Control Room B, Battersea Power Station

A show‑stopping bar inside one of London’s most iconic Grade II landmarks*

Ellis Design Studio has transformed the iconic Control Room B at Battersea Power Station into a spectacular bar at the heart of the multi‑billion‑pound redevelopment of this global architectural icon. Battersea Power Station — a Grade II* listed landmark and one of London’s most recognisable structures — originally powered a fifth of the capital, supplying electricity to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and many of London’s most historic sites.

Today, Control Room B has been reimagined as a beautifully atmospheric, conceptual bar experience. Set within 3,500 sq ft of original machinery, historic dials and restored switchgear, the venue invites guests to step inside one of Britain’s most important industrial interiors for the first time in its history.

Project Introduction

Ellis Design Studio was appointed to create the interior design for London’s newest all‑day bar experience — a rare opportunity to design within a space of immense cultural and architectural significance. The Studio approached the project with meticulous care, developing an entirely freestanding scheme that respects the heritage fabric while establishing a bold new hospitality identity.

Iconic Invention — A Historic Modernist Interior

Completed in 1955, Control Room B was built in the austere Modernist style of the post‑war period. The interior is defined by:

• A dramatic arc of original stainless‑steel control desks
• Full‑height anthracite‑coloured switchgear racks
• Octagonal columns clad in pale‑blue faience tiles
• Brutalist machine‑age detailing throughout

These original features have been fully restored as part of the Power Station’s regeneration. They have appeared in iconic cultural moments — from The Beatles’ Help! to Hawkwind’s Quark album — cementing their place in British design history.

Designing within such a historically significant space required exceptional sensitivity. Ellis Design Studio calibrated every element to harmonise with the existing architecture while ensuring the venue feels rooted, purposeful and unmistakably contemporary.

A Turbine‑Inspired Centrepiece Bar

At the heart of the venue sits a dramatic turbine‑inspired sculptural bar — a tribute to Battersea Power Station’s electric and industrial heritage. The bar features:

• An illuminated radial metal canopy with delicately perforated fins
• A circular configuration inspired by the sweep of the original control desks
• A wing‑like arc of metallic lights symbolising the Power Station’s rebirth

This centrepiece captures the momentum of turbine blades — a moment suspended between rotational movements — creating tension, anticipation and dynamism at the core of the space.

Materiality — Brutalist Utility Meets Mid‑Century Optimism

The design scheme fuses the utilitarian beauty of the Control Room’s Brutalist aesthetic with the joy and optimism of post‑war, mid‑century British design. Material choices include:

• Aged brass
• Blackened and lacquered steels
• Patinated and pleated metals
• Warm‑hued, custom laser‑printed timbers
• Fluted glass, antique brass and patinated aluminium lighting
• Mid‑century inspired furniture and pastel‑hued upholstery

These elements soften the industrial coolness of the original metals and tiles, creating a layered, atmospheric interior that celebrates the dawn of the modern age.

A Freestanding, Historically Sympathetic Scheme

The entire design is freestanding — a crucial requirement for working within a Grade II* listed landmark. This approach ensures:

• The original switchgear and control panels remain untouched
• The historic architecture is fully showcased
• The new hospitality elements feel anchored yet reversible
• The integrity of the Power Station’s heritage is preserved

The result is a venue that feels both new and timeless — a conceptual bar experience that honours the building’s legacy while shaping a bold new chapter in its history.

A Tribute to the Modern Age

Control Room B is a celebration of invention, industry and British design heritage. The interior blends:

• The vibrancy of mid‑century British design
• The austere beauty of Brutalism
• The dynamism and energy of mechanical forms

Ellis Design Studio has created a space that pays homage to the Power Station’s extraordinary past while offering a striking experiential hospitality destination.