A brand new rooftop food market has opened on top of one of west London’s mightiest landmarks

There’s an awful lot happening in West Kensington right now.

Earlier this week, the historic Olympia exhibition centre began its lavish £1.3 billion relaunch, complete with a 3,800 capacity live music venue, and reimagined rooftop space full of drinking and dining options. 

As well as Mexican-styled Bar Arriba, Japanese cocktail bar Wolves of Tokyo and English small plates at Lillie’s, the rooftop will host a brand new (and massive) food hall called Arbour under its vast retractable glass roof.

Despite its size, the sprawling 9,000 square foot Arbour will contain only four dining and drinking destinations, including Fry Baby, which will serve gourmet fried chicken, a ‘farm-to-fork’ diner called The Rambler, Whammy Burger for smash burgers and coffee and pastry spot Café Modo.

These new dining spots join the all-day restaurant, Idalia, which opened in Olympia’s Grade-II*-listed Victorian Pillar Hall earlier this year. Inspired by an English country house, Idalia is draped with greenery and flanked by Corinthian columns. It’s next to the speakeasy-style Pepperbird cocktail bar. 

The new music venue opens this week, with two gigs from Self Esteem. It will be known as the British Airways ARC (British Airways is the venue’s naming rights partner), and will be located above the 140 year old building’s existing west exhibition hall. 

More openings are set for the space over the next year, including two hotels; the Hyatt Regency London Olympia and citizenM London Olympia, and the British Airways Theatre in 2027.

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