Kensington’s legendary Olympia music venue is unrecognisable after six-year revamp

This is the first look inside the 3,800-capacity venue at the heart of the new £1.3bn Kensington Olympia development. 

The British Airways ARC -will open in west London later this month with a roster of household names lined up to perform there, from Van Morrison to McFly. 

The venue, built by AEG – which already runs a number of venues, including the O2 – will open with a show by female singer Self Esteem on June 16. 

It is the first time BA has bought naming rights on a music venue.

The multi-million-pound building forms part of the wider Kensington Olympia development, which also includes a 1,500-seat theatre. 

Metro was shown around the building and given backstage access with less than two weeks to go before it opens.

The BA Arc sits on a site steeped in music history – Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart and the Cure are among those to have performed at the previous Olympia, which was one of the capital’s most celebrated music venues in the 1960s and 70s.

A stone’s throw from the King’s Road, this is where the Stones and other music legends rubbed shoulders and punk took a foothold.

Kensington Olympia was initially built as the National Agricultural Hall in the late 19th century, with additions made to the complex in the 1920s and 30s.

Over the years, the venue has been used as an exhibition hall and events space, including as a music venue welcoming the likes of Pink Floyd, The Who, Rod Stewart, and the Chemical Brothers.

In 2021, part of the building was demolished to make way for the brand new, state-of-the-art venue, which bosses hope will make its own mark on British music history.

The new venue also includes a novel self-service bar which it is hoped will ease the queues, as well as a BA VIP wing where gig goers can enjoy a champagne and cocktails with the best view in the house. 

It’s difficult to believe 3,800 can fit in the compact-looking venue, but despite appearances, sight lines to the stage from all points are excellent.

There are also plenty of toilets and the venue features accessible seats.

BA branding is prominent throughout the venue, including in the bar which is decked out to resemble an airport check-in area.

The venue is ‘plug and play’, meaning all the kit needed by an artist is on site already.

It has taken AEG six years to get the building ready for opening night, with just a few finishing touches needed before it’s all systems go. 

Lucy Noble, AEG artistic director, told Metro: ‘It’s been a huge undertaking; the building has been immense. It’s a very intense, exciting process. 

‘We have a self-serve bar; it’s an easier way for people to get a drink. 

‘We are trying to be as diverse as possible, not just about young or established artists. The Van Morrison residence is very exciting. No tickets will be wildly expensive. 

‘We want to attract people from far and wide, obviously hoping the west London crowd will come among.’ She added that the venue hopes to run other residencies in future.

Elsewhere in the development there will be 30 bars, restaurants, and 5,500 square feet of office space. Calum Laming, BA chief customer officer, said: ‘We are incredibly proud to champion British originality and are thrilled to be building on our further support for the arts and culture. 

‘As the flag carrier for the UK, it’s important that we represent modern Britain at home and all around the world.’

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