Kings Place - Music and Arts Venue

Kings Place opened in October 2008 in King's Cross, London as part of one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe.

The ground floor has the Pangolin London art gallery - dedicated to sculpture, next to the main entrance; cafes and restaurants, plus a waterside terrace. It's not a view you expect in King's Cross of canal barges moored in Battlebridge Basin.

There are seven floors of non-public offices above, but the big story is going on below: there are two lower levels devoted to the arts. The building maximizes on space by creating the deepest single propped basement ever built in London.

Kings Place has the first new public concert hall to be built in central London since the Barbican over 25 years ago in 1982. Hall One seats 420 people and has an elegant interior with state-of-the-art acoustic performance. Hall Two is a flexible space accommodating 220 seated or 330 standing, ideal for a wide range of musical performances.

There was big excitement when Kings Place opened about how they could contain the acoustics when so close to a major train station. This is achieved by the halls sitting on rubber springs to give them complete acoustic separation from the rest of the building and the outside.

The music programme at Kings Place is arranged in a series of weekly events, each with a common theme, consisting of four consecutive evenings. In addition to the weekly 'mini-festivals', there are three regular spots:

• Words on Monday is a series of talks and discussions;
• Tuesday night is devoted to more contemporary music and jazz put together in a different way;
• and Sunday evenings is the preserve of the London Chamber Music Society.

There are two resident orchestras: The London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are making their headquarters at Kings Place.

Every musical event at Kings Place aims to be highly affordable and all exhibitions are free.

Booking online saves £2 per ticket, no booking fee: www.kingsplace.co.uk

By telephone: 0844 264 0321

In Person: Ticket desk in the atrium of Kings Place.

No refunds, but they will usually offer to resell your ticket after all house tickets have been sold.

Art Galleries

Pangolin London is unusual as it is dedicated to sculpture.
Kings Place Gallery has a program of temporary and touring exhibitions.

Food and Drink

• The atrium cafe can seat 60 is has sofas or dining table.
• The Rotunda Bar sits along the waterfront and serves light meals and drinks.
• The Rotunda Restaurant also looks over the canal basin and offers true dining.

Kings Place is just 150 meters from King's Cross/St Pancras.

Address: 90 York Way, London N1 9AG

Website: www.kingsplace.co.uk

Kings Place Review

I visited Kings Place on 2 October 2008 (the day after it opened). It was busy in the atrium as there was an opening 'festival' but I couldn't see the lower levels - where the concert halls and Kings Place Gallery are located - as the only access is by fast escalator and one very small lift (elevator). I was shocked at such a slight and ridiculous nod towards making a building accessible. I was with my daughter in her buggy so we couldn't go to the lower levels as there was a queue at the single lift. I spoke to staff about this problem and was told it had been mentioned a lot already. Surely when designing a new building it makes sense - hang on it's the law! - to make it accessible to all.

The offices using the floors above have plenty of lifts but these are not available to the public.

I gave up and left. So I'll never know. But I did read the incredibly long press release so I feel I've already been there.