Clubhouse Entry Times

Hi All,
Been a while since I posted..but still lurking!.,
I usually travlel LHR-JHB-LHR 2 or 3 times a year. Always Upper Class ...was usually on points "G" fares but dynamic pricing has kyboshed a lot of that!.
To the point of the post, bear with it...
I usually get to LHR Clubhouse between 4 and 5 hours before departure.. Never and issue getting in so early.
On my last trip backn from JNB however, I rocked up to the Clubhouse, (my connecting flight up frm PLZ always gives me a few hours connection)..about 4.5 hours before flight dearture...I was told access only 3 hours before departure. After the lovely gatekeeper asked the supervisor, I was allowed in, and normal excellent service was appreciated.

I read through the VS blurb on Clubhouse access and yes, it does now state access 3 hours before departure.
I cant remember seeing this restriction previously...
Is it a new rule? ..Has any one experienced denied access before 3 hours?..Or do other VS Clubhouses ignore the rule?

Your comments/observatons appreciated.
Paul.

Yeap they are turning people away and asking them to come back 3 hours later, I arrived on a mid morning flight from Dublin and connecting for the LAS flight about 5.5 hours later a few weeks ago. For context I am VS AU for life and it makes no difference which is fair enough. The other pay on entry lounges were all full, luckily I had a friend in the Cathay lounge so not all lost.

It seems to be a bit hit and miss, probs depending on space I guess. We went in a good 5+ hours prior to departure in Jan and no issues at all, and I have read of plenty of people saying same, but always conscious they could enforce it. We are flying 2 weeks today and hopeful we will be allowed in early!

Thats a change that will impact a few people business wise Remember checking in for the Hong Kong flight (when it operated) at 9am for a (evening, maybe 7pm) departure back in day. Why? Work from lounge and was on a connection from elsewhere in the morning on another carrier, not interlined, so needed to allow time to collect bags etc. The point was allowing work.

At this rate will need to use an (non airside) hotel room for such occurances in future. No big deal, but they really should monetise this -> if I'm willing to pay for a hotel room to avoid this, why not given say £50 to Virgin for the same.