The Parcel Yard

Terrible beer choices, the depressing rattle of fruit machines and the sad faces of delayed passengers; train station pubs can normally be relied on to serve up the most miserable atmosphere around. However, The Parcel Yard is not your average train station pub and when we visit, we’re not even here because we’ve got a train to catch, we’re here – get this – because this is a fine pub in its own right. Mind blown.

Located at the entrance of Kings Cross Station, The Parcel Yard - much like the Betjeman Arms over at St. Pancras - is a classy pub flying the flag for classy station pubs. Fruit machines don’t get a look in, the range of beers is excellent and delayed passengers aren’t sad, in fact, they’re happy that they get to spend a little more time in the pub. At least, that’s how it works in our mind.

A Fuller’s pub, The Parcel Yard has the good fortune of being located in a Grade I listed building. Spread across two floors, the original features are the attractive backdrop that help make you forget you’re in Kings Cross station, with exposed brick and wooden beams flooded with light that shines through the tall atrium in the centre of the pub. To experience the pub in its best light – literally – head for the first floor bar and dining area.

The food menu here is solid, even verging on adventurous (for a station) with the likes of slow roasted lamb and pan fried salmon and braised lentils ensuring you don’t mess with a stale baguette from Upper Crust on the last train home. Beer on draught includes Chimay, Veltins and Frontier lager and there’s a range of London brewery brews by the bottle.

Call us crazy, but you needn’t wait for a delayed train to pay a visit to The Parcel Yard, you could, you know, just go to a very nice pub that just so happens to be located in Kings Cross Station.