Battersea Power Station celebrates strong second Christmas with a 30% increase in visitors in December 2023 compared to December 2022 as people rush to the riverside neighbourhood which was transformed into the ultimate festive destination. Image credit: Charlie Round-Turner

Battersea Power Station celebrates strong second holiday period

Battersea Power Station welcomed 30 per cent more visitors in December 2023 than December 2022, as local residents, Londoners and visitors from further afield visited the riverside neighbourhood for Christmas shopping, to make the most of the seasonal offers and to enjoy the unique festive activities available.

In total, over 11.2 million people visited Battersea Power Station in 2023, driven by the opening of over 40 new shops, bars, restaurants and leisure experiences since October 2022 when the Grade II listed building opened its doors for the first time in history.

The riverside neighbourhood’s packed calendar of events and cultural activities has also been key to attracting visitors with highlights including The Battersea Games, which paved the way for Battersea Power Station being announced as the official London fan zone for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, and the annual Light Festival, which will be returning from 25th January – 25th February 2024.

Battersea Power Station also welcomed several successful brand pop-ups throughout 2023 as it established itself as one of London’s most experiential destinations including the Aperol Spritz® Aperidisco, Jaeger-LeCoultre Golden Ratio Musical Show with TØKIO M¥ERS and the NFL London Experience.

The opening of Arcade Food Hall in July 2023, which is home to 13 different cuisines, two bars and three standalone restaurants, alongside Bounce, the home of ping pong, Searcys Champagne Bar, Dishoom and the first tashas to open in the UK, helped drive a 25% increase in visitors during the evenings, reflecting the destination’s offering as a place to meet with friends and family after work.

Simon Murphy, CEO at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said: “The strong footfall over the Christmas period is further testament to the unique and constantly evolving offering at Battersea Power Station, and provides a fitting conclusion to a successful 2023.

“It has been amazing to witness the Battersea Power Station estate transform into a thriving riverside destination which welcomes thousands of visitors a day, and to have seen our shareholder’s vision for this once derelict area become a reality.”

Cokey Sulkin, chief operating officer at Arcade Food Hall, said: “We’re proud to report a remarkable December at Arcade Battersea. We regularly had the pleasure of serving over 5000 guests a day and our food hall brands were received extremely well across the board.

“In just four months our newest opening at Arcade Battersea, Solis, went viral on social and hit target-breaking revenues for the last quarter of the year. BAO, a vital component of the Food Hall, emerged as a top performer for the estate too. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum in 2024 with many more innovative brands in the pipeline.”

Looking ahead to 2024, further retail, leisure, food and beverage brands will open at the riverside neighbourhood including Mexican restaurant, El Pastor, So.Shell Nail & Brow Bar, the latest luxury health club from Third Space, LIPS Pharmacy and LIPS Healthcare Clinic and Diagnostic Centre.


By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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