Battersea Power Station to host celebrASIA festival

From September 13 until September 15, Battersea Power Station will play host to celebrASIA, a new London festival to celebrate the richness of Asian culture, featuring 10 countries from across the continent.

The festival will feature a range of activities, from trying dishes made by chefs and eateries to street food vendors and bars, along with games, live performances and workshops.

Dishes on offer will range from curries and noodle bowls to satays and wraps, to be eaten outside the backdrop of Battersea Power Station.

In addition to being an ambassador for the festival, Mandy Yin has teamed up with Chick’N’Sours to create a chicken satay burger, exclusive to celebrASIA.

In addition to being an ambassador for the festival, Mandy Yin has teamed up with Chick’N’Sours to create a chicken satay burger. (Image: Charlie Round-Turner)

The dish will feature her popular tomato sambal and peanut sauce, which launched her career ten years ago with Chick’N’Sours’ crispy fried chicken.

Also joining the line-up is Malaysia’s Roti King, who have a permanent restaurant at Battersea Power Station which opened in 2022, along with Singapore’s Old Chang Kee and Budgie Montoya’s APOY.

The power station’s Turbine Hall B, that once made up part of the vast network of chambers generating electricity for the capital, will house a busy Asian market where visitors can shop for Asian sauces, spices and snacks, along with homeware and accessories.

Meanwhile Turbine Hall A will serve as the creative hub hosting masterclasses and workshops, with bookable sessions running across Saturday and Sunday for all ages.

The power station’s Turbine Hall B will house a busy Asian market, while Turbine Hall A will serve as the creative hub. (Image: The Cast)

Visitors can try out a range of crafts ranging from personalised pewter dish making, lantern making, Sarimanokpaper layering, ktupat weaving and kite decorating.

For the children there will also be an interactive tour around the power station, with boards designed to test their knowledge, finishing with a souvenir passport.

There will also be music and performances ranging from Thai Music Circle, the Indonesian Embassy’s Angklung Orchestra and Siswa Sukra Gamelan.

For anyone looking to work off some food on Friday and Saturday, there will be a live DJ in situ with sets from Half East Records, headed up by Philippines-based Deejay Nye and beat boxer MC Zani, along with traditional dances and other pop-up performances across the neighbourhood throughout the weekend.

Mandy Yin, celebrASIA ambassador, says she is thrilled to be involved with the new festival. (Image: Charlie Round-Turner)

Speaking on the festival, Mandy Yin, celebrASIA ambassador, said: “I’m thrilled to be an ambassador of celebrASIA and to be part of introducing this exciting new festival to London.

“I have always been passionate about sharing my love of Malaysian cuisine and culture with as many people as possible. Since I moved to London, there hasn’t been an event like celebrASIA before, it truly is one-of-a-kind, especially as it’s taking place at the iconic Battersea Power Station.

“As a chef and food writer, I’m most excited about trying all the food and drink that will be available during the festival, visitors are going to be spoilt for choice! It’s also going to be a great opportunity for the South East Asian diaspora to come together and share what we love most about our region with people who may have never visited before.”