Belmond has revealed Celia, a theatrical new private dining carriage on the British Pullman inspired by Shakespeare, 1930s London and the cinematic worlds of Baz Luhrmann.

Belmond has unveiled the interiors of Celia, a new private dining and events carriage launching aboard the British Pullman in May 2026.

Designed by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning costume and production designer Catherine Martin, the carriage introduces a highly theatrical new concept to the luxury train experience, combining storytelling, performance and immersive design.

Bookable for groups of up to 12 guests, Celia has been created as a flexible entertainment space featuring a cocktail bar, lounge, dining room and private kitchen. The carriage can also transform into a venue for live performances and events during journeys across the British countryside.

Rather than simply creating a luxury dining carriage, Luhrmann and Martin developed an entire fictional narrative around the space. The concept centres on Celia, an imagined 1930s West End actress inspired by Shakespeare’s Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. According to the story created by the designers, Celia was gifted her own Pullman carriage in 1932 following a celebrated theatre performance.

The interiors reflect this fictional backstory through decorative details inspired by English theatre culture, woodland landscapes and vintage Pullman glamour. Giant velvet curtains divide the carriage into separate “acts”, gradually revealing different spaces as guests move through the experience.

The lounge area features parquet flooring, embroidered details, floral motifs and references to fairies and Shakespearean folklore, while the dining room incorporates marquetry panels depicting stylised English landscapes and fantasy scenes. Pansies appear repeatedly throughout the interiors as a nod to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Victorian symbolism associated with romance and nostalgia.

Colour palettes of dark green, burgundy, brown and pink reference the atmosphere of London theatre interiors during the 1930s. Backlit glass ceilings and naval-style windows are designed to create the feeling of travelling inside what Belmond describes as a “theatrical jewel box”.

The project brought together a number of British artisans and craftspeople, including marquetry specialists Dunn and Son, furniture designer Bill Cleyndert, Tony Sandles Bespoke Glass Studio, embroidery house Hand and Lock and interiors company J.K Interiors. Historic fine bone china manufacturer Duchess China also collaborated on the tableware.

Belmond says every aspect of the guest experience has been designed to feel bespoke. Guests booking Celia will work directly with a dedicated experience curator to personalise menus, drinks, entertainment and off-train excursions before departure.

The dining experience will centre on modern interpretations of classic British dishes including beef wellington and chicken liver parfait. Monica Berg, co-founder of London cocktail bar Tayer + Elementary, has also created a drinks menu exclusively for Celia.

Alongside the onboard experience, guests will be able to arrange private tours and VIP access to destinations visited during their British Pullman journey, including museums, stately homes and cultural landmarks.

Gary Franklin, senior vice president of trains and cruises at Belmond, says: “The British Pullman has long been an incredible train and with the addition of Celia, it is set to become even greater. Both Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin have brought a new layer of timeless imagination to one of the UK’s great train journeys.”

Catherine Martin says: “The central design was built around storytelling in mind and how guests created their own narratives within the world of Celia.”

Prices for exclusive use of the carriage start from £15,000 including transfers within Greater London.

The launch reflects a wider trend for immersive hospitality experiences that blur the boundaries between travel, entertainment and performance. Luxury rail travel in particular has increasingly embraced collaborations with filmmakers, artists and fashion designers as operators seek to create more experiential journeys for high-end travellers.

Celia also joins a growing portfolio of design-led carriages on the British Pullman, which already includes Cygnus, a carriage created by filmmaker Wes Anderson.