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Detail Pages
The Scottish Stores, Kings Cross, N1
N1
N1 9DU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Scottish Stores
This pub reopened in the second week of December 2015 having reverted back to its original name of the Scottish Stores, rebuilt in 1901 for Truman's but dating back to at least the 1880s and now Grade II Listed. It's situated at the bottom of the infamous but increasingly gentrified Caledonian Road, once synonymous with kerb crawlers. Indeed, this place had a reputation as being a rather seedy clip joint-cum-strippers pub; windows were blanked out and awful wheezing old duffers could be seen hanging around the entrance, this pub was best appreciated at a fast walk from the opposite side of the road.
Well it's not like that anymore. With the massive redevelopment and regeneration of King's Cross and St. Pancras station, it's no surprise that the increasing wealth has spread out to here. No longer are the windows blanked out, the interior is cosy and inviting; this pub is listed on CAMRA's London Regional Inventory of pubs with interiors of special historic interest. There's a lot of very fine wood panelling in here with some wood and cut glass screens and painted polychromatic panels. Lighting isn't bright and seems to be modern in source, but not so modern as to upset the purists. The interior's rather small with a bar at centre with tiled apron. It's also painfully short on seating with just a handful of bar stools to the walls with a few tiny high tables; muted music played over the stereo.
Staff were friendly and efficient and it's obvious that the emphasis here is on real ale, especially London artisanal breweries along with 6 craft beers on keg. On the conveyor belt tonight: Ripple Steam Brewery's Original Best Bitter and Farmhouse Pale Ale, Dark Star Brewing Co's American Pale Ale, Moncanda Brewery's Notting Hill stout, Hammerton Brewery's N1, Frog Island Brewery's Best Bitter and Wild Card Brewery's King of Hearts; Wurzels are catered for with Weston's Old Rosie.
My pint of King of Hearts, a 4.5% ABV blonde ale, was very good indeed and served in a proper pot. It did though cost £4.40 which is very steep - this area may be much improved but it's not £4.40-a-pint improved. I enjoyed this place and it wasn't too full - yet - though I'll bet that once news of its change of management has spread, it'll fill up pretty soon. I also didn't appreciate the emphasis on vertical drinking, though it would be hard to incorporate tables given the lack of space. Nevertheless, this is certainly one to visit.
On 11th December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Flying Scotsman
Not sure if eta was in this Flying Scotsman or another bar. Exterior with no windows gives an initial impression that it's shut. A dark interior with a central island bar serving a standard draught selection. 2 young ladies asked if I wanted them to dance for me(don't think it was my dour Scottish Presbyterian charm that attracted them) but it was a bit early for that sort of thing. Still nice to see a place like this surviving the gentrification that seems so prevalent.
On 21st October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3035 recommendations about 2965 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Flying Scotsman
Now a student bar with no real ale. There are two bar areas, which appear to be originally the ground floors of two adjacent houses. Other than this interesting architectural anomaly, I really don't see any reason to return.
On 10th December 2013
- rating: 3
[User has posted 3714 recommendations about 3675 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Flying Scotsman
This is a strippers pub. Bit rough inside, bare floor no real ale and the price of Guinness is over £3.30.
On 25th July 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 759 recommendations about 721 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Flying Scotsman
Ah, the Flying Scotsman, a Kings Cross institution and long may it remain so, however much the area is developed and sanitised for the hoards of tourists everyone seems to be expecting to arrive on Eurostar. Every couple of years I check it out expecting to see it closed and whilst it always looks boarded up the door to London's seedy side is always open. It's a truly appalling pub of course but as so much of Kings Cross seems intent on rushing headlong into a brave new world the Flying Scotsman reminds us of it's ignoble past.
On 20th January 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 780 recommendations about 697 pubs]