The Standard London has announced a significant expansion of its rooftop restaurant and bar operation at the King's Cross property, including the appointment of a new head chef and the introduction of a dinner service that brings the rooftop into a full day-part operation for the first time.
The property — which opened in 2019 in the former Camden Town Hall Annexe building on Euston Road — has operated its rooftop as a primarily drinks-led destination since launch. The expansion moves it toward a full-service restaurant proposition, with a new kitchen build-out that the hotel completed over the winter closure period.
The new head chef, whose appointment will be formally announced by the hotel in the coming weeks, comes from a senior position at an internationally recognised restaurant group and brings experience across the breakfast, brunch and dinner day-parts that the expanded rooftop operation will require.
The New Format
The rooftop will now operate across three distinct sessions: a brunch service from 11am on weekends, a lunch offer from Tuesday to Sunday, and a dinner service running Thursday to Saturday evenings. The evening format is expected to be the headline change — rooftop dinner with views across central London had been a gap in The Standard's F&B offering that the hotel has acknowledged internally for some time.
The menu direction will reflect a contemporary European approach with a strong seasonal emphasis. The kitchen's position above the hotel means a compact operational footprint, which the incoming head chef has been briefed to work with rather than against — the menu is expected to be focused and concise rather than expansive, with a small number of dishes executed precisely.
The bar programme, which has been one of The Standard London's most commercially successful elements since opening, will continue to operate independently of the restaurant service with its own menu of cocktails and small plates.
Design Changes
The winter fit-out included an enclosed section of the rooftop that can operate year-round regardless of weather, alongside the existing open-air terrace. The enclosed section seats approximately 40 covers, with the terrace adding a further 30 when conditions allow. Heaters and a weather screen have been added to the terrace to extend the usable season beyond the summer months.
The Standard's London Positioning
The Standard London was the brand's first European property and remains one of its flagship hotels globally. The King's Cross location — in a building that was originally built in 1974 as part of the Camden municipal estate and is Grade II listed — has won the brand consistent recognition for its design approach and its ability to attract a non-hotel clientele to its bars and restaurants.
The rooftop expansion is the property's most significant F&B investment since opening and reflects what the hotel's management describes as a maturing of the brand's London presence — moving from a destination with good food and drink as a secondary offer to one where the culinary programme is a primary reason to visit.
Full details of the expanded rooftop format, including reservation availability, will be published by The Standard London ahead of the summer season.