King's Cross restaurants and bars help new concourse post record sales figures

Network Rail has revealed it expects to post record retail figures from its newly-launched Western concourse at King's Cross station driven in part by the restaurants and bars on site including Leon and the Fuller's pub The Parcel Yard.

Since opening a month ago, the 22 new retail outlets posted average sales of £600k a week, nearly double the sales generated in the same period a year ago. Network Rail expects these figures to help drive King's Cross retail sales to over £34m after a year - an annual increase of over £15m.

The new concourse is part of a £550m development at the North London railway station which will feature 27 retail units when complete - already open  are Giraffe, Yalla Yalla and Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen, the London-based chain founded by Ben Fordham

Network Rail, which is growing the retail and F&B offering at a number of its stations, said a Fuller's pub in the Grade 1 listed old parcels office and the outlet for health fast-food operator Leon were among the top performers so far. 

Henry Dimbleby, Leon co-founder said: "Leon has been performing way beyond our expectations. The new King's Cross building is awe inspiring. After years of decline, it feels as if we are finally beating the Victorians at their own game when it comes to investment in our infrastructure. You can feel the energy and excitement it creates in the people using the place."