UK. The St Pancras International Station will officially open to the public in London tomorrow, connecting London to mainland Europe via a new high-speed rail link.
The public opening of the newly restored Victorian station will mark the end of an 11-year project driven by by London & Continental Railways (LCR), which cost more than £5.8 billion.
The aim of the project was to develop a station that was not just a travel terminus but a destination in its own right. To help achieve this LCR has conceived an innovative retail and F&B offering that includes a mix of luxury, high street and independent brands.
The station is expected to process an estimated 45 to 50 million passengers each year, and aims to attract a further 10 to 12 million non-travellers with first-rate retail and F&B facilities.
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An artist’s impression of the newly restored St Pancras International Station – its exterior (left) and concourse (right) | |
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The station features the longest Champagne bar in Europe (left) and high-speed trains that connect London and Europe (right) | |
LCR spokesman Ben Ruse told The Moodie Report: “We quite deliberately set out to smash the mould of what a station can be. That’s the whole ethos of St Pancras: to be unique, to make it the place to be, to become London’s premier meeting place.”
According to Ruse The Arcade will house a retail mix that includes jeweller Olivier Bonas, London favourites Hamley’s and Thomas Pink, chocolatier Wilton & Noble, luxury English baker Peyton & Byrne, as well as an independent flower seller.
The Circle will showcase a major store for British retail giant Marks & Spencer, as well as a branch of Boots featuring brands such as Clarins, Lancôme, Estée Lauder and Clinique.
One of the highlights of the new station is the farmers’ market, which will focus on a festive offer upon its launch. It will stock a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, meat and fish by early next year.
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(Left) The new station features luxury and high street stores such as Marks & Spencer, as well as an independent flower shop; (Right) The St Pancras Chambers, a celebrated example of Victorian gothic architecture, is a St Pancras landmark | |
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Her Majesty The Queen at the official launch of High Speed 1, the UK’s first section of high speed railway, on 6 November | |
The three main F&B concessions were awarded to Searcy, a leading UK catering specialist. Searcy has provided bespoke F&B solutions at a number of leading cultural centres, including the Royal Opera House and The National Gallery.
Searcy Operations Manager Tracey Meade explained that the company’s expertise is in devising unique facilities. It has experience in locations where a rapid turnaround is required without compromising excellent service provision.
Besides a white-tablecloth restaurant, a gastropub, a Yo! Sushi and Carluccios, the centrepiece of the new station is the longest Champagne bar in Europe, sited adjacent to the platform.
For more information on St Pancras International Station, visit www.stpancras.com.
