LONDON
SUNDAY BRUNCH FEAST AT
ST PANCRAS BY SEARCYS
RENOWNED FOR THEIR ‘ COLLECTION ’ OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN ICONIC SURROUNDINGS , THINK THE GHERKIN , BLENHEIM PALACE AND THE PUMP ROOM IN BATH , SEARCYS ’ ST PANCRAS CHAMPAGNE BAR AND BRASSERIE OFFERING IS A CLEVER MIX OF TRADITIONAL GLAMOUR AND CONTEMPORARY DRINKING AND DINING , ALL ENCAPSULATED IN AN ELEGANT HOMAGE TO THE GOLDEN ERA OF TRAVEL . BY SAMANTHA READY
Located just minutes from Kent ’ s high speed platforms in the heart of the international station , and to the backdrop of Tracey Emin ’ s iconic and poignant artwork , I Want My Time With You , the offering here is an elegant departure from the usually bustling station below and provides not only the perfect spot to start a day or evening out on the town , for a pre-departure or arrival toast or a refined date , but also for a rather special Sunday brunch .
Designed by Martin Brudnizki ( the Swedish-born interior architect renowned for his elegant and opulent spaces ; The Ivy refurb , Le Caprice and Scarfes Bar also bear his signature touch ), the interior brasserie dining room ; think private booths lit by vintage-esque lighting and walls adjourned with old station clocks , is framed by the elegant open space of the concourse-based Champagne bar with its Searcys-embossed leather dining booths , reminiscent of first class luxury train carriages and complete with a ‘ press for Champagne ’ buzzer no less , transforms to offer an elegant , refined alternative to city bottomless brunch and an elevated way to enjoy a more traditional Sunday lunch .
As expected from the founders of National Champagne Week and from Britain ’ s oldest catering company ( Searcys was founded by John Searcy in 1847 ), Champagne and service feature highly on the menu here . So it should be of little surprise that alongside the unlimited buffet style Sunday brunch , paired with live jazz from the resident musicians for £ 60 per guest ( children aged 6-12 dine for £ 30 ,
while under 6s eat for free ), is the option of an extra celebratory addition of 90 minutes of freeflowing Searcys Selected Cuvée Champagne for just £ 50 per person .
We began our indulgent brunch as only you should here , with a glass of bubbles . Our waiter not only filling our glasses with Searcys ’ own cuvée but leaving the bottle on ice for continued top ups .
Chinked , cheers-ed and delicious bubbles enjoyed , it was time to feast , and my goodness what a delight it is .
Shown around the heaving and beautifully laid buffet stations by GM Sam , brunchers are encouraged to begin at the crudités and oyster bars , chosen of course for their natural Champagne pairing .
Next comes the mouthwatering salad bar ; think giant platters of chicory and pear salad with Roquefort cheese , prawn cocktail , Caesar salad , seared tuna niçoise , and tomato and burrata carpaccio , finished with a selection of charcuterie and a whole poached Loch Duart salmon no less !
Then it ' s the main event – the hot carvery Sunday lunch . There are baskets spilling with huge Yorkshire puddings , a roasted topside of beef , cooked rare and carved to order , barbequed corn-fed chicken with tarragon sauce , new potatoes , tomato gnocchi , fresh greens , and deliciously oozing cauliflower cheese .
Plates loaded , it was back to the table for another glass of bubbles and a brief respite to enjoy the jazz quartet , before a final indulgence at the dessert table .
Here , there was not only a heaving cheese board boasting Lancashire Bomber , Wigmore , Yorkshire Blue , crackers and quince jelly , but also a selection of mini desserts ; white chocolate mousse with passionfruit , chocolate chip cookies , lemon meringue pies , chocolate brownies , a fresh fruit platter , and even an entire waffle station with toppings and sweets galore !
Ironically for a refined brasserie set beneath the clock and surrounded by departure boards , it was utterly easy ( and utterly encouraged ) to lose track of time here ( aided perhaps by that bottomless Champagne …) Efficient , elegant , welcoming and refined , yet reassuringly , traditionally indulgent , Sunday Brunch at St Pancras by Searcys is definitely not one to miss … Just ensure you are hungry !
St Pancras by Searcys Grand Terrace Upper Concourse St Pancras International Station London N1C 4QL stpancrasbysearcys . co . uk
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