The Big Chill House, King’s Cross

King’s Cross may be a bit of an underachiever when it comes to bars, pubs, clubs and eateries, but there are notable exceptions. One diamond in the rough is the Big Chill House, an aptly named bar that fosters a brooding yet easy-going atmosphere that serves as a potent antidote to the hustle and bustle of the travelling hordes.

Inside you’ll find a large space with deep greens, blues and black, along with eclectic decorative touches such as mix-and-match café-style tables, large metal ceiling lights strewn with dangling wiring and large ‘Big Chill House’ lettering dressed with pleasingly outré graffiti (I recommend the octopus with breasts).

Come the summer, the place is literally packed to the rafters thanks to a large roof terrace which basically doubles capacity, complete with ample seating, parasols, private areas and even a BBQ bar.

Don’t fear though, when the temperature drops the ambience, drinks selection and mini dance floor back in the cosy indoors will still keep you coming back for more.

While primarily a place to drink, the food at Big Chilly is still worth a mention. In the evening, great satisfaction can be found in their range of small plates (crispy baby squid, £4.95; onion rings, £3.50; and particularly the sweet potato fries with chilli sauce, £3.75) or customisable burgers (£6.75).

Nothing is going to blow your socks off, but it’s reasonably priced and does the job. Recently they have also promoted a new ‘breakfast your way’ menu, hoping to tempt commuters and weekend travellers alike. And, from what I tried, they’ve done a good job.

Try the generously sized French toast (£4.75) or Belgian waffles (£3.95) if you are in mind for something more continental, or dive straight into the well-executed full English breakfast (£7.50), helped with added touches such as parsley-topped tomatoes (supposedly meant for the beans). Various egg dishes and other classics also feature.

However, despite seemingly well-crafted fare, I found little evidence of the ‘your way’ selling point. I expected a menu that openly encouraged you to put sausages with ice cream waffles or beans with your Bloody Mary, but it wasn’t advertised as far as I could tell. To be fair I didn’t probe as to whether it was actually possible, but it was not immediately obvious on the menu so anyone not privy to extra information would be none the wiser, and likely feel less at ease in making such eccentric choices.

Another gripe is that it is still a bar, thus having breakfast there did feel a little less comfortable than other more dedicated breakfast establishments. Not least because on the table next to me were four people getting steaming drunk. It was perhaps just unlucky on that particular morning, but nonetheless it did mottle the atmosphere a little.

All things considered, The Big Chill House is hard to beat if you’re in King’s Cross. Like stargazing, it is best enjoyed in the evening – and from the roof – but I certainly can recommend making a morning trip for the food if you’re peckish.

…Just check who’s on the next table first.

The Big Chill House
257-259 Pentonville Road
King’s Cross
N1 9NL

Tel: 020 7427 2540