One of the largest Irish bar brands in the world, O'Neills is keen to emphasise its provision of the full local Irish pub experience and, for a chain, it doesn’t disappoint.

The Venue
O'Neills on Euston Road is one of the first pubs that hits you when you leave Kings Cross St Pancras station, and as such it’s a popular stop-off for tourists, travellers and sports fans off to various big games. The next-door town hall and nearby colleges also mean that impromptu wedding parties and students often drop in for a quick drink. Due to this, it can get very busy very quickly.

A recent refurbishment means that the interior is warmly decorated in traditional Irish greens and browns, with comfy leather seats and wooden chairs. The air-conditioned roomy downstairs bar is echoed upstairs, much-enhanced by the smoking ban. Two outside areas with seating are provided for the smokers and those wishing to take advantage of the balmy summer evenings or the outdoor heaters. The pub also has big screens on both levels, showing both popular sports and Irish games such as Gaelic football.

The Atmosphere
The occasional Irish track interspersed with generic pop and soft rock is played as background music differentiates ONeills from the standard London pub, as does the live Irish band that plays upstairs most Sundays.

The staff are friendly and helpful, and it is a versatile enough place to take either the family or a group of friends to as part of a night out. However, its laid-back atmosphere is more suited to the beginning of a night than the end, despite its later closing time on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The Food
The menu provides all the usual pub fare such as burgers, steaks and sandwiches, although traditional Irish dishes also feature prominently. There is also a small seasonal menu, which is cheap and varies throughout the year.

The Drink
Predictably, Guinness in its various forms is readily available, alongside the usual beers, lagers, wines and spirits that you’d expect from a pub. Prices are pretty standard for the area but they do sometimes have special offers.

The Last Word
O'Neills Kings Cross provides everything you’d expect from an Irish chain pub, and the little touches mean that the overall experience is better than your bog-standard London pub.

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