St Pancras: it's the only place for a good sob story

Shane Meadows's new film Somers Town, funded by Eurostar, opens tomorrow. Set in the rundown neighbourhood between the euston, St Pancras and King's Cross stations, it tackles homelessness, urban friendship and the area's migrant population. And yet Meadows gives the city a raw beauty. At times London resembles the Left Bank of Paris.

The film has aroused controversy: has Meadows sold out? Yet shot in just 10 days in gritty black and white, it looks anything but a glorified corporate video. We only see the new Channel Tunnel terminal in the final scenes.

But when we do, I almost sobbed with joy. St Pancras is officially my favourite place in London. The tragedy is I haven't even taken a train from there yet. Not even a day trip to Paris.

But whenever I need to kill an hour before meeting a friend, I end up at the terminal. With around 20 cafés, bars and restaurants, you're guaranteed a seat. The shopping is phenomenal. Want a jewelled dog collar, patisserie or a new frock? No problem. You can watch the Olympics on their huge flat-screen telly or picnic on the fake grass near Boots. The toilets are great (though go for the ones near the regional train platforms to avoid queues).

There are even plans to introduce a bloody farmers' market this autumn.

Let's face it, Eurostar St Pancras is just nicer than real life. Cleaner, brighter, more rewarding. Last Saturday I found myself heading there after a bad date to lick my wounds in the cavernous Pain Quotidien. After a tofu salad and two glasses of red wine I felt able to face humanity again. No one cared I was sitting on my own. I could have been a VIP business traveller. And when I shed a post-date tear, a tourist smiled sympathetically, imagining I had just waved the love of my life off to Brussels.

The only problem about socialising at St Pancras as a nontraveller is you feel slightly out of synch. Everyone else is rushing to the gate, clutching their passport. You meanwhile are going back to Peckham for Rich Tea biscuits and the box set of Fortunes of War. next week, I swear I'm taking a suitcase.