Once complete, the venue will be the UK’s focal point for retail and leisure led events, shows and exhibitions which will complement Bluewater’s retail offer whilst meeting the continued demand for specialist consumer events in a modern environment.

The newly appointed Venue Director for Glow, Bluewater, Rebecca Cardozo and Andrew Parkinson, General Manager of Bluewater, were joined by the Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Patrick Coleman, to celebrate this key stage of construction. The ‘Golden Bolt’ was specially created and placed in one of the first section’s of the venue's steel structure, where it will be permanently cited to mark the occasion.

Andrew Parkinson, Bluewater’s General Manager, said: “We are very proud to see Glow, Bluewater beginning to take shape. A fully integrated events venue remains true to Bluewater’s philosophy of enhancing guest experience through the constant evolution of the retail mix and the addition of complementary uses.

“I am also delighted to welcome Rebecca Cardozo to the team. Rebecca has a wealth of experience in the events and exhibition sector, and her expertise and perspective is already adding significant value to the team.”

Rebecca Cardozo, added: “I am thrilled to have joined the team, and to be part of Glow, Bluewater. This unique development will allow us to provide the events and exhibition industry with a new breed of venue, whereby exhibitions and events are brought directly to our guests. Currently Bluewater has 28 million visitors each year, and Glow, Bluewater would be a very popular addition and extension of the overall Bluewater offer.”

Directly accessed off Thames Walk through the existing Water Circus, the development, which is centred around a 32,000 sq ft (3,000m2) plaza, also includes 43,000 sq ft (4,000m2) of catering/restaurants space which will be reconfigured to enhance the casual dining and public areas.