Watch: Revisit the BT Tower’s revolving restaurant

The BT Tower’s revolving restaurant was once famous for the panoramic views it provided of London.

At first the public were able to visit the top-floor restaurant, which opened in 1966 and was run by Billy Butlin of holiday camp fame.

The viewing platform was closed to the public after a bomb exploded there in 1971. This, coupled with the lease from Butlin’s ending, meant the restaurant was closed to the public in 1980, restricting the venue to invitation-only for special occasions.

It was announced on Wednesday that the BT Group had sold the tower for £275m to MCR Hotels, and now architectural heritage campaign group C20 says it hopes to see the revolving restaurant reinstated.

In 2002, former postmaster general Tony Benn explored the restaurant he had visited on many previous occasions.

From: Afoot again in the past, 2002