There is a moment when luxury stops being about thread counts and champagne brands and becomes something else entirely. Something closer to theatre. The British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England, has found that moment with Celia, a private dining and events carriage housed within an original 1932 Pullman car, imagined by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin.
Launching in May 2026 from London Victoria Station, Celia seats up to 12 guests and operates as a self-contained world within the train. A bar and lounge, a dining room, a kitchen, and a stage. Two giant velvet curtains divide the carriage like the acts of a play, revealing each space on cue.
Celia is all about creating your own world and that, thanks to Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, is creative storytelling at its best.
Gary Franklin, Senior Vice President of Trains and Cruises, Belmond
The Fictional Muse
The design follows a fictional narrative. Celia is imagined as a 1930s West End leading lady, gifted her own Pullman car by an American admirer after her era-defining performance as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Every detail of the carriage weaves together her life story with Shakespearean vernacular, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that shifts between reality and performance.
Stepping onboard, guests are transported into a bygone era of nostalgic luxury. The layout mimics the acts of a play, revealed one by one. The first space is the bar lounge, a cinematic sanctuary with parquet floors and walls decorated in intricate floral motifs and enchanting fairies. Beyond that, a snug with an elaborate carpet in pink, red, green and yellow, rolling up to a plush tasselled purple velvet sofa.
Craftsmanship and Materiality
The magic continues in the dining room. Patterned marquetry mirrors the English landscape, with gentle florets featuring prominently throughout. The pansy, a symbol of British nostalgia and love, and for the Victorians, forbidden romance, appears again and again. Bold greens, blousy browns and deep reds mimic the theatrical flair of the West End stage, complemented by naval style windows and backlit glass ceilings designed to give the impression of being inside a theatrical jewel box.
The central design was built around storytelling in mind and how guests created their own narratives within the world of Celia.
Catherine Martin, Designer
Catherine Martin enlisted a roster of British artisans to realise the vision. Marquetry specialists Dunn and Son, furniture designer Bill Cleyndert, Tony Sandles Bespoke Glass studio, embroiderers Hand and Lock, and J.K Interiors all contributed. Duchess China collaborated on the tableware, while David Mellor supplied the cutlery and Waterford Crystal the glassware. Every plate, glass and dish gives the impression of being part of someone personal collection of crockery.
Tri-coloured wooden marquetry panels line the carriage, depicting fantasy scenes rooted in the pastimes of rural England. Celia herself is immortalised in the marquetry as Titania. Parquet floors complement the woodwork to give the impression of travelling through England storied forests. A fabric covered ceiling enhances the acoustics for live performances, and interchangeable mood lighting can be adapted for every journey.
The Private Experience
Every element of Celia is bespoke. From the moment guests book, they have direct access to a personal guest experience curator. Off-train excursions, personal menus and wine preferences are discussed and agreed with the carriage dedicated chef before boarding. On the day, guests are collected by private luxury transfer from any London hotel within Greater London and brought to Victoria Station.
On arrival, guests are chauffeured to board Celia for welcome drinks, served by dedicated stewards. The journey begins in the bar and lounge, where champagne flows and stories begin to unfold. When lunch or dinner is served, the curtains open to reveal the dining space. After the meal, the bar and lounge transforms into an entertainment space equipped with a stage and dance floor. Live performances, playlists and DJ sets can all be arranged in advance.
Food and Cocktail Culture
Food is at the heart of the Celia experience. Guests are served a three-course meal with a choice of four starters, mains and desserts, decided before the journey. In keeping with the eccentricity of the British palate, legendary English dishes such as beef Wellington and chicken liver parfait are offered with modern spins and twists according to the occasion.
Monica Berg, master mixologist and co-founder of Tayer and Elementary, regularly ranked among the top five bars in the world, has created an exclusive cocktail list for Celia. An English punch is served as guests board, alongside a range of mocktails, spritzers and other beverages. Guests can also curate and stock their own bar with drinks of their choice. A signature scent, personally selected by Luhrmann and Martin, has been developed to further immerse guests into the world of Celia.
A New Chapter for British Pullman
The British Pullman has long been one of the great train journeys of the world. With the addition of Celia, it enters a new chapter. This is not just another moment for a heritage train, but a genuine cultural piece that showcases the very best of art, fashion and culture today. Prices for exclusive use of the Celia carriage start from fifteen thousand pounds, including transfers within Greater London.
For those who want to charter their own world, aboard a moving piece of British theatrical history, Celia offers something that cannot be replicated anywhere else in London or the UK. It is the closest anyone can get to having their own train, designed by two of the world leading creative minds.
