Concerns over £1.3bn Olympia Exhibition Centre late-night hotel idea
| Published date | 11 April 2024 |
| Publication title | MyLondon (England) |
A spokesperson for Olympia described the two hotels as “a real positive for West London”, which will provide a boost to event organisers and visitors.
Due to be completed next year, the redevelopment will see the exhibition site turned into a major new arts and events space. The plans, which were approved by the council in 2019, include a 4,400-capacity live music venue, a new theatre, a Wetherby performing arts school and 14 restaurants and bars, plus office space and public realm.
The hotels, to be run by CitizenM and Hyatt, will deliver 350 rooms between them. In documents filed ahead of next week’s Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, it is noted that for both hotels, Olympia is requesting the sale of alcohol 24/7 for residents and ‘bona fide guests’, and 7am to midnight for non-residents. Indoor late-night refreshment is also requested to be provided between 11pm and 5am, Monday to Sunday.
The late hours have drawn consternation from some residents however, who wrote to the council airing concerns about the impacts on the area.
The consultation locals were responding to included, as well as the hotels, requests for premises licences for amenities such as bars and restaurants. The two hotels are the only ones being decided at next week’s meeting.
One wrote: “As a resident on one of the adjacent streets to the Olympia centre I object to the opening of late entertainment venues that will incur noise, traffic and potential anti-social behaviour. The proposed opening hours are too extended and will create disruption to the rest and sleep of local residents from the people coming in and out of the venues, drivers and taxi services. The number of venues MUST be restricted and none of the licensed venues should operate beyond 10:00pm as per the nearby Westfield Shopping Center.”
Another responded saying the requested hours would “create disruption to the rest and sleep of local residents”, partly due to the movement of people visiting the site.
“I find [it] extremely inconsiderate that Olympia are applying for such antisocial hours when they should be well aware of the rights and needs of local residents -which have been expressed many times at consultation meetings,” they wrote. “Given its responsibility to represent the rights of local residents the...
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