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The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon), N1
N1
N1C 4QL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
A long thin ‘spoons on the edge of the station nearest King’s Cross and fronting on to Pancras Road. From the name I thought it would be underground in the old beer barrel storage area mostly used by Bass. There’s a nod to that history as the decor is almost entirely old casks on racks around much of the room. Fairly standard spoons furnishings, although I’d not seen the tall single round tables before and they’re tightly packed in making getting about difficult. Two sets of six pulls with the usual T-bars between, one T-bar is a double decker affair. Usual suspects plus Oakham Citra and Pride on one bank, festival beers on the other. The festival beers were all at a very reasonable £3.49 while the standards were from £3.29 (IPA now showing as 3.4%) to £4.99 for Abbot, it was £3.49 for the Citra, £4.79 for Doom and £4.97 for Pride. Cask quality was just above average and as noted before the staffing level is more than adequate.
On 20th October 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
Considering where it is, this is a fairly reliable place for a pint, with enough staff behind the bar and the tables being promptly cleared. Wetherspoon has done a reasonable job of decorating an unpromising space in the shopping area under the Southeastern platforms, and the natural light from the windows along the road frontage certainly helps. There is also a row of high pavement tables along this edge to supplement the interior furniture. There was a full selection of cask ales available from the two banks of six handpumps on this visit, including beers from mostly smaller independent breweries - such as my Urban Dusk from Redemption (much more expensive at £4.97 than the £3.69 I paid for a guest 18 months ago) and a pair from Three Acre in Sussex - in addition to the usual Greene King IPA, Doom Bar and Abbot.
On 27th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
Nice big pub with at least 10 cask beers on my visit.Fairly mundane selection but you caan get a cheap pint in an expensive area for beer.Very busy so others agree.
On 15th April 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
ORIGINAL REVIEW February 2019
Recently opened 'spoons but the walk in opening from the shopping concourse does detract from a pub feel,only the sight on handpumps remind you of it's function from this view point.The small wooden barrels in the gantry above look a cheap decoration and I found the ranks of modern high tables featureless.Further back in the building is a line of dining booths,some opposite the open kitchen,while outside there are lots of overspill tables all with numbers on them so food can be served al fresco and will mix well with traffic fumes.At least the lavs at the end are not controlled by code access ,worth remembering if awaiting a train but the bizarre low profile hand basins ,urinals and hand dryers can only be explained if Tim Martin has inside knowledge of a plan by Genetic Control of a 4 foot restriction on humanoid height.
At the bar two ranks of 6 handpumps will give a decent range of guests despite the need to stock Doom Bar,London Pride,GK Abbott and IPA some of which will be doubled up.The guest choice on my visit was nothing exciting with some rugby seasonals and some notional Locals such as Trumans Runner.
There's not much else close by ,but I found this 'spoons dull.
UPDATE
A very recent revisit found a wide selection of guests ales in very good condition.Both my Redemption Big Chief and Twickenham Naked Ladies were NBSS 4.Other options included Adnams Ghost Ship ,Twickenham London Porter and Redemption Rock the Kazbek besides the ever dull GK Abbott,IPA and Doom Bore.London prices apply here with most guests £3.29 but I won't begrudge that price for the quality served up.Upgrade and now very worthy of a visit .
On 13th December 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
I guess that if we had visited at a more sensible time, rather than at around 6.00 PM on a Wednesday evening, it would have seemed a bit more welcoming. But in the rush hour it was heaving; no seats to be had which was a shame as we were looking for a bite to eat; a scrum at the bar; and noisy as hell. Even ignoring all that, it struck me as a characterless drinking barn. At another time it would serve the usual 'spoons purpose, in providing both cheap food and beer. But there was a good selection of ales, with guest ales at £1.39 a pint, and in good condition.
I'll probably end up in here again sometime, probably for a late morning brunch before heading off to visit other pubs.
On 8th February 2020
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
A new Spoons in Kings Cross – huzzah! It’s part of the new St Pancras complex and the open-plan space in which it’s sited isn’t particularly memorable, rather utilitarian in all but the floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows make for good people watching. One item of note is that there are loads of bulbs and lamps – almost hundreds it seemed – which made it feel like the lighting department at John Lewis. Loads of guest ales here, I think I counted six. I went for the Oakham Citra (NBSS 3.5) and Twickenham Red (3) served by a barman who had a Mancunian accent and appeared to be pretty spaced-out, struggling to recall basic details of my order seconds after having been told (Bez's lovechild?). The ale range and quality makes this one worth a look if you are in the area or waiting for a train. 6.5
On 22nd December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
This recently opened Wetherspoons pub partly occupies the part of St Pancras station once given over to the storage of beer barrels brought down on trains from Burton-on-Trent. The pub has a wide, open plan entrance, reminiscent of its airport bars, but once inside, it has much more of a pub feel to it thanks to some high spec decor and a large post-work crowd generating a lively atmosphere. The servery is over to the left on entry, with a pleasant counter front and typical ‘spoons bar back, and it sweeps round in a curve, running a fair way back into the room. Opposite, there is a large, fairly featureless area filled almost entirely by plush looking chairs and mid-sixed tables, plus a few banquettes along the right hand wall. The pub’s most notable feature is its nod to the past, which sees numerous overhead racks stuffed full of old barrels of various sizes – a nice feature to tie in with the room’s history. Beyond the bar, the room narrows but continues back a fair way, where more tables, chairs and banquette booths can be found under walls decorated with the same design as the bar counter. There’s also an open kitchen back here and a door out one side to a small pavement seating/smoking area, manned by some hopeless doormen, who seemed more interested in chatting up the patrons than whatever it is they’re employed to do. The ceiling at the rear is covered with a metal grill, from which a wide variety of decorative lamps are suspended.
Considering the pub’s location and the chain’s reputation for disinterested staff, the guys behind the bar seem to be a cut above and were well drilled in keeping queues to a minimum and providing helpful, friendly service. There were nine guest ales and three ‘Spoons regulars to choose between, and I opted for Enfield’s London porter, which was in good nick, if not the greatest porter I’ve ever encountered.
St Pancras always felt like a bit of a weak link amongst London’s railway termini, in terms of having a decent pub, but this place has gone some way to redressing that balance. I’ve been here a few times now and it’s always packed, the beer is always in good shape and the atmosphere is always buzzing. I’m sure I’ll be stopping off here regularly, as it offers better value than most station bars and has a better ale selection to boot.
On 22nd January 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
A reasonable modern station bar beneath the South Eastern platforms. The bar and front area are decorated with numerous overhead barrels, marking the original use of the station arches in housing ale brought down from Burton. Above the barrels is a nasty black neo-industrial ceiling. The side area extending back is in more of a typical Spoons style, with tables and booths. Good to see a nice selection of mainly London guest ales, and at £3.55 good value compared to other local hostelries. Certainly more useful than most of the retail outlets down here.
On 13th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
I didn't know this was a Spoons until Mrs Ale pointed it out, I have to say this outlet was very trendy and I especially liked the bar area with a cream coloured marble bar counter and the different types of timbers making up a concentric patterned bar front. This style of timber was also found in the dining section, the use of empty barrels was also of interest and made good reference to the history of what was once a barrel store. Two banks of six handpumps with the usual suspects, still we managed to spot a Bedlam Brewery Primo, which was decent enough and at a reasonable price. Glad we called early on Friday as it was rammed on Friday evening on our return train journey.
On 12th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Barrel Vault (JD Wetherspoon)
I turned up here at around 08:00 on a Saturday morning with a 10:00 train booked into Kent. It's a fairly ugly modern room with an attempt to conceal the unfinished looking ceiling with some wooden barrels. The room isn't that large for a JDW and is roughly L shaped with the bar on the left if you enter from the station complex. Alcohol was being served before 09:00, probably because of a station licence. There was a fair crowd in including people travelling and some Neandethal football supporters. There seemed to be an older Irish bloke in charge who was running a very tight ship. As expected prices are high here with guest ales at £3.55, unlimited coffee £1.75 and Punk IPA at £4.79. There is a cut down food menu with most items being a pound or two dearer than the average but not necessarily compared to their other Central London outlets. On the plus side during their first month they were holding a 150 beer festival which did have some good options.
The bar has twelve hand pumps which had just one unused and Abbot with the rest being from the October festival. I went for the unlimited coffee this time.
I thought this was pretty good for a station bar and will return for a festival beer one morning before the month is out prior to heading off to Wanstead. I would use it again if booked on a mid morning train into Kent but probably for the coffee.
On 22nd October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]