Mayor of London opens new Olympia entertainment complex

Olympia

“A historic Victorian icon, reimagined for modern London”

The Mayor of London has opened the new Olympia entertainment complex which has been a decade in development.

Sadiq Khan told the hundreds of people gathered on the rooftop terrace on Tuesday (9 June) the £1.3 billion transformation of Olympia:

“Isn’t just one of the most spectacular regeneration schemes London has ever seen, it’s also a symbol of our city’s creativity, imagination and unstoppable ambition”.

He described it as:

“A historic Victorian icon, reimagined for modern London”.

Sadiq Khan speaking at the launch party

‘London’s home of culture and entertainment’

Olympia boasts four large scale event spaces, a world class convention centre, a 3,800 capacity live music centre – the British Airways ARC – two onsite hotels and 2.5 acres of pedestrian areas, with a huge range of places to eat and drink.

It is branding itself ‘London’s home of culture and entertainment’.

Among the restaurants are Lillie’s wine bar and restaurant:

‘Sip on English sparkling wine and savour curated British small plates with a view that never sleeps’

and Wolves of Tokyo:

‘Come for the craft, stay for the mood, at this Japanese kitchen and rooftop bar. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s Tokyo after dark’

(L) Lillie’s wine bar and restaurant; (R) Wolves of Tokyo

London Kitchen:

‘British breakfast and lunch favourites in the Heritage Halls’

and Upstairs at Pillar Hall:

‘Bask in a double-height Grade II* Victorian space with soaring ceilings and ornate pillars, hosting private events by week and live-music dining at weekends’.

(L) London Kitchen; (R) Upstairs at Pillar Hall

New ‘world-class’ music venue opens Tuesday 16 June

The British Airways ARC is due to open its doors later this month. Designed as a world class venue for music, comedy and entertainment, visitors enter by a set of glowing escalators which deliver them to a hallway filled with dozens of restaurants.

There is a self-service bar as well as a main bar and a VIP British Airways Wing with ‘luxury seating and hand-crafted cocktails’.

The British Airways ARC has been built by AEG, which also owns the O2 Arena in Greenwich and the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Among the first bands to play there will be McFly on 18 June and Van Morrison with a five-night residency in September.

The British Airways ARC

‘Didn’t think to invite the neighbours?’

The organisers of Tuesday’s launch party were criticised by some of the local residents for ‘not inviting the neighbours’. One posted on social media:

‘Nothing for the locals that have put up with years of disruption, dust, noise, narrowed Hammersmith Road, and resultant traffic jams then. Disappointing. Who do you think are the baseline that would come time and time again, local folks maybe?’

But MP for Hammersmith & Chiswick Andy Slaughter, who was invited to the party, was happy just to praise it. He called it:

“A spectacular new destination in the heart of Hammersmith and Fulham”.

Opening concerts: Self Esteem 16-17 June; McFly 18 June

2.5 acres of pedestrian areas, with a huge range of places to eat and drink