German Gymnasium

The oldest gymnasium in London revamped into a sleek restaurant with an elegant bar serving traditional German food with a modern twist … an impressive space with gorgeous high ceilings.
Greeted by pretty hostesses in geometric black and white dresses and whisked away to our table in the brasserie to music with a heavy bass. Dapper gentlemen waiters in suits plus other staff were very attentive and friendly.
Started with a drink — the 1866 cocktail — balanced sweet/​acidic orange. Moved on to the oysters … Very creative side plate of layered pumpernickel bread and butter which was delicious! Friends got the goulash soup which was amazing (incredible depth of flavour)!!!
Main was short ribs with snitzel — was nice although difficult to get into before asking for a steak knife! Friends had the curry wurst with chips which was disappointing as it was on the sweet side and a bit too fancy for the traditional German street food (missing the soft roll!). Nice wine selection with a variety of price points.
A large variety of desserts — we shared the apple strudel with vanilla sauce which was traditional and good.
I definitely will be back as its a great atmosphere and space … I think the food will continue to improve as this new restaurant settles in.

This brand new nightspot is one stop partying right at King’s Cross station.
With all the gentrification in the Kings Cross area it is no surprise that King’s Cross has become a trendy social seen for the young and trendy. And what could reflect this more than a two tiered establishment literally outside the station. You could get off the train from Cambridge, and be 10 steps from cocktails and dinner.
German Gymnasium is in that category of not quite fine dining yet not run of the mill either. It is trying to be very hip and even a bit clubby. And as you walk into the massive space which used to be a gymnasium, hence the name, there are model like hostesses and expected lounge music to welcome you. The place is divided into two parts, the ground floor being the restaurant and the upstairs veranda overlooking the grand space below is the large lounge bar area. Plush chairs and shiny bar contrasting with the original vaulted ceilings and arched spaces of what once was London’s first gymnasium, so it claims. Very stylish if not predictable, the kind of décor you might see in Heal’s, its all on trend, but not necessarily cutting edge or anything.
The important part, the drinks were good. And even waiting for the cocktail waitress to bring them was not an overly long wait, which was impressive for a busy Friday night. Finger food of mini hot dogs for example was fine but not overly exciting. Sort of a hipster foodie vibe perhaps.
The main problem is if you are at the side end of the lounge as we were we were right in the pathway of the waitstaff going to the kitchen which was just behind us and very visible. The kitchen door swinging back and forth frequently let in sharp light contrasting the darkness of the bar killing the mood. Not to mention constantly being shoved a side by the waiters no matter how politely they tried meant you were always in the way and conversation was constantly being interrupted. There was absolutely no place to move to be out of their way unless we sat down, and all the seats were taken. So that IS a problem they will have to fix in order to cope with crowds.
Overall the experience was enjoyable. The space is attractive and makes for a fun night out with a larger group of friends. While I wouldn’t put it quite at that ‘wow!’ factor it was stylish, a good all rounder and great for that weekend drinking experience.

Brand new restaurant in the heart of the awesomeness that is the new kings cross area. The building is amazing, all soaring ceilings and walls of wine, sleek décor, sophisticated friendly staff. We went for breakfast, the menu is enticing, we had the granola, the cinnamon bun, the donuts, the salmon and scrambled eggs… It was hard to choose. Coffee was good, food was good, service was good. We’ll definitely be back, it looks like a great spot for dinner too

Anyone leaving the north concourse of St Pancras station, or the new north ticket hall of King’s Cross underground station will see this small but handsome and historic building across the road.
It’s currently used as an exhibition space by the developers undertaking the redevelopment of the area north of King’s Cross, but is well preserved and is worth a peek inside.
History
Unusually for a building with an interesting name in London, the German Gymnasium was exactly what its name implies: originally known as ‘Die Turnhalle’, it was erected in 1864 – 65 for use by the German Gymnastics Society. It also housed a library. The architect was Edward Gruning.
Paid for solely by donations from the German community in London, it is believed to have been the first purpose-​built gymnasium in the United Kingdom. The Society was also innovative in other ways, with women’s exercise classes introduced in 1866, and in the same year it hosted the gymnastic events in the first National Olympic Games.
The main exercise hall was an impressive space with a floor to ceiling height of 57ft. Ropes for exercises were hung from the roof trusses, which are still in place today (albeit without the ropes). The trusses themselves are made of laminated wood — an early use of this technology.
In 1908 a mezzanine floor was inserted, giving it the form we see today. Part of the western façade was removed in association with the works on adjacent St Pancras station, but a new façade erected in keeping with the rest of the building.
The building
The building is built of yellow stock brick, with red-​brick detailing in a vaguely Lombardic style, although the windows are square. The roof has a continuous lantern along the ridge.
Inside, the main hall was built like a church, with a nave and two tiers of aisles separated by a row of tall cast-​iron columns, decorated with elaborate Early English foliage capitals. The columns are still there, but the mezzanine (with its impressive wooden floor) and subsequent alterations make the plan a bit harder to see.
Most of the space has been painted a slightly clinical white, in keeping with its current role as an exhibition and conference space, and offices have been inserted within the structure as well. However, enough remains (especially at mezzanine level) to give you an impression of how impressive it must originally have looked. The building is listed at Grade II.
Practicalities
Right by the exits to the Northern Ticket Hall of Kings Cross — St Pancras underground station. The building has a lift to the mezzanine, a disabled toilet and level access.
In the ground floor is a large scale model of how the Kings Cross development is intended to look when completed.
The building is open to the public between 10:00am and 5:30pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 10:00am to 4:30pm on Fridays. Free entry.

Gymnasium hat in diesem Fall nix mit der Bildung zu tun, sondern mit Gymnastik. Interessantes Gebäude, das derzeit als Informationsbüro für das geplante Gebiet um King’s Cross dient. Wenn man in der Gegend ist, sollte man unbedingt mal reinschauen, denn es gibt ein sehr interessantes Modell der Bahnhöfe King’s Cross und St. Pancras mit allen unterirdischen Tunnels der verschiedensten U-​Bahnen. Faszinierend und verwirrend!!!