OUR STORY

Today, the Olympic Studios universe spans three iconic locations: the flagship Olympic Studios building in Barnes, The Cinema at Selfridges in the West End, and The Cinema in The Power Station (and the Arches) in Battersea. We’ve created these spaces to bring together a vibrant community, offering an unrivalled cinema experience alongside exclusive screenings, events, and areas to socialise, dine and drink.

In 2013, after three years of restoration and saving it from becoming a supermarket and a block of flats, we reopened the Olympic Studios building as a three-screen cinema with dining and drinks, offering a unique space for the local community. Over the past five years, we’ve been invited by both Selfridges and the Battersea Power Station team to bring our bespoke cinema experiences to these iconic locations. 

Coming in 2025, Olympic Studios in Barnes will once again house a recording studio, reopening soon.

Our flagship building has a rich and storied history, with many iterations over the years, but always remaining a place to enjoy entertainment. As custodians of this iconic space, we continue to honour its legacy while shaping its future as a hub of arts and entertainment.

Originally opened as Byfeld Hall in 1906, the building quickly became a local meeting place for entertainment. Early audiences enjoyed the first forms of cinema – watching footage of King Edward VII’s funeral on a bioscope.

By 1910, the space was renamed Barnes Cinema, screening popular films at the time such as The Lady of the Lake and The Charge of the Light Brigade. Over the years, it evolved into the Byfeld Hall Cinema, with extensive renovations after WWI in 1919 to include a Tea Lounge and ‘high-class orchestra’. By 1922, it was once again given a new name: Barnes Picture House. 

For a time, in the 1920’s, theatrical producer Philip Ridgeway transformed the building into Barnes Theatre, drawing audiences with acclaimed productions such as Tess of the D’Urbervilles and featuring rising stars John Gielgud, Robert Newton, Charles Laughton, and Claude Rains.

During WWII, the cinema was briefly closed, reopening in 1943 as The Plaza, before being renamed The New Vandyke in the 1950s.

In 1966, the building became Olympic Sound Studios, a world-class recording space where music history was made. Legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and The Who recorded in the building, along with iconic film scores including The Italian Job and Jesus Christ Superstar. The studio was later acquired by Richard Branson’s Virgin and then by EMI, remaining a powerhouse until 2009, when U2 recorded their final album here.