Printworks London owner Broadwick Venues is partnering on a major new venue and events space at Westfield London shopping centre.
The operator, a subsidiary of promoter Broadwick Live, is teaming with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield on the 3,000-capacity Exhibition London project in West London.
Scheduled to open at the end of 2019, Exhibition – named after its proximity to the site of the Franco British Exhibition of 1908 – will host high-profile live music events, brand experiences, product launches, exhibitions, conferences, award ceremonies and community events. Work is due to begin this month.
Bradley Thompson, MD of Broadwick Live & Venues, said: “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.”
The heritage building starred as the Acme Factory in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and more recently served as a part of TFL’s White City bus station. It will undergo restoration carried out by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to bring it into public use for the first time in its history.
Spanning two floors, the 34,000 sq. ft. events and hospitality venue will r boast multiple rooms, formats and configurations as well as a number of adaptable relaxation areas and onsite food and drinks vendors.
Broadwick Venues will also operate the venue and will programme the majority of the music series.
Michel Dessolain, COO Europe for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield creates unique and innovative destinations globally where our customers can shop, dine, be entertained and connect. Our partnership withBroadwick 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 announcement has also been welcomed by the capital’s Night Czar Amy Lamé.
“London’s night-time culture is the most diverse in the world and our night-time economy is growing faster than the wider economy," she said. "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 new event spaces to the UK.
