News: Gatwick’s Grain Store to temporarily closure, another Hilton LXR leaves the brand

News in brief:

The Grain Store restaurant in Gatwick’s South terminal to renovate

The Grain Store restaurant in the South Terminal at London Gatwick is to close for two weeks for renovation.

According to the Priority Pass website, it will be closed from 6th May to 20th May.

Why do we bother telling you this? Because, if you have a Priority Pass airport lounge card issued by American Express, there are only two airport restaurants in the world which allow you to get £15 of free food and drink by flashing your pass.

The Grain Store is one of them. The other is Movenpick Cafe in Berlin.

Whilst there are many restaurants worldwide which have ‘free food’ deals with Priority Pass, American Express cardholders are blocked from all except these two.

You can also get £15 of food and drink for a companion if your Priority Pass allows a free guest, which it will if you get it via The Platinum Card.

If you have American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, you could get £60 of free food and drink at The Grain Store for a group of four via the four lounge passes that you get each year – and Amex Gold is free for the first year.

Another Hilton ‘LXR’ hotel has left the brand

We recently had an exclusive story about The Biltmore Mayfair hotel in London leaving Hilton’s LXR brand. This came into effect from 1st May.

The Biltmore was the first LXR hotel in Europe, but not the first globally. This was the Habtoor Palace Dubai. Habtoor Palace opened as a St Regis before being rebranded very quickly after opening.

Habtoor Palace also left LXR, and therefore Hilton, on 1st May.

The hotel is now trading as Al Habtoor Palace and is not affiliated with any brand or marketing group, although I’m sure this will change.

There are now just nine LXR hotels showing on the Hilton website.

The two others hotels at Habtoor City remain under Hilton brands (Hilton and Curio).

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card.  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and 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.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

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.

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points.