Over 250,000 visit Battersea Power Station during opening weekend

Battersea Power Station opened its doors to the public on Friday 14 October, alongside a new pedestrianised high street, Electric Boulevard, following a transformational eight-year restoration.

More than 250,000 people came to visit the London landmark for the first time ever and enjoy the ‘Festival of Power’, which continues 22-23 October, with free activities, performances and activations.

Nearly forty years after the lights were switched off in one of London’s most defining landmarks and following an eight-year restoration project in which the building was transformed from a derelict shell to the shining centrepiece of a new town centre for London, visitors were able to enjoy the first of its shops, bars, restaurants and leisure venues.

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.

Adidas reported that its ‘Empower Station’ pop up, which featured fitness classes and challenges hosted by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, instructors and industry experts, was fully booked across the weekend.

Simon Murphy, CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said: “The public response to the opening of Battersea Power Station and our new pedestrianised high street, Electric Boulevard, has been truly amazing, and exceeded our expectations. Over 250,000 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. On behalf of our shareholders, I would like to thank every single person who came down to visit, and we look forward to many more visitors over the coming months and years – this is just the beginning.”

Karl Wederell, General Manager at Aesop, Europe, commented: “Aesop was delighted with the opening weekend at Battersea Power Station and overwhelmed with the enthusiastic and positive response from customers to their newest UK store. We had one of the strongest UK store openings to date and feel enormously positive about the future of the location. Battersea Power Station has set a new benchmark for shopping centre destinations, and we are thrilled to be part of this new chapter for such an iconic landmark.”

Craig Bolton, President of the Watches of Switzerland Group UK and Europe, added: “Watches of Switzerland Group were very pleased and proud to open four new Showrooms at Battersea Power Station on 14th October. Trading in first three days was ahead of expectations.”

Read TheIndustry.fashion's feature on Battersea Power Station: A repurposed London legend.