The vibrant new shopping district at the centre of King’s Cross has just opened, in time for the pre-Christmas shopping extravaganza.
Home to over 50 stores, restaurants and cafés, Coal Drops Yard houses a collection of the coolest brands in a re-imagined set of historic buildings and arches directly adjacent to Granary Square and Regent’s Canal. Originally built in 1850 to handle the eight million tonnes of coal delivered to the capital each year, Coal Drops Yard more recently became the site of legendary Gen Xer nightclubs Bagley’s and The Cross, before its spectacular new incarnation. Here’s why it’s worth a look…
1 THOMAS HEATHERWICK DESIGN
The look of the reinvention is largely down to the world-famous Heatherwick Studio, which has created jaw-dropping vistas from the surviving rich ironwork of the original Victorian coal drops. The pièce de résistance is the ‘kissing rooftop’ which undulates and rises up from the buildings below.
No space at Coal Drops Yard is the same. Stores and restaurants are located in canal-side arches fronting on to cobbled courtyards, within the original ‘coal drops’ themselves and across a series of raised iron viaducts. Larger stores sit at each street corner, while Lower Stable Street, a sunken street between Coal Drops Yard and Stable Street, features smaller pop-up and experimental stores.
2 LIVE MUSIC
To celebrate the opening, expect Coal Drops Yard Firsts, a four-day party with live music, installations and events, which will be held from Thursday 1 November-Sunday 4th November.
A night of music curated by Kings Cross locals, Spiritland will be held from a central stage in the main yard of the former Victorian coal drops. Headlining the night will be Benji B plus live performances by, Osymyso, Charlotte Hatherley and special guests. Or head to Lower Stable Street for NTS X Honest Jon’s Street Party.
3 BRILLIANT BRANDS
The stores themselves will house some of the world’s most forward-thinking brands, each worth a visit for the architecture alone. Tom Dixon, Bonds, Caravane, Margaret Howell and Wolf & Badger are some of our favourite interior, fashion and lifestyle offerings.
From 1 November-1 December, there’s a Hem pop-up too, for fans of the Scandinavian furniture and homeware store.
4 FOODIE HEAVEN
Alongside the independent stores, Coal Drops Yard will house a range of cafés and bars, top restaurants and public spaces, so you can take a breather with your bags and grab a cocktail, coffee or the full three courses. Expect to see Barrafina, Casa Pastor, Le Chocolat – Alainne Ducasse, Morty & Bob’s and wine bar, The Drop, with plenty more on offer.
5 A LOOK BACK AT THE FACE
As part of the opening celebrations, there will be an outdoor exhibition telling the story of iconic magazine The Face’s 38-year reign, which marked it as the brand that defined youth culture, featuring 250 of its most influential covers on display in Lewis Cubitt Square.
King’s Cross, London, N1C 4DQ
Find out more at Coal Drops Yard
