Render – Upstairs at Pillar Corridor
Opening in Spring 2026, restaurateur Des Gunewardena, founding father of D3 Collective and co-founder and former CEO of D&D London, will unveil a trio of thrilling new venues on the landmark £1.3bn redevelopment of Olympia, a brand new globally main tradition and leisure vacation spot.
Gunewardena’s three new ideas will likely be housed inside the magnificent 30,000 sq ft Pillar Corridor – a Grade II* listed landmark which was the positioning of one of many first movie screenings in Britain and hosted style reveals within the early Nineteen Eighties. The funding within the Pillar Corridor growth will likely be in extra of £10m. The launch will see the debut of Idalia a 300 cowl, all day restaurant on Pillar Corridor’s floor flooring; Pepperbird, a 70 cowl speakeasy bar tucked beneath Pillar Corridor; and Upstairs at Pillar Corridor, a spectacular double top 500+ capability occasion area on the higher flooring of the constructing.
Pillar Corridor’s kitchens will likely be led by an completed all-female crew, with Samantha Williams appointed Government Chef and Lorena Tommasi as Government Pastry Chef. Williams, beforehand Government Chef at Jeremy King’s The Park and former Group Government Chef for Angela Hartnett, will oversee the venues’ culinary route, whereas Tommasi, whose expertise spans The Park, Annabel’s, George Membership and Josephine by Claude Bosi, will lead on pastries and desserts, which will likely be highlights of Idalia’s and Pillar Corridor’s occasion menus. The menus will replicate Williams’ and Tommasi’s trendy interpretation of British delicacies, that includes each quintessentially English dishes and worldwide influences which have turn out to be staples of the UK eating scene.
Pillar Corridor
Initially in-built 1886 by architect Henry Edward Coe – the visionary behind Olympia’s iconic Grand Corridor – Pillar Corridor’s neoclassical interiors have been reworked by international design studio Robert Angell Design Worldwide. The redesign will honour the constructing’s historic structure whereas introducing a daring, modern aesthetic. The undertaking reunites Des Gunewardena and Robert Angell, whose earlier collaboration – the acclaimed 14 Hills restaurant – received a number of design awards.
Robert Angell Design Worldwide has established itself as a frontrunner in luxurious inside design worldwide and in 2021 was named ‘’Hospitality Designer of the Decade’’ by Worldwide and Resort Property Awards.
Idalia’s title is related to goddess Aphrodite who resided on Mount Olympus – a nod to the wonder, mild, and attract of Pillar Corridor. The title reached peak recognition within the Eighteen Eighties, the very decade that Pillar Corridor was constructed. The restaurant will likely be designed as a sequence of distinct areas, reflecting the texture of the ‘Home of Idalia’. Company will start within the conservatory, surrounded by lush greenery, earlier than shifting to the bar, the place traditional and theatrical Idalia cocktails will likely be crafted, and at last to the nice and cozy and welcoming eating room. Idalia will provide seating for 250 with a 50-cover terrace spilling into Olympia’s Grand Corridor.
Pillar Corridor
Pepperbird will likely be a basement speakeasy. Stay music will likely be a key a part of its identification, drawing inspiration not solely from Seventies jazz – but additionally from Olympia’s wealthy rock music heritage having been the venue for legendary performances from bands like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Who.
Upstairs at Pillar Corridor the constructing’s 500+ capability occasions venue will characteristic Robert Angell’s trendy inside created inside the constructing’s outstanding classical construction. The venue showcases hovering ceilings – with a mezzanine overlooking the principle eating and leisure space beneath – ornate pillars, and complicated mouldings have a good time the constructing’s Victorian craftsmanship. On Friday nights and at weekends Upstairs at Pillar Corridor will evolve right into a restaurant and bar with reside music.
Pillar Corridor marks the second new enterprise from restaurateur Des Gunewardena since founding his new hospitality firm, D3 Collective.
Des Gunewardena, Founding father of D3 Collective, stated ‘’I’ve been concerned with this wonderful undertaking since earlier than Covid, so we’re unbelievably excited to lastly be opening! Olympia is a much-loved British establishment. Yoo Capital and DFI’s bold and visionary redevelopment of Olympia will mark a big milestone in its storied historical past. Olympia will turn out to be a world-class vacation spot for tradition, leisure, and leisure within the coronary heart of West London, and we’re very proud to be part of it.’’
Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia Estates, stated: “The entire Olympia crew is extremely passionate concerning the transformation of this heritage website which has performed such an enormous half in British tradition over the past 140 years. That’s why we’re thrilled to see Pillar Corridor being introduced again to life by Des and his D3 Collective crew by way of these three new ideas that construct on its unbelievable historical past, and we can’t watch for Olympia guests to have the ability to expertise them.”
