It’s starting to get exciting around here! Summer really is such a special time in the city, especially in our incredible neighbourhood.

In this issue, we celebrate all things summer fun in west London, including splash pools and outdoor events. We also have details about a School Arts Week, that we are supporting with our friends from the Lyric Theatre, an interview with Lavina and Lauren from the community-driven company EARNT, and an exclusive competition with the Royal Academy of Arts and 45 Jermyn St.   

And while our new restaurants are still under construction, there’s no better time to get out and explore West London; it really is a moment for new restaurants, so we’ve included a selection of openings to get you started. 

For those of you who are new here, a reminder of what Love Olympia is – a newsletter about the exciting developments at Olympia, but also a platform that celebrates our neighbours and everything great in the surrounding areas of west London.  

We hope you have a great summer, and thank you for reading Love Olympia. 

Team Olympia  

Halepi 

Bayswater

Run by the Kazolides family since 1966, Halepi’s authentic, relaxed atmosphere is refreshing. Enter through their doors on Leinster Terrace, and feel like you’ve stepped into their home. It’s all bright tablecloths, velvet bucket seats, wood panelling, rattan lampshades, and a crowd of locals (including some A-listers) who have been coming for years.

School Arts Week 

West London

This summer, we’ve joined several other local businesses to support School Arts Week, an important initiative offering art workshops to state primary schools in the borough, from Monday 7 to Friday 11 July. The programme will be delivered by artists and cultural organisations based in Hammersmith & Fulham.   

Lavina Liyanage and Lauren Scott-Harris, EARNT

Olympia

Lavina Liyanage and Lauren Scott-Harris are the founders of EARNT, a one-of-a-kind platform offering exclusive rewards to those who volunteer their time for good causes.

We speak to Lavina and Lauren about the history of EARNT, what’s special about West London, and what’s to come with our exciting community-driven EARNT x Olympia partnership.

Quick 5

West London

If you haven’t noticed, this is definitely West London’s moment for new restaurants. It seems like almost every week there’s a noteworthy opening. We’ve rounded up five of the best to start off your local foodie exploration – from a restaurant/pub by the founders of The Pelican and The Hero to restaurants from Dishoom and Crispin, as well as one glossy hot ticket to have on your radar for the autumn. 

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Simon Smith, Master Stone Carver and Sculptor

Olympia

Master stone carver and sculptor, Simon Smith, was commissioned by Olympia to restore the three figures – goddesses Demeter and Persephone and demi-god Triptolemus – that were originally above the entrance of The Grand Hall when Olympia was first built, but that disappeared in the 1950s. Simon is hand carving the trio and hopes to have them back at the Olympia entrance by the end of 2025.

Royal Academy of Arts and 45 Jermyn St.

Piccadilly

This year, Heatherwick Studio, part of the team leading the regeneration at Olympia, will be exhibiting a model of Olympia, at the esteemed Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, now until 17 August.

We have two tickets to the Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition, followed by a three course lunch or dinner for two at the excellent 45 Jermyn Street, which has elevated, classic menus and is neighbours with the RA.

To enter, follow @olympialondon and @45jermynst on Instagram, tag who you would take for the evening, and share on your stories too, for a bonus entry. 

Round Up

West London

From a shiny new Planet Organic on Westbourne Grove and a new space for fitness and forward-thinking biohacking treatments to a run club for half marathon training and some splash parks, here’s our round up of West London wellbeing for the summer.  

Premier League Studios

Olympia

We’re excited to announce a marquee signing for our new offices at One Olympia: Premier League Studios. This in-house international media operations business, launching from the 2026/27 season, will support the The Premier League – the world’s most-watched football league, broadcast in 189 countries to 900 million homes, globally.

The BRIT School Bursary 

Olympia

At Olympia, we are committed to supporting creative talent, and our partnership with the world-renowned BRIT School allows us to do just that. And this year, The BRIT School has launched the first Olympia Stepping Stone Bursaries, which were awarded to students of Global Majority heritage or from low-income families, and live in the surrounding boroughs. The bursaries will support the students’ onward creative journey from the BRIT School!

The Chemical Brothers 2008 

Olympia

We’re taking it back to 30 August 2008, when The Chemical Brothers played at Olympia Grand Hall for one of their biggest gigs, with over 10,000 fans in attendance. It was the first music event that Olympia had hosted in a little while, so it was a memorable event for the area. 

And for a little piece of trivia: which of The Chemical Brothers lives in west London? Ed Simons or Tom Rowlands?  

Summer Picks

West London

There’s nothing better than summer in the city, and we’re here to make sure you make the most of it. From three days of Japanese culture with Hyper Japan at Olympia Events to concerts in Hyde Park, Wimbledon, and of course, Notting Hill Carnival, there’s a lot of fun to be had.