Where are they you say! Well I’ve just heard from a reliable source, (my neighbour Helen P.) who works in real estate that Cantaloupe Group has taken 6,500 sq.ft of space at Regent Quarter. They are the first leisure/restaurant operator to sign.
We don’t know specifically what they have planned as they seem to have a mix of different venues, however they seem heavily geared to liquor!!!
I would suggest that we all be on the lookout for those licensing applications that are bound to start appearing in the complex. Food with drink is A-ok, but I for one would hate to see this place become an extension of the bar scene of Upper Street.
Kings Cross Environment 
Cantaloupe’s other concessions include Cargo and Cantaloupe itself in Shoreditch. Despite (or because of!) the fact they do sell a really wide range of alcohol these places are excellent – havens of sophistication and have won lots of critical praise (Cargo is often stated to be an excellent club). This is excellent news and great for the area. I am not sure what the objection to “liquor” is – Cantaloupe’s venues do not attract the sort of neanderthal alcoholics that are currently attracted to licensed establishments in the King’s Cross area (with the exception perhaps of Ruby Lounge and Lincoln Lounge, and of course now the Cross Kings).
More sign-ups for Regent Quarter: Eusrostar offices, Arriva offices above Tesco Metro and a floor of Bravington House let (Frontage on Pentonville Rd)
Cantaloupe sounds fantastic. It will attract young professionals a and other similar businesses. It is precisely this social group that often help regenerate places as they are willing to take a few more risks in neighbourhoods that may have a bit of a reputation – think of Shoreditch and previously Notting Hill.
This is pretty good news. About 10 years ago I used to say “can you imagine Pizza Express locating to Kings Cross?” because that seemed a pretty good measure of whether the area was ready for normal investment. We have gone way beyond that point now and the sort of flagship investments that Regent Quarter represents are an excellent indicator of how well we’ve done.
Cantaloupe bar is just that kind of development. It is in a group of fashionable drink/eat places with high standards, upscale values but not desperately expensive or snooty (in that oh so Soho way I rather grew out of a while ago … forgive the diversion but I worked on Poland Street in the late ’80s and was saddened by the loss of old Soho, though not the vice I hasten to add). Cantaloupe has one outlet in Shoreditch and it’s worth an online visit if not a real drop-in:
http://www.alphabetbar.com/cantaloupe/index.asp
I agree with Chloe that Cantaloupe encourages/ reflects the presence of young professionals who are important social change agent for around here. South of the canal however, I really think the momentum is already there but I wonder if we might need to look carefully at the pace and scale of change underway. I’ve been around long enough to recall Upper Street and Essex Road in the 80s when they need regenerating (what used to be called the Fox pub opposite the Screen on the Green was the very first old style boozer to turn into a new style bar in 1984 and led the way … by mainly appealing to young professionals). Both Upper Street and lately Essex Road ended up becoming overheated and now the policy approach is to try and reduce the impacts of over-development. The key thing about KX is that we have got a balance of old and new residents that results in a really good social chemistry. I am becoming apprehensive that we might be approaching a tipping point where the mix gets lost.
I have heard that Keystone on the corner of Caledonian and Pentonville Road (Recruitment Company) actually are the owners of the building on that site which, houses that dreadful strip bar and DVD shop etc on that site. I heard that they have been battling to get the site free and they plan to open a restaurant and bar in the area.
I also know that they supply loads of hospitality staff in London – loads of the 5*’s and trendy stuff! …. So they better do something good with it!!!! –
It would be good to have another bar restaurant in the areas especially if they do the things everyone’s talking about!… has anyone heard anything? I live close anything other than what there will be much better for the area!