Mix of bars, restaurants and venues set to open this summer at delayed scheme built by Laing O’Rourke
Kensington Olympia has unveiled new pictures of its £1.3bn Heatherwick Studio-designed transformation as it announces opening dates for a mix of new bars, restaurants and venues.
Yoo Capital’s West London scheme was due to open its doors last year but has been delayed by a troubled construction programme which has seen multiple design changes since main contractor Laing O’Rourke started building work in 2021.
Problems on the scheme are believed to have contributed to O Rourke’s worst ever set of results, when it posted a pre-tax loss of £288m in November 2023 following disagreements over what it described as “significant under-valuations” for the job.
The venue has now announced a “stellar line-up” of summer launches set to open on 15 June, including seven rooftop restaurants and cafes under a huge newly built glazed canopy.
Also opening next month will be British Airways ARC, a 3,800-capacity live music venue, which will launch on 16 June with two consecutive performances by artist Self Esteem, followed by McFly on 18 June and a five-night Van Morrison residency in September.
Next to open will be two hotels, the 204-room Hyatt Regency London Olympia and the 146-room citizenM London Olympia, both expected to open in July.
These venues will add to a restaurant and bar which have already opened in the complex’s grade II*-listed Pillar Hall, which will also contain a 500-capacity music venue set to open this autumn.
Olympia Way, a 250m-long pedestrianised street leading to the site from Kensington Olympia, is set to complete later this year alongside an 83m-long and 8m-wide digital screen called Canvas.
Meanwhile, a 550,000sq ft office building called One Olympia will open its doors to tenants this year including Premier League’s new content production arm, Premier League Studios.
Olympia Estates chief executive Michael Volkert said: “This series of incredible summer openings marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Olympia, highlighting its evolution into a dynamic new destination where our guests will be able to experience the best of London’s culture, entertainment, and hospitality.”
Olympia said it expects to attract around 3.5million visitors each year once fully open.
SPPARC has also provided design work on parts of the scheme with others on the team including QS Gardiner & Theobald.
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