Evolution London: the large-scale event venue’s impressive history

Believe it or not, Evolution London, the capital’s most versatile and iconic venue, has not always been there. After its relaunch and rebrand in September 2019, on its big 18th birthday, we thought we’d take a deep dive into the large-scale event space’s impressive history.

Originally built to revolutionise London’s event industry, the venue, previously known as Battersea Evolution, was erected for the first time in 2001, taking centre stage in the heart of Battersea Park and bringing a whole new lease of life to the SW8 area. But what was the park like before the evolution took place?

Battersea Park Before The Evolution

Battersea Fields, as it was known way back in 1846, officially became the 200-acre park it is today in 1858 when a commission to make it a royal park was passed. Over the years, the whole of Battersea Park has been revamped and renovated to bring a range of different sights, scenes and activities for visitors to enjoy.

In 1951 the Pleasure Gardens were created, which included a water garden with foundations, a tree walk and the now the infamous Guinness Clock! If you visited Battersea Park before 1974, you also would’ve seen the fun fair, however due to one of the biggest accidents in roller coaster history, the whole fun fair was shut in the mid-70’s and has never been reconstructed.

The Birth Of Evolution London

So, what is the fun fair site being used for now? Well, it’s actually the exact location of our very own Evolution London. The ground was levelled out after the closure of the fair and was used for temporary/pop up fairs and exhibitions for a period of time before becoming the Battersea Park Events Arena.

Something bigger and better was needed for hosting events in the park, so the creation of Evolution London was commissioned and the doors were opened in 2001. However, this wasn’t the last of the big renovations to take place in the area; the whole park underwent a £11 million refurbishment in 2002 before being reopened fully in 2004 by Prince Phillip. The park is now home to all kinds of monumental figures and structures for visitors to enjoy, as well as playing host to a range of events such as concerts and food festivals.

Time For A Change

Fast forward to summer 2019 and Evolution London was given its arguably most impressive renovation, with a whole new look and purpose. Previously a temporary structure that was unavailable during the summer months, the venue was erected once again in September 2019 with permission to stay there indefinitely for the next four years.

The now permanent venue also boasted a brand new, taller structure, offering the unique opportunity to attract iconic live TV events reaching a national and international audience, a quality it did not previously possess. With the reconstruction of this totally unique blank canvas venue, our clients can now host events with truly limitless and creative opportunities. To find out more about a few more of the venue’s new features, read our blog here.

We couldn’t think of a more vibrant and characteristic location for London’s most versatile and dynamic venue to have been constructed than Battersea Park, and with its rich heritage and exciting future ahead, there’s no doubt that this location is set to stay a hot destination for visitors to the city for a long time to come.