FANCY sipping champagne and tucking into a slap-up seven-course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings while bowling along at 70mph aboard Britain’s most luxurious train?

Well, that’s what’s on offer when the 1930s Northern Belle Pullman train, once part of the iconic Orient Express group, sets out from Chester next month.

Passengers are paying £340 each to board over a red carpet laid on the station platform, before a meandering four-hour trip through the countryside.

There are even musicians and an on-board conjuror to add a bit more festive magic to the trip.

Businessman David Pitts, who owns the train, said: “You’d be Christmas crackers to miss this festive feast all washed down with the finest wine and champagne.”

Actor Bill Nighy described the Northern Belle as the “Grand Dame of luxury travel” when it featured on Channel 5’s “The World’s Most Scenic Railways” programme last year.

But passengers are being warned they’d better look smart if they want to catch the train – jeans and trainers are banned!

The Northern Belle sets out from Chester station at 12.10pm on Wednesday, December 14, hauled by a vintage diesel locomotive,  and is scheduled to arrive back at 4.40pm.