In the past, train station bars and restaurants were dull, depressing waiting rooms where you sat in misery when your train was inevitably delayed by several hours. St Pancras has changed all that with its selection of top quality, high end venues. The St Pancras Grand Whisky Bar is the latest addition to that already esteemed list.

The Venue
Handily located on the upper concourse of St Pancras train station, a short wander from Kings Cross tube station, lies the St Pancras Grand restaurant. Already a successful venue in its own right, the whisky bar has been opened to bring something extra to this already thriving world of drinking and dining – and they’ve done a grand job.

The St Pancras Grand Whisky Bar has taken up residence at the far end of the restaurant and comes complete with its own well-sized seating area. The decor is an extension of the restaurant complete with its art deco influences and decadent touches. From the run of attractive light fittings to the mirrored surfaces and metallic gold colour scheme it’s the exact opposite of what you might expect from a train station bar. However, if it’s just drink you’re after you can sit in the segregated yet open-plan whisky bar seating area, consisting of sofas and low tables and chairs, or sit up to the bar on the high stools and indulge in top quality whisky. The well-presented, gleaming bar proudly displays the huge range of whisky it boasts and the aging bottles filled with amber liquid is enough to tempt anyone. To the right of the bar is their pierce de resistance – a handful of ultra-rare bottles for the real whisky connoisseur.

The Atmosphere
Although St Pancras Grand Whisky Bar is based in the heart of one of London’s busiest stations, its raised positioning does lend it a feeling of peace and seclusion as the hordes of commuters and holidaymakers below make their way from platform to platform. The bar takes on much of the ambience of the restaurant, being relaxed with a definite upmarket skew that isn’t intimidating. You don’t need a booking to indulge in the whisky on offer and you don’t have to dine in the accompanying restaurant. The bar itself is indeed comforting in offering its wares in an accessible way and the friendly staff are happy to talk you through the vast range of whisky on offer. This is certainly a comfortable place to come to if you’re waiting for a train and can easily become a part of the experience of travelling to as romantic a destination as Paris.

The Drink
Of course, the drink is the most important attribute of the St Pancras Grand Whisky Bar and it doesn’t disappoint. Personally chosen by Johnny Walker, their selection encompasses 160 bottles with a strong Scottish skew.

The menu is happily descriptive and easy to navigate, coming divided into blended and deluxe, grain, vated, single malt, Lowland, Highland, Speyside, Cambeltown, Islands, Islay, Irish, American Bourbon and Tennessee whisky varieties, each section coming complete with a description as to the history and flavours you can expect. Prices range from an inexpensive £5.50 for recognisable brands like Famous Grouse, Bushmills, Jameson, Bulleit and Jack Daniels, rising to a credit crunch busting £140.50 for the Glenlivet 1948. Each shot of whisky is served with water and ice on the side, a nice touch that means you can enjoy your tipple how you like it, which is what whisky drinking is all about.

As well as their whisky choice, they do have premium bottles of vodka, gin, Cognac, Calvados and Armagnac, Eaux de Vie, rum, tequila, vermouth and liqueur. You can also order draught beer like London Pride, Pilsener Urquell and Kasteel Kru. Also, a nice touch is the whisky cocktails that they’re introducing. Priced at around £8, they include the Old Fashioned and Whisky Collins alongside some new signature drinks. This is a good addition to the menu as it opens up the option of drinking whisky to those who vehemently declare they dislike the drink. It introduces the idea of experimentation and, as whisky gains in popularity and becomes increasingly trendy, is sure to be popular. Another nice touch is you can order a drink from their Champagne bar - located at the other side of the restaurant - and have it brought over to the whisky bar if you’re drinking with a whisky fan but aren’t one yourself.

The Last Word
As whisky bars start to spring up over London and the drink gains in popularity, it’s nice to find a bar that puts such an emphasis on quality. The excellent customer service and obvious care and attention that has gone into the whisky selection is commendable and this is a worthy addition to the St Pancras empire.

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