Helsinki Central Station clock tower to undergo renovation for event space and brewery

One of Helsinki’s most iconic landmarks is a place few locals have visited, but this is set to change next year. The clock tower of Helsinki Central Station will undergo renovation to create a 300-seat event space, along with a brewery and a brewpub. The ongoing renovations are slated for completion in autumn 2025, after which the tower will be open to the public. Until now, access has only been granted on special occasions, such as Helsinki Day.

The clock tower was designed by architect Eliel Saarinen and opened in March 1919. At that time, there were plans for a small brewery and an elevator leading to the tower, but both ideas were abandoned. Just three months after the station’s inauguration, the Prohibition Act halted brewery aspirations. Now, over a century later, both the elevator and brewery are set to be part of the clock tower.

The renovation project is backed by the Aseman Kellotorni company, which has invested a seven-figure sum into the initiative. Additionally, the Finnish railway company VR announced an investment of €60 million in the station’s development between 2019 and 2026.

The renovated space will feature three event areas across two floors. The brewery will also make history as the first brewery to open at a central railway station in Europe. The company behind the project aims to preserve the original atmosphere of the space, with oversight from the Finnish National Board of Antiquities. The company has committed to operations for ten years following the renovation.