Des Gunewardena to open trio of F&B venues at Pillar Hall

Restaurateur Des Gunewardena has announced the upcoming openings of three venues at Olympia’s Pillar Hall in spring 2026 as part of the £1.3bn redevelopment of the west London exhibition complex. 

The project marks the second venture from his new company, D3 Collective. 

The concepts will sit within the 30,000 sq ft Grade II-listed building, with total investment in the Pillar Hall development expected to exceed £10m. The line-up will include Idalia, a 300-cover all-day restaurant on the ground floor; Pepperbird, a 70-cover basement bar; and Upstairs at Pillar Hall, a 500-plus capacity events venue on the upper levels.

Pillar Hall will feature an all-female senior kitchen team. Executive chef Samantha Williams – previously executive chef at Jeremy King’s The Park and former group executive chef for Angela Hartnett – will oversee culinary direction. Executive pastry chef Lorena Tommasi, whose experience includes The Park, Annabel’s, George Club and Josephine by Claude Bosi, will lead pastry across the restaurant and events operation. Their menus will offer a modern take on British cooking with both traditional dishes and international influences common in the UK dining sector.

Built in 1886 by architect Henry Edward Coe, Pillar Hall has been redesigned by Robert Angell Design International. The refurbishment aims to retain the building’s neoclassical architecture while adding contemporary features. The project reunites Gunewardena with designer Robert Angell following their work on the 14 Hills restaurant.

Idalia will be arranged as a series of connected rooms – including a conservatory and bar – and is named after a figure associated with the goddess Aphrodite, echoing Olympia’s own 19th Century origins. The restaurant will offer 250 indoor seats and a 50-cover terrace opening onto Olympia’s Grand Hall.

Pepperbird will operate as a speakeasy-style bar with live music inspired by 1970s jazz and Olympia’s past rock concerts, which have included shows by Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Who.

Upstairs at Pillar Hall will combine classical features with a mezzanine overlooking the main space. The venue will host events during the week and switch to a restaurant and bar format with live music on Friday nights and weekends.

Gunewardena said: “I have been involved with this amazing project since before Covid, so we are unbelievably excited to finally be opening! Olympia is a much-loved British institution. Yoo Capital and DFI’s ambitious and visionary redevelopment of Olympia will mark a significant milestone in its storied history. Olympia will become a world-class destination for culture, entertainment, and leisure in the heart of West London, and we are very proud to be a part of it.”

Michael Volkert, chief executive of Olympia Estates, added: “The whole Olympia team is incredibly passionate about the transformation of this heritage site which has played such a big part in British culture over the last 140 years. That’s why we are thrilled to see Pillar Hall being brought back to life by Des and his D3 Collective team through these three new concepts that build on its incredible history, and we cannot wait for Olympia visitors to be able to experience them.”