London’s Olympia site has announced a further wave of openings ahead of its £1.3bn redevelopment, including new hospitality, entertainment and hotel developments.

The first phase of openings begins on 15 June. The venue is being repositioned as a mixed-use destination combining exhibition space, live entertainment, hotels, offices and public realm.

New food and drink venues

A group of bars and restaurants will open under the Canopy rooftop area, including Bar Arriba, Wolves of Tokyo, Lillie’s, and Arbour, a multi-concept food hall featuring Fry Baby, The Rambler, Whammy Burger and Café Modo.

Additional venues at Pillar Hall include Idalia, Pepperbird, and a live music and events space called Upstairs at Pillar Hall, due to open in the autumn.

The wider site’s food and beverage offer is being expanded alongside existing exhibition halls, a new international convention centre and The Addison lounge.

Live entertainment

The 3,800-capacity British Airways ARC live music venue opens on 16 June and will be operated by AEG Presents. The opening programme includes Self Esteem, McFly, Zac Brown Band, Van Morrison, and Khalid.

A new theatre, the British Airways Theatre, with 1,575 seats, is scheduled to open in 2027 and will be operated by Trafalgar Entertainment and The Shubert Organization.

Hotels and accommodation

Two hotels are scheduled to open in early summer:

  • Hyatt Regency London Olympia, with 204 rooms, opening 6 July
  • citizenM London Olympia, with 146 rooms

Public realm and infrastructure

The redevelopment includes 2.5 acres of public space, including the Canopy and The Square, accessed via Olympia Way, a pedestrianised route connecting Kensington (Olympia) station to the site.

An internal public street, Emberton Walk, will feature a digital screen installation called The Canvas.

Wider development

The scheme also includes a 550,000 sq ft office building, One Olympia, which will house tenants including Premier League Studios. An international convention centre and upgraded event spaces are also part of the programme.

The developer said the completed scheme is expected to contribute more than £600m annually to the UK economy, support 7,000 jobs, and attract 3.5 million visitors annually to hotels, events and performance venues, with total annual footfall projected at 10 million.

Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia Estates, said: “This series of openings marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Olympia, highlighting its evolution into a destination for culture, entertainment and hospitality.”

Andy O’Sullivan, CEO of Olympia Events, said “Olympia’s summer openings mark a defining moment in our evolution, as we enhance our event spaces with a destination where events, entertainment, hospitality and culture come together.”