Temple Meads used to have a First class lounge on platforms 9 and 11 (see the windows in
this photo). Given that most trains to Paddington arrive and depart from platforms 13 and 15, and for most of the trains start from Temple Meads so are ready for boarding earlier, they probably felt there was no purpose in maintaining this small lounge which was always very quiet. There's probably little incentive for Great Western in providing a lounge for CrossCountry customers too. Furthermore; very few Great Western HSTs or CrossCountry trains use this island anyway, so it was a bit out the way!