Coal Drops Yard

Hi girls,

Happy weekend! If you’ve got a free weekend and thinking of what to do then I’ve got you covered. I recently visited the new area in Kings Cross; Coal Drops Yard and I highly recommend you check it out. It’s really magnificent architecturally but also some fab shops and cool cafe’s and restaurants to get your teeth stuck into.

Historically in the 1800’s this area served an important purpose as the hub for all sorts of goods being transported from the North to London Kings Cross ever since the railway began. It was mainly coal (hence the name Coal Drops Yard) that was transported down to keep the capital powered up. Then when road transport took over from the railway the area became disused and the historic buildings forgotten. Until around 140 years later in the 1980’s when the rave and clubbing scene gave it a new lease of life which lasted for around 2 decades but became disused again in the late 90’s. You can visit the website http://www.coaldropsyard.com for more of the historic story behind this area including photos of what it looked like before the renovation project began.

So then in 2014 renowned architect Thomas Heatherwick took the area under his wing and transformed it into the amazing new hub for eating, drinking and shopping that it is now.

It is located behind Kings Cross station, a short walk up to the canal and then sitting modestly (but in no way modest when you reach it) behind a building as part of Central Saint Martins. Keep a look out for these signs as well that are scattered all around Kings Cross area…

The theme of the brands and businesses located there is very much new, innovative, sustainable, ethical – mostly new brands and ones you probably haven’t heard of with a few recognisable ones like COS and Superga thrown in for good measure.
The restaurants and cafe’s have a cool vibe about them with notes to cycling on the walls and a nod to its history with industrial looking interiors.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go is because Wolf & Badger have opened their first store in London there and I’ve always been a big fan. Previously online only, they are the marketplace for independent brands and designers and offer unique and inspiring products across men’s, women’s, accessories and homeware. The new store in Coal Drops Yard is well worth a visit with beautiful products that you’re guaranteed to be drooling over.
Another store worth visiting is Emin & Paul. A family business based in Shoreditch, their shop of curated beautiful clothing arranged satisfyingly in different hues is for sure to get you in the mood for shopping. Prices around the £100 mark, it’s one of the many shops located in the area paving the way for a new era of shopping; buying less fast fashion and more selective good quality pieces (which I am totally on board with if you’ve read my other posts!).
The homeware shops are also worth looking round in (even if you’re not in the market to buy a gorgeous £3000 sofa) with Caravane in particular a beautiful and serene store to go and check out for lovely natural linen fabrics from tea towels to sofas and beautifully crafted kitchen dining products.

After we’d been round all the shops and cafe’s and basically exhausted ourselves, we popped into the local Waitrose round the corner to get something for dinner when we came across this cute little market in Granary Square.
In particular on one stall I discovered Audra’s Brooches, a lovely family business buying and selling beautiful vintage brooches from around the world. I just happened to be walking past when the sparkles caught my eye and I must say I fell in love with all of them! I just had to buy one for myself even though I’ve never worn a brooch before now but I’m sure I’ll find an excuse to put on this beautiful sparkly accessory!

Then to celebrate, I went along to the opening party with the whole of Coal Drops Yard lit up with awesome lights, DJ’s banging out awesome tunes and amazing cocktails and events in the shops.
I had dinner at The Coal Office which is Tom Dixon’s (a furniture designer) new restaurant above his new shop opened and the food was amazing! The atmosphere was fantastic with an open kitchen to watch the chefs prepare your amazing dinner. Reasonably priced as well, we had 3 courses at £50 a head – not bad for a treat yourself pay day dinner or special occasion.