Battersea Power Station receives over 250,000 visitors during opening weekend

KUALA LUMPUR: Battersea Power Station in London welcomed more than 250,000 visitors during its opening weekend between Oct 14 and 16 as they came to see the iconic landmark for the very first time and explored the neighbourhood's new "pedestrianised" high street - Electric Boulevard.

The Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) said new brands reported stellar opening weekends, significantly exceeding the sales targets as the public embraced experiential-led retail and dining.

Chief executive officer Simon Murphy said that the public response to the opening of Battersea Power Station and Electric Boulevard has been truly amazing, and exceeded expectations.

"Over a quarter of a million people from the local community, across London and from further afield, came to visit the newly restored power station at the very earliest opportunity, demonstrating the attachment people feel to this iconic landmark," he said in a statement.

BPSDC said nearly forty years after the lights were switched off in one of London's most defining landmarks, the building was transformed from a derelict shell to the shining centrepiece of a new town centre for London.

Battersea Power Station opened its doors to the public on Oct 14, alongside Electric Boulevard, following a transformational eight-year restoration.

The wider Battersea Power Station development is owned by a consortium of Malaysian investors comprising S P Setia Bhd (40 per cent), Sime Darby Property (40 per cent) and the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) (20 per cent), with the commercial assets within the Power Station building now being directly owned by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and EPF.

"British and international brands now open at Battersea Power Station include Adidas, Nike, Mulberry, Theory, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Aesop, Space NK, Hugo Boss, Jo Malone London, Uniqlo and Mango," it said.

More food and drinks brands are set to open soon, including a 24,000 square feet Arcade Food Hall from JKS Restaurants, which will be opened in 2023.

"Also opening in the next few weeks is Lift 109, a unique glass elevator experience inside the Power Station's northwest chimney, offering stunning panoramic views of London from a height of 109 metres," it said.

Visitors can also enjoy the Festival of Power, which continues on Oct 22 and 23 with performances on the Pavilion Stage in Power Station Park from 12 pm - 8 pm, and buskers performing from 10 am - 6 pm.

-- BERNAMA