Battersea Power Station: an icon is reborn!

Battersea Power Station – an icon is reborn! What is happening with this blockbuster development and what is it putting forward to the event industry?

In a city 2,000 years old it is rare/almost impossible to have such a vast undeveloped central location. In 1983 the famous 4 chimneys of Battersea Power Station ceased operating (no longer pumping smoke into the London skyline) and subsequently left a big hole in the landscape slowly going into disrepair and ruin.

The Icon

The power station is a much loved landmark in the UK. It was made famous appearing in films such as Hitchcock’s Sabotage and Monty Python’s Meaning of life; Battersea Power Station was also the filming location for the Batman movie The Dark Knight. The image remembered by music lovers though is that of a giant inflatable pig tied between two of the chimneys for the album cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals.

Having become such an icon, the power station was made a protected building to prevent it from being bulldozed to the ground. There have been many whimsical dreams over the years; a museum, football ground, circus venue, and theme park are among those failed plans for the building and surrounding area.

After more than 30 years of disappointment, the builders have started, and the area is in transformation. The US embassy has moved in next door, Apple has confirmed it as the new home of their London Campus. The moles are also busy underground linking the site to the underground tube network. Not only that but the plans include an Energy Centre to provide heating, hot water, electricity, and cooling. The power station is reborn and the future is bright!

The power station itself is set to contain over 100 shops, cafes, and restaurants, a street food market, offices, and a cinema. Most excitingly the project will house two new event spaces for London. The first of these spaces is the original Control Room with its original 1930s Art Deco interior. The space will be able to fit 250 guests and will overlook the Turbine Hall through a series of windows and balconies.

The second event space will be called The Event Box and will be able to host up to 1,500 guests. The Event Box will be much more of a blank canvas and have the potential to host anything from product launches to conferences or dinners.

At Word on the Street we cannot wait for the site to fully open so we can explore everything it has to offer. Look out for more news when we get our hands on these amazing new spaces.