No longer do you need to be a Soho House member to rooftop at BBC’s former home. Set above the aptly named ‘Broadcaster’ bar and restaurant, ‘Aerial‘ rooftop bar is also cleverly named after the road the famous TV studios are on.
Since selling off BBC Television Centre, offices have been converted to flats, filming areas to receptions and restaurants moved in. Though the studios do remain but for use for any TV company now – currently home to ITV’s This Morning. So you could be sat on this rooftop bar sipping a rose while watching when they film outside. Not many rooftop bars in London have that to offer! You may even see some of the presenters hanging out there.
As a former BBC employee I happily I have a soho member friend so have been able to come back and take a walk down memory lane but this new rooftop is the game changer – it means we all can now.
Anyone who has worked here knows the magic of the place – the artists who walked the corridors, who have danced, sang or presented to the world. It was a heartbreaking when it was sold.
But now sat on this rooftop everyone can feel a part of that history. You can see the old security gates were – where we used to have to give the names of any artists coming in or ‘stage door’ where we’d wait at 1am for taxis for celebrities parting in green rooms or the doughnut – the area that linked all the studios and we’d all hang out in.
Suffice to say this rooftop has had me reminiscing with rose and telling old tales. Even if you haven’t worked or been a fan of BBC telly then this rooftop bar stands in its own right and a much needed addition to west London. We were crying out for a chilled out summer vibe hang that is typically found in central London.
Plus the food was delicious, sofas inviting and staff super friendly and fabulously fun – entertaining my need to hide from the sun! Special thanks to Costi who brings his rooftop know how from the very successful Seabird rooftop bar to TVC!
Definitely add to your London list, oh and did I mention it’s also opposite Westfield shopping centre… the perfect rooftop bar pit stop after some retail therapy!