St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar sounds good in theory, but the reality is far less glamorous…

The Venue
Sure, St Pancras International is an architecturally beautiful train station - the arched ceiling, walls of glass, elegant walkways, upmarket shopping centre and the iconic statue of a couple kissing all make it something to behold. However, it is still a train station. It is cold, and its huge cavernous space stops it from being charming and there’s a transient feeling to it that comes from thousands of travellers passing through every day.

The bar itself is the longest champagne bar in Europe, but that doesn’t make it the best. For a start, forget it if it’s winter as the champagne bar is exposed up the top of an escalator, close to the Eurostar platforms. And you may as well be outside as it gets very, very cold. They warm the seats but it’s not enough to stave off the chill as you sit, shivering atop a narrow high bar stool, forcing down an ice-cold glass of champagne. And the bar itself isn’t prettily laid out. At one end is the refrigeration unit with ‘The Champagne Bar’ written in bold yellow lettering. It’s surrounded by a simple wooden topped bar that extends back and flanked by a few heated leather booths. And, well, that’s about it, the rest of the decor is provided by the train station itself, so unless you’re a train spotter, you're unlikely to be particularly excited.

The Atmosphere
Suitcases, lots of. Stressed travellers, lots of. Annoyed passengers delayed again, lots of. If you have romantic visions of the St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar then think again. The hustle and bustle of the train station mixed with the constant hum of angry Londoners and commuters makes this far from a romantic drinking spot. It’s a clever idea, playing on the supposed romance of the Eurostar, but anyone who’s ever travelled on the Eurostar will know that it’s all just an illusion. It’s just another train with borderline-poor services.

The Drink
The best thing about the St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar drinks menu is the large choice of champagne by the glass, which is ideal if you’re just popping by for a pre-journey tipple. The prices ranges from £8 to £27.50 and cover some excellent bottles usually not available by just the glass, such as the Prestige Cuvee Dom Perignon 2002. Another nice touch is the choice of champagne cocktails, which are priced at £11-£12 and include twists on bellinis and traditional champagne mixes like the French 75. And if you really have money to spend then they do a large selection of bottles, costing up to £900. Ouch.

The Last Word
St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar is a nice idea, and it’s easy to see why people hear about it and want to add it to their holiday itinerary. It’s just a shame that the reality is lacklustre and rather unenjoyable, particularly during the winter months.

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