Since the big day, retail fit-out works at London St Pancras have
proceeded at varying speeds. In order of progress the situation is as
follows:
* More than four-fifths of the Arcade units are now operational
* The Circle area is now partially exposed - the ceiling and floor are
by and large complete, and some units (notably the Boots concept store
that car park and toilet users pass on the way) are being stocked
* The Market is now expected to open in the summer as LCR/NR have
provisionally selected an operator and are negotiating the contract
(info given over the phone)
* The Rendezvous units are still being worked on (except the four
nearest the MML concourse (and the Champagne Bar of course), which are
already operational) - the Brasserie is now expected to open in thr
autumn ...

On 18 Mar, 12:42, Sky Rider ntlworld.com> wrote:

In message
<23c5e4ce-e99b-4165-988d-0e2154f47df5@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, at
07:00:06 on Tue, 18 Mar 2008, unrealpolitik@gmail.com remarked:

The TV programme about the station kept harping on about penalty
payments for late opening. Presumably these don't apply to the fitout-
or are the builders past caring now?

On 18 Mar, 12:42, Sky Rider ntlworld.com> wrote:

Although some of the more boutiquey shops look yet to get their first
customer. There's a posh shirt shop on the west side where the staff
looked suicidal last time I passed. The food shops are doing well.

(and how long was the big Marks and Spencer open for? It opened after
the station and closed again at least a month ago, so it can't have
more than a few weeks. Deserted too)

U

Mr Thant wrote:

I haven't paid particular attention to the boutique staff but I know
what you mean. The book shop looked moderately busy when I last saw it.

I have to say that I am rather partial to the Peyton and Byrne chocolate
cake, although their rather basic seating leaves a lot to be desired.
Camden Food are OK but a raspberry muffin I bought from them at Euston
was like a rubbish fairy cake with two small raspberries on the top...

The big M&S store was probably open for about a month before they
mothballed it. I do hope they reopen it soon because as much as I like
the food that Le Pain Quotidien and their ilk offer, M&S generally sell
similar quality goodies for less since they are not just a bakery/cafe/etc.

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008, Sky Rider wrote:

Their scotch egg is also very good indeed.

tom

"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.64.0803182051360.6278@urchin.earth.li...

On Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 07:12:36AM -0700, Mr Thant wrote:

Gosh, I wonder why. Perhaps it's because people go to railway stations
to catch trains, not to go shopping.

--
David Cantrell | Enforcer, South London Linguistic Massive

Deck of Cards: $1.29.
"101 Solitaire Variations" book: $6.59.
Cheap replacement for the one thing Windows is good at: priceless
-- Shane Lazarus

Have they fixed the heating problem yet? Last time I had a look around
the shops there they had no heating at all - the only place where it
seemed to work was in the Eurostar ticket office. Some shops had
signs blaming a general problem across the station.

I have to say I'm very disappointed that the shops, restaurants and
market are taking so long to complete. I was also very disappointed
with the lack of facilities once you've gone through security in the
Eurostar terminal itself. I seem to remember there was one tiny cafe
and one tiny WH Smith (with an enormous queue).

Still a gorgeous station though and fantastic to have such quick
trains to Europe.

On Mar 19, 9:49 pm, mudch...@googlemail.com wrote:

Is it not already in Europe then ?