Cross Kings , King's Cross  

Cross Kings is a nice little venue hidden in the no-mans land of York Way, hoping the regeneration of King's Cross will reap handsome rewards. It's clear a lot of effort has gone into transforming this former backpackers bar into something special. The décor is pretty eccentric and we enjoyed relaxing on one of the comfy couches next to the real open fire. There's also a large back room and basement, both of which play host to a variety of events, from film screenings, to comedy nights and acoustic gigs; some events are free, others not. The crowd can vary - we've witnessed it virtually empty early in the week, but also packed to capacity late on Saturday night; the Guardian's new building next door should provide additional custom when it opens this year, too. We've knocked it down from its previous four pint rating though, as the service has been slow and muddled more than once - on our last visit we told a staff member our (two item) food order four times and it still arrived wrong. The landlady needs to be more welcoming, too. Nevertheless, opening in what is essentially London's largest building site was a brave move and we hope Cross Kings has timed its arrival to the new King's Cross well.

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