[title]
Next month a historic, often-overlooked London building will come roaring back to life. After a £1.3 billion transformation, west Kensington’s Olympia will reopen in stages from Monday June 15. We already know that there’s going to be a massive 3,800 capacity live music venue (opening with a gig from Self Esteem on June 16), an 83-metre digital art screen, new public spaces, plus a Hyatt Regency hotel. But now, details are out of its reimagined rooftop space, which’ll be a prime spot for drinking and carousing with views over west London. And because costa del Kensington doesn’t always serve up the sunny weather we dream of, there’ll also be a giant retractable glass roof, so we can get a breezy outdoor feel whatever the weather.
The new rooftop space will be called Canopy, and Olympia has filled it with an array of new, own-brand drinking and dining options to pick from. Head to Bar Arriba for Mexican-inspired cocktail and small bites, Wolves of Tokyo for after-dark tippling and Japanese food, or Lillie’s for small plates and English wines. Or opt for something a bit more casual at Arbour, a food hall with four spots to choose from: gourmet fried chicken spot Fry Baby, farm-to-fork diner The Rambler, smash burger joint Whammy Burger, and artisanal coffee bar Café Modo.
These freshly announced eateries offer a slightly more relaxed, accessible alternative to the oh-so-glamorous dining spots in the already opened Pillar Hall, which is a Grade-II*-listed building full of Victorian grandeur. Idalia is a stately restaurant inspired by an English country house, draped with greenery and flanked by Corinthina columns, while neighbouring bar Pepperbird is an artfully-designed speakeasy space that’s strictly guest-list only. Together, they should make sure that there’s an eating option for pretty much any budget, whether you’re at Olympia for a big name gig, cultural event, convention or business conference.
Olympia’s got a fascinating history: it’s the place where one of the earliest films in Britain was screened, where Vivienne Westwood unveiled her debut collection, and it’s played host to gigs by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
This vastly expensive regeneration project is hoping to put Olympia back at the heart of London’s cultural life. The venue has a projected annual footfall of 10 million, and aims to inject £600 million into the UK economy each year. Opening its own in-house drinking and dining options instead of relying on existing chains is a bold move that’ll bring in healthy profits, if they go down well with Olympia’s new hordes of visitors.
In search of more booze with views? Check out Time Out’s pick of the best London rooftop bars.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.