Booking Office 1869 opens in King's Cross

King's Cross recently gained a new drinking and dining destination in Booking Office 1869, a restaurant and bar open from 4pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Marking the 10-year anniversary of St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, built by hotelier and developer Harry Hendelsman – the man behind Booking Office 1869, the new venue is a reimagining of the original 19th century St. Pancras ticket hall. 

The room seats 120 and is adorned with palm trees, pendant lights and a 22-metre long bar which surrounds the original ticket office. 

Booking Office menus are overseen by Allegra's Patrick Powell (previously of Chiltern Firehouse and Wild Honey) who has curated a menu designed to highlight classic dishes with a contemporary twist. A live raw bar accompanies the menu, serving both market oysters and sashimi-style tuna skewers.

For a sharing-style experience, guests can order signature snacks and starters such as fried chicken, yoghurt and lime; steak tartare with salsa verde and beef dripping toast; and barbequed carrots, braised grains, yoghurt, pistachio and dukkah.

Mains include dishes such as a fried fish sandwich with spicy tartar sauce, baked gnocchi, taleggio, bitter leaf salad and pickled walnut; and slow roasted lamb shoulder cooked in chermoula spices for two to share. For desserts, guests can choose a brioche donit with caramelised apple and burnt cinnamon cream, or the blackberry trifle. 

The cocktail list emphasises the idea of combining the old with the new and is divided into two parts: refined classics see modern techniques used to accelerate the ageing processes, whilst still maintaining a complexity and depth of flavour; then signature serves that incorporate Victorian materials and are then served in a modern yet pared back style.

On the opening, Hendelsmanm comments: "What King's Cross represents today is the perfect manifestation of the principles upon which I built my company nearly 30 years ago and despite the incredible challenges that came with the restoration of the Grade 1 listed St Pancras Chambers, I am proud of what I have accomplished with both St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel as well as the apartments above."

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