From left: Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin.
From early summer 2026, the British Pullman, A Belmond Train, will introduce Celia, a private dining and events carriage conceived by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin. Housed within an original 1932 Pullman carriage, the project marks a notable shift for the historic train — one that places creative authorship and storytelling at the centre of the guest experience.
Rather than adding another luxury compartment, Celia functions as a self-contained environment, accommodating up to 12 guests for private dining, celebrations and events. It departs from London Victoria on all British Pullman journeys, offering a rare degree of personalisation within one of the UK’s most recognisable travel icons.
Theatre, Cinema And A Fictional Muse
The carriage draws inspiration from London’s 1930s West End theatre scene and early cinema, filtered through Luhrmann and Martin’s distinctive visual language. At its core is a fictional character — Celia — imagined as a muse of the era, gifted her own Pullman carriage following a celebrated performance as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
This narrative underpins the carriage’s design without overwhelming it. References to Shakespeare, theatrical mischief and after-hours glamour are woven into the interiors, creating an atmosphere that feels playful rather than literal. The result is less a set piece and more a layered environment, inviting guests to interpret the space in their own way.
A Private Dining Room On Rails
Operating independently from the rest of the train, Celia includes its own cocktail bar, lounge, dining area, pantry and kitchen, supported by dedicated stewards. Seating is flexible, allowing the space to transition from formal dining to more relaxed gatherings, performances or celebrations as the journey unfolds.
Menus can be tailored to each booking, with a private chef available on request to design bespoke offerings centred on seasonal British produce. The carriage’s adaptability — both spatially and operationally — positions it as an unusual addition to London’s private dining landscape, one that happens to move through the countryside.
Craftsmanship As The Anchor
Despite its cinematic origins, Celia is grounded in British craftsmanship. Catherine Martin worked with a roster of established artisans and studios, including marquetry specialists Dunn & Son, furniture maker Bill Cleyndert, glass studio Tony Sandles, embroiderers Hand & Lock and interior specialists J.K Interiors.
Materials and texture play a central role throughout. Oak marquetry, custom parquetry and velvet upholstery are layered beneath an elaborate fabric ceiling, while floral motifs drawn from British flora recur across surfaces. The colour palette — rich greens, reds, yellows and purples — nods to theatre interiors without tipping into excess.
Tableware and fittings follow the same logic, with collaborations spanning Duchess China, David Mellor and Tom Dixon. Each element contributes to a cohesive whole rather than competing for attention.
Experience Over Spectacle
What distinguishes Celia is its emphasis on pace. As Catherine Martin has noted, the carriage is designed to encourage deceleration — to allow time, conversation and movement to take precedence over distraction. In that sense, the experience mirrors the rhythm of the journey itself.
Priced from £15,000 for exclusive use, Celia is clearly positioned at the upper end of private hospitality. Yet its appeal lies less in novelty than in authorship. By framing the carriage as a space for shared moments rather than performance alone, the British Pullman adds a quietly distinctive chapter to its evolving story.
(Images: Belmond)
