db Drinks: German Gymnasium winter terrace

Keen to get into the festive spirit, db’s Lucy Shaw heads to the German Gymnasium winter terrace in King’s Cross for giant sausages and gallons of glühwein.

The concept: Mittel European restaurant German Gymnasium has a fascinating past. Housed in a Grade II listed building with soaring ceilings in the heart of King’s Cross, the space served as the first purpose built gym in England, which was created by Edward Gruning in 1864 for the German Gymnastics Society.

The first Olympic Games were held in the building in 1866. Today it’s enjoying a second life as a swanky restaurant specialising in gargantuan schnitzels and smoked ham from the Black Forest. To help get Londoners into the festive spirit, the restaurant has brought the best of Bavaria to N1 via a winter market terrace, which will run until the end of February.

The décor: Aiming to emulate a German Christmas market, wood, wreaths and fairy lights abound on the twinkling terrace, where drinkers and diners are kept warm by cosy blankets and white faux fur throws. Keeping guard at the entrance are a pair of soldier statues from the Nutcracker.

The GG hotdog

The food: Head chef Bjoern Wassmuth has devised a menu of winter market classics, from fresh roasted chestnuts to oozing cubes of deep-fried camembert, which come into their own when slathered in lingonberry compote.

As you’d expect, the terrace goes big on sausages, serving everything from giant curry dogs and chunky currywurst in adorable black iron pans bathing in an unctuous spiced tomato, green chilli and coriander sauce.

The classic GG hotdog is a must. Served in a brioche roll cascading with curls of crisp onions, the majoram-infused pork sausage was one of the best I’ve eaten, while the triple cooked chips give Heston’s a run for their money.

The drink: Bar manager Fred Tartas works with wintry flavours like blackberries and hibiscus in his bespoke drinks list for the terrace. Start with a cup of glühwein, which will warm your cockles on the chilly terrace. Spicy and aromatic, it was the perfect balance of bitter and sweet.

I could have happily glugged it all night but felt duty bound to try a couple of the cocktails. While the First Class, a blend of rum, falernum, ginger soda and lime, made us dream of Caribbean islands, the Senator – a blend of Calvados, Granny Smith apple juice and ginger soda – got us into the Christmas spirit.

Who to know: Gregarious Italian manager Michele, who will ply you with glühwein until they run out.

Don’t leave without: Heading into the restaurant and taking a picture of its giant Christmas tree that nearly touches the ceiling – Instagram gold.