Electric Boulevard, a new pedestrian high street that runs between Gehry Partners’ Prospect Place and Foster + Partners’ Battersea Roof Gardens to the riverside neighbourhood’s Zone 1 London Underground Station, also opens today.
An official countdown to the opening of the Grade II listed Power Station will take place in Malaysia Square, a public square to the south of the Grade II listed Power Station, accompanied by a performance from the Battersea Power Station Community Choir.
Other highlights include a unique and interactive heritage trail act which give nod to the history and cultural significance of the Power Station, as well as performances from drummers and various forms of entertainment.
Visitors will be able to discover the Power Station’s Turbine Halls, which have been meticulously restored back to their former glory and transformed into one-of-a-kind retail and leisure destination.
British and international brands opening new stores today include Nike, Mulberry, Theory, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Aesop, Space NK, Hugo Boss, Jo Malone London, Uniqlo and Mango.
A new neighbourhood bookstore, Battersea Bookshop, from specialist bookseller Stanfords and Curated Makers, will host more than 40 local, independent small businesses selling homeware, candles, clothing, artwork will also be opening within the Power Station. Further brands will open through 2022 and 2023.
Eateries available in the Power Station include Le Bab, Where The Pancakes Are, Poke House, Clean Kitchen Club and Paris Baguette to name a few. Inception Group, London’s most experiential hospitality company, is also opening an exciting new bar concept, Control Room B, in one of the original control rooms.
The immersive experience is completely unique with cocktails inspired by the Grade II listed building’s iconic architecture and history, transporting guests back to the 1950s when the second half of the Power Station was built.
The Boiler House at the heart of the Grade II listed building will be home to the recently announced 24,000 sq. ft Arcade Food Hall from JKS Restaurants, which will open in 2023.
Electric Boulevard, a new high street to the south of the Power Station, also opens today with the likes of high street favourite, ZARA and ZARA Home, opticians and eyewear specialists, David Clulow, and Korean food and culture hub, Oseyo.
A new-concept M&S Foodhall will follow shortly along with the UK’s first art’otel, a 164 room hotel with a Michelin-starred chef, Henrique Sa Pessoa, running its new restaurant, JOIA.
History of the Battersea Power Station
Work began on Battersea Power Station in 1929.
The first power was generated in 1933, initially from just one Turbine Hall with two chimneys.
As the need for electricity grew in London, Battersea Power Station expanded, with Turbine Hall B powering up in 1944 and the fourth and final chimney completing in 1955. At its peak, Battersea Power Station supplied a fifth of London’s electricity, including to Buckingham Palace and Houses of Parliament.
The building was decommissioned in 1983 and during the years that followed, several attempts to redevelop the site were made but failed.
Since 2012, the Power Station and its 42-acre surrounding site came under the custodianship of the current shareholders, Sime Darby Property, S P Setia and the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). The conglomerates have overseen the painstaking restoration of the building.
In 2019, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and EPF became the long-term owners of the Power Station.
Earlier this week, The King and Queen of Malaysia visited Battersea Power Station to officiate the opening ceremony and unveiled a plaque to mark this historic moment.
READ MORE: Yang Di-Pertuan Agung Officiates Opening Of Battersea Power Station
