The Parcel Yard, N1

Enthusiastic conversion of old station buildings with a multi-roomed layout retaining some of the original features, adding many more and sprinkled with railwayana as decoration. The bar is towards the back, past a couple of side areas and a central room, with a long room ("the waiting room") the other side overlooking the platforms. Also several meeting rooms and a large bar upstairs which opens at busy times or is available for functions. As mentioned in previous reviews, a good selection of ales from the wider Fuller's range, including Gales and Dark Star, usually with a guest which on this occasion was Adnam's Mosaic. Also as mentioned in previous reviews tends to be pricey, as does the food, however it is invariably popular, unsurprisingly with rail travellers but also just about pulls off the trick of being a destination in its own right.

Well thank Christ I am back here waiting for my train. Have actually got a seat overlooking the concourse. And a pint of ESB to boot. Will have another one before the train. Whenever I've been here it has always been packed and tonight is no exception. Still got served fast enough, mind you. Only a destination pub for me because of my train, mind you. Worth a visit, maybe in the afternoon?

Well worth seeking out and was impressed with the layout and theme. They had the full range of Fullers ales and a couple of guest on our visit. Mrs A went for Windsor and Eaton Kohinoor, whilst I played safe and had a pint of Pride. A bit of a walk to the loos, but it was good to have a stroll and a nose around the place.

Official site of The Parcel Yard - www.parcelyard.co.uk

Official site of The Parcel Yard - www.parcelyard.co.uk

The Parcel Yard is a Fullers pub located on the 1st floor within Kings Cross Station. A flight of stairs lead up to a few tables and chairs outside the entrance, but there is also a lift for the less able or for those carrying heavy luggage. The interior is a maze of different seating areas, the majority of which have been designed to be like train station waiting rooms. This sounds awful, but it actually works very well in this sprawling pub. The bar is located along the rear wall where premium draught products are available alongside twelve hand pumps that were drawing the full Fullers range, St Austell Rug and Roll, Five Points Brewing’s Railway Porter as well as Butcombe’s Bitter and Haka. Food is available and the breakfast option seemed popular during my recent Monday morning visit. I spotted a couple of plasma screens on stands that were showing rolling BBC News and there is also a departure board. There was some background music playing, but the volume was so low I wondered what that point of it was. I found the service to be polite enough, but I’ve had better pints of Pride as the one I received was a little cloudy. They probably would have changed it, but I couldn’t be bothered to walk all the way back to the bar. I would have no problem returning here as it is a comfortable spot for a pre train journey beer/meeting point.

This is apparently the largest station pub in the country and Fuller's have done a decent job here in converting the old station parcel office with lots of original features retained and materials reused. The glazed screens between the multiple separate areas look original and items such as station benches, suitcases on luggage racks, parcel sacks, station clocks and railway signage give a warm feel of the bygone age of railway travel. A caged off area contains bottles and may be an off sales area out of pub hours, it looks like an old fashioned train guards van. Floors are boarded with the odd rug or two, tables are made from reclaimed timbers and seating is mostly traditional. A side room has platform views and a train indicator board helps to ensure you reach your platform on time. Pride, Chiswick, Seafarers, HSB, a new one to me, Oliver's Island plus guest Moles St Elmo's Fire (£4.39). It isn't cheap but it is really rather good, is it me or are station bars finally shedding their downmarket image and moving on up? Food served, again not budget prices, F&C £12.50, steak and ale pie and the works £13.25.