A little slice of Provence in Shepherd’s Bush, Le Petit Citron has cosy banquettes and checked tablecloths, vintage posters, and dim lighting. They have a large menu that has most of the greats including coq au vin, entrecote with frites, goat’s cheese soufflé, and escargots, but they also have some excellent surprises like duck fat popcorn, fried chickpeas with rosemary salt, and comté and parmesan fritters. Start with a coupe of Champagne and settle in. They have outdoor seating with bistro-style wicker chairs, they deliver, and even have a reasonable prix fixe menu, too.

Charlene Prempeh has quite the CV. An Oxford graduate who went on to do marketing for arts industry heavyweights including the BBC, The Guardian, and Frieze, she’s now a consultant for the Royal Academy of Arts, an FT columnist and contributing editor, an editorial board member for the Tate Magazine, and most recently the author of ‘Now You See Me: An Introduction to 100 Years of Black Design’. And that’s not even including the company she founded, A Vibe Called Tech, a Black-owned creative studio and consultancy that approaches creativity through an intersectional lens, with clients including brands like Gucci, Nike, and institutions like White Cube and the V&A. She’s also now, excitingly, our Olympia Art Ambassador.

Read about Charlene’s role at Olympia and her top picks for this year’s Frieze.

This year, Olympia has commissioned a new pavilion as part of the London Design Festival, called “Off the Shelf”, created by artist Rio Kobayashi and engineers Webb Yates. From 14 September, the space will bring together a roster of leading talent for workshops and performances via a cultural program called “On the Shelf”, offering a place where people can meet and intermingle. It will also highlight Olympia’s credentials as London’s newest destination for culture and creativity.

The structure itself takes inspiration from Olympia’s heritage architecture and the traditional wooden homes of Kobayashi’s childhood and utilises contemporary engineering for the build, celebrating the blend of old and new in its design. 

The construction of this geometric structure, astoundingly, uses almost no screws or bolts, highlighting Olympia’s commitment to sustainability, as it can easily be disassembled and returned, reused, or resold, making it an extremely environmentally conscious design.

The first installation for “On the Shelf” is by artist and plant biologist Cynthia Fan, and explores the natural world and the interplay between art and science, inviting guests to see things from a different perspective and see how everything is connected.

It’s Bagels

If you love bagels, you’ll likely know about It’s, the bagel shop that initially started by serving bagels via a pop up and delivery service at Caravan Brewbar and is now possibly London’s longest queue, often selling out at their location in Primrose Hill before 7AM. Great news then, that they’ve recently expanded and are now also in Notting Hill at 120 Kensington Park Road. Get there early for NY bagels, schmears, and deli salads: there’s a 14-seater café, outdoor terrace, and great soundsystem. 

Holy Carrot

A bold, veg-forward restaurant with an ex-ACME Fire Cult founder and chef at the helm, Holy Carrot on 159 Portobello Road is their first bricks-and-mortar restaurant. The menu is innovative – koji flatbread with chilli ragu and smoked mushrooms; grilled watermelon, cucumber, seaweed and togarashi; matcha tiramisu, coffee kombucha and candied pecans –  the interiors are modern, and drinks are in partnership with the award-winning A Bar With Shapes For A Name (voted one of the top 50 bars in the world). 

The Barbary

From the legendary Palomar team comes the second location of The Barbary, and it will, like their Neal’s Yard restaurant, take inspiration from the Barbary Coast and have a robata grill and tandoor clay oven take centre stage. There will be things like Jerusalem bagels and labneh, black salmon dukkah, and seven spice lamb rib. We already love The Barbary Covent Garden and The Barbary Next Door and we’re sure this will be another great addition to their ever-growing family. 

Ria’s

All-day deep dish Detroit-style pizza and natural wine is what they do here, and they also have deep-fried Mars bars, should you need to further indulge. Perfect for a post-Pelican pit stop. Love The Pelican? Why not try their new spot in Maida Vale, The Hero. 

The Park

The Park, across from Hyde Park and Queensway stations, is the anticipated opening by Jeremy King. Go for chopped salad, Champagne and frites, and bask in the afternoon sunlight from the huge windows facing the park. A much-needed addition to the neighbourhood. 

Sol’s

Also in Bayswater, Sol’s is a new Med-inspired deli by day and wine bar by night, from the trio that launched Fort Road Hotel in Margate and food writer Mina Holland. They’ll also have luxe products for your pantry and wines to take away from their bottle shop.

As it’s fashion and design month in London, we’re throwing back to Zandra Rhodes’ 1980 catwalk show that took place at Olympia Events, in our great, Grade II* listed building, Pillar Hall, which is currently being turned into a new restaurant and bar, coming soon. As you can see from her handwriting on her show’s card, she chose Pillar Hall because she thought it was one of the most beautiful buildings she had ever seen. And it still is.

Faber, the new coastal seafood restaurant, has an ex-Quo Vadis and Sessions Arts Club chef (two of our favourites) at the helm, and is a convivial neighbourhood restaurant, right in the heart of Hammersmith. Come here for fish that’s caught daily from their fishmonger partners and dishes from their à la carte menu, which includes elevated, innovative fish and vegetarian options. They work with a selection of British suppliers who provide them with ethical, fresh ingredients, and their drinks menu has a coastal theme too.

Faber is offering one Love Olympia reader dinner for two with a bottle of English wine. For details on how to apply, visit our Instagram page.

Speaking of Pillar Hall, we’re thrilled to announce that the co-founder of Quaglino’s, German Gymnasium, and Bluebird will be heading up a new destination restaurant and bar at Olympia, under his new company, D3 Collective. There will also be a more casual café and grill, outdoor dining, a speakeasy, and an entertainment space – and the new design will stay true to the original. Follow us for further updates.

Looking for some inspiration for new ways to stay fit, or simply want to expand your workout repertoire? Or maybe you just want to meet new people or learn a new skill. This issue, our focus is on racquet sports, and here are three ideas for you:

Pickleball

If you feel like trying the game that’s taking over the world, the Kensington Pickleball Club offers group or private pickleball lessons, or you can just reserve a court if you’re already a pro. They have an easy to use app and you can become a member (individual or family) or buy a seven-day guest pass, with additional hourly court fees (£24). They have some pretty stylish club racquets, too. Look out for special Pickleball camps if you’re hoping to improve quickly.

Padel

Prefer padel? The Padel Social Club at Earl’s Court has five outdoor courts, a contemporary clubhouse with changing rooms, a shop, restaurant, bar and outdoor roof terrace. They also have coaching and yoga and are focused on community. If you’re looking for a social element along with your sport, a membership here could be for you (£33 monthly, six-month minimum).

Padel, Tennis, Rackets, Squash

If you want all your strings under one roof, then the historic Queen’s Club in W14 – which claims to be the first multipurpose sports complex in the world – is a great option. There may currently be a waitlist for full-membership, but applications are being accepted for categories including off-peak, tennis, rackets and squash, and must include being proposed and seconded by two current Queen’s Club members. Complete application details here.

Opening at Olympia in September 2025, Wetherby Pembridge is a new future-ready co-educational senior school, operated by the Inspired Education Group, that builds on the renowned academic legacy of the Wetherby and Pembridge Hall schools. Welcoming students aged 11 to 18, this exceptional school embraces individuality and is connected to a larger network of over 110 schools across 6 continents, offering students a truly global education. The state-of-the-art facilities include a professional-standard theatre, dance and music studios, indoor sports area, healthy kitchen, library with an eight-floor glass atrium, modern science laboratories, and AI and VR resources, all there to support a co-curricular program that spans the three pillars of academics, performing and creative arts, and sporting excellence. The school will also include facilities such as a community theatre, which will be accessible to the local community in the evenings and at the weekends. Registrations are now open. 

With so much on this month, we’ve scoured the information to bring you our favourite design-led event picks, with a few fairs for inspiration at Olympia Events, too.