Abe Berry to oversee 135,000 sq ft of dedicated F&B space at London’s Olympia

The former vice president of hospitality at MGM Resorts will help ‘elevate Olympia back to its rightful place at the heart of London’s cultural story’.

He will be responsible for 135,000 sq ft of dedicated F&B space that will include around 14 new restaurants and bars totalling around 4,000 covers.

The new-build part of the development will be set within landscaped gardens, under a new glass-topped roof designed by Heatherwick Studio. 

Forming part of the wider development, the original Grade II-listed Olympia building will be home to a new destination restaurant. 

In its previous incarnation Olympia had just one public restaurant. 

Set to relaunch next year, Olympia is set to showcase ‘the best entertainment London has to offer’ comprising a new theatre, a 4,400 person live music venue, public art exhibitions and performance spaces. 

Berry is billed as a specialist in large-scale F&B transformations. Starting at Hyatt Hotels, his career has taken him all over the United States, including an eight year stretch at MGM Resorts. 

“Rarely does an opportunity like this come your way. A chance to do something very meaningful with great people,” he says. “This project will touch a lot of people because we are focused on the greater good of the community and the evolution of a landmark. I am blessed and absolutely thrilled to be part of the transformation of Olympia.”

Lloyd Lee, managing partner, Olympia added: “The reason that we’re really excited about bringing Abe on is that we envision that Olympia will provide a guest and visitor experience of a quality and variety that London has never seen before.”