Eurostar has just given us the best reason yet to look forward to the queue at St Pancras. The operator has confirmed that its upcoming double-decker Celestia trains will come with a thirst-quenching centrepiece.
A two-storey cocktail bar will be open to everyone on board, not just those in premium classes. And at those speeds, ‘shaken not stirred’ might just take care of itself.
RECOMMENDED: Two exciting new high-speed train routes are coming to Europe in 2027
‘The two-storey bar will be a star attraction of the bespoke train design,’ a Eurostar spokesperson said. ‘We want to create something really special for customers, with a different ambience and vibe upstairs and downstairs, making the most of the double-decker views.’ Staff will apparently host it much like the cocktail bars already found in Eurostar’s exclusive premier lounges, just this time, everyone gets to join in.
The drinks menu hasn’t been revealed for the new bar yet, but if it does end up drawing on the existing premier lounge cocktail list at St Pancras, that’s promising news. There are currently house-designed signatures like the Lavender Dusk and the Angelique, created by culinary director Raymond Blanc OBE, alongside cocktails made with Eurostar’s own gin, Toujours 21. Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave has described the design as having the feel of an ‘exciting speakeasy.’
The bar is named Celestia, taken from the Latin caelestis, meaning ‘heavenly,’ and it won’t be the only new feature on board. Eurostar first announced its double-decker plans back in October 2025, and the finished trains are expected to carry around 20 percent more seats than the current single-deck fleet, alongside air conditioning made to handle temperatures of up to 55C, a direct response to the record-breaking heatwaves that hit Europe this past summer.
Eurostar has ordered 30 Celestia trains from French manufacturer Alstom in a deal worth roughly €2 billion, with an option for 20 more down the line. The first are due to enter service in May 2031, with six trains running across Eurostar’s existing network from the outset. There will also be brand-new direct routes to Geneva and Frankfurt, journeys that currently require travellers from London to change trains in Paris.
After roughly three decades with the Channel Tunnel entirely to itself, Eurostar is facing competition for the first time, with Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains targeting a 2030 launch on the same route, alongside upstart operator Gemini Trains, which has partnered with Uber and is eyeing 2029 for its own cross-Channel debut.
More on the growing rivalry for the Channel Tunnel: here’s everything you need to know about the new trains hoping to break Eurostar’s monopoly.
Did you know that Europe’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2026 have been revealed by ?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
