and dance floor. Live performances, as well as playlists and DJ sets, can be arranged in advance and will be discussed at the time of booking.

Exceptionally Immersive British Private Dining

Food and beverage is at the heart of the Celia experience, defining the rest of the train as well. As part of the fully bespoke nature of Celia, guests will be served a three-course meal and have a choice of four starters, mains and desserts decided in advance of their journey. In keeping with the eccentricity and culture of the British palate, a choice of legendary English dishes will be offered including beef wellington and chicken liver parfait — all served with modern spins and twists according to the preferences of the guest's occasion.

Monica Berg, master mixologist and co-founder of Tayer + Elementary — often rated among the top five bars in the world — has been charged with bringing an exclusive cocktail list for Celia, not available elsewhere on the British Pullman. Favourites include an English punch served as soon as guests board the carriage, alongside a range of mocktails, spritzers and other beverages. Guests will also be able to curate and stock their own bar with the drinks of their choice.

As part of the experience, guests will also enjoy an array of unique off-board experiences tailored to each individual British Pullman journey. Regardless of the destination, private guides and VIP access to the UK's most exclusive addresses will come as standard, ranging from privileged access to museums, stately homes, boutiques, hidden gems and the country's top landmarks and attractions.

Prices for the exclusive use of Celia carriage aboard the British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England start from £15,000 and include transfers within Greater London. For more information or to book, please click here. For more information on Belmond trains, please click here.