Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has announced a partnership with Broadwick Venues to create a major new venue and events space – Exhibition London – at Westfield London, Europe’s largest shopping destination.
Scheduled to open at the end of 2019, Exhibition – named after its proximity to the site of the Franco British Exhibition of 1908 – will repurpose the Grade II listed Dimco East building, a striking Victorian structure completed in 1899 and originally built as an electricity generating station for the London Underground.
The heritage building, which famously starred as the Acme Factory in the 1988 film ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ but more recently served as a part of TFL’s White City bus station, as a bus garage, will undergo restoration carried out by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to bring it into public use for the first time in its history. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Broadwick Venues, with support from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), will breathe life back into the iconic building creating a brand-new destination for West London.
Conceived by Broadwick Venues – owner/operator of London’s critically acclaimed Printworks London, and part subsidiary of festival and entertainment specialist Broadwick Live, Exhibition is primed to host high-profile live music events, brand experiences, product launches, exhibitions, conferences, award ceremonies and community events.
Spanning two floors, the 34,000 sq. ft. events and hospitality venue will reach a total standing capacity of 3,000 and will boast multiple rooms, formats and configurations as well as a number of adaptable relaxation areas and onsite food and drinks vendors, making for a truly unique venue. It will sit at the heart of Westfield London’s £600m expansion, and follows the centre’s 10th anniversary year, reinforcing Westfield London’s position as the go-to destination for not only fashion but food, entertainment, events and experiences.
Responsible for the brand identity and design of Exhibition, Broadwick Venues will also operate the venue going forward. Following on from the successes of Printworks London, which has gained worldwide acclaim in just two years since opening its doors, music and entertainment specialists Broadwick Live will programme the majority of the music series, offering a new home to ground-breaking nightlife culture in London.
Bradley Thompson, MD of Broadwick Live & Venues, says:
“Exhibition represents an important moment in the evolution of Westfield London, creating a unique entertainment hub and enhancing the area’s cultural kudos. It will attract and serve not only the local community, but the ever-increasing number of people who rightly view White City as one of the most exciting growth places in the capital. The location is perfect and the building itself is incredible. We are committed to respecting its past and investing in its future; offering fantastic, contemporary experiences against a stunning Victorian backdrop.”
Michel Dessolain, COO Europe for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, adds:
“Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield creates unique and innovative destinations globally where our customers can shop, dine, be entertained and connect. Our partnership with Broadwick Venues, one of the biggest players in the events industry in the UK, and through the support of London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, will deliver an amazing new entertainment experience and will be a leading new events venue in London.”
The new music and events space will help further bolster the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s live entertainment credentials, along with the wider £8 billion regeneration of White City where Soho House is among the growing list of leisure and cultural brands opening their doors.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, says:
“Our top priority is to make sure that local people benefit from growing prosperity in H&F. The new venue will be a great addition to our arts scene, while offering new jobs for local residents.”
The announcement has also been warmly received by the capital’s Night Czar Amy Lamé who notes the new venue fits with the Mayor of London’s vision for a vibrant night-time economy.
Amy Lamé, London’s Night Czar, says:
“London’s night-time culture is the most diverse in the world and our night-time economy is growing faster than the wider economy. The great range of entertainment venues in the capital play a vital role in this vibrant nightlife, so I’m delighted to see this historic location turned into a brand new venue for arts, music and cultural events.”
This latest announcement forms part of Broadwick Venues’ strategy to bring a string of exciting new event spaces to the UK. Exhibition will be the second in a series of new venues over the next 12 months.
Work begins in February with Exhibition set to launch at the end of 2019.