A new Priority Pass option lands at London Heathrow, but ….

Priority Pass has moved quickly to fill the black hole that opened up at Heathrow Terminal 2 last week when the Plaza Premium lounge left the programme.

The Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen has joined!

Not everyone can take advantage, however ….

What is the Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen?

It is described on the Priority Pass website as:

“a pub and restaurant that showcases Big Smoke’s range of craft beers, small-batch spirits and English pub classics alongside American-inspired dishes.“

It is on the ground level of Terminal 2, down the escalators after security, by Gate A20.

It is open from 7am until the last flight departs.

What does my Priority Pass get me?

You will receive £15 credit against your bill when you show your Priority Pass.

If your Priority Pass allows extra guests for free, you can request multiple £15 credits.

Do NOT do this if your Priority Pass does not allow free guest visits. The Priority Pass guest charge is usually £20, so you will be £5 out of pocket.

Can I visit if my Priority Pass is free via American Express?

No.

This is a big snag. Only ‘paid for’ Priority Pass cards are valid at Big Smoke, or Priority Pass cards issued by financial institutions other than American Express.

(The other Priority Pass restaurant in the UK, The Grain Store at Gatwick South, DOES accept Priority Pass cards issued by American Express. The Grain Store is an exception to the global rule, and I expect it to stop accepting Amex-issued Priority Pass cards now that No1 Lounges is under the same ownership.)

If you received your Priority Pass via The Platinum Card or American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, you will charged £20 if you claim £15 credit at Big Smoke. This applies even if you have free visits in other circumstances.

This obviously means that this new option is of little use to most HfP readers. If you have The Platinum Card from American Express all is not lost in Terminal 2 as you can still enter the Plaza Premium lounge by showing The Platinum Card (not your Priority Pass) on the door.

What’s it like in the Big Smoke Taphouse?

As it happens, a HfP reader was one of the first people to try this new benefit and is writing a review. I will hopefully be able to publish it in a few days.

EDIT: Our review of the Big Smoke Taphouse at Heathrow Terminal 2 is now published – you can read it here

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (March 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.