The Gallery

Well, dreaded the place for years. But friendly an not as stereotypical as some might might think when Hendon comes to mind. The staff a friendly and so are most of the clientele, seems though that it feels like a bit of a stop gap for many people on there way to somewhere else. It reminds my of the slightly provincial bars you like Yates’ Portsmouth or something of the same ilk. With the music as loud as it is conversation is at a minimal but when in good company it is very enjoyable. The toilets have the arbitrary dude sitting there waiting for… Good knows but he’s not guilting me into wanting to pay him for the bit hand towel he’s given me.
The 3 stars are a personal thing more about where it is and it’s slightly plastic feel. The staff friendly enough but can be tough as most don’t speak English to the level of «spiced run and coke» not that I care much bit it gets pretty annoying after 20^th time. Everyone seems like a good sort including the door staff who were very personable. Feel a bit bad about 3 stars but there you go!

It was 5pm on a Thursday afternoon. I felt like I’d slipped between two worlds of people being at work and those still travelling home. Nobody was in The Gallery but me. So I sat back and made myself comfortable. Aesthetically the place is beautiful. There is a long shotgun bar, a huge seating/​roaming area, and a decent cocktail menu to keep me interested. The décor is a mix of light wood and chrome, with the odd plasma screen showing football.
The bartender and I got chatting as he made me a cocktail off the menu. It was a martini but he offered to make it long on the rocks for me to suit my manly appearance. Tee hee! I could see he wasn’t happy with the balance, making the concoction several times. For keeping me waiting he refused payment. Nice touch! The cocktail was still good.
I decided to ask to be shown around. There is a club and restaurant on site. The restaurant is very suave and endearing in a classic way. As you walk up to the club you can’t help but notice the opulence of the artwork and interior design. The club itself is a simple hall with a VIP room off to the side and another bar. Taken as a whole The Gallery is an impressive building and this helps distract from its problem. Who goes partying in Hendon? There isn’t much else in the area to draw in London’s socialites and it is known that the locals aren’t the most chic group in the city. To battle this, new staff and management have been brought in to give The Gallery the right vibe. I enjoyed my quiet cocktail, time will tell whether I enjoy the clientèle.

If you love art then the Gallery Restaurant is the right place to dine in. Since it was opened in November 2005 it has certainly earned a formidable reputation as fabulous dining retreat, snazzy night-​club and an attractive choice of venue for celebrations:-like weddings, birthdays so on and so forth.
Other than relaxing in the elegant and ambient setting, you can linger and peruse the works of 30 or more artists which include many well-​known names. The names on exhibit at the Gallery include artists like Michael Solomon, legendery photographer Cecil Beaton, Damien Hirst, Rob Carter, Nick Carter. The interior of the establishment showcases many original art-​works from Britain’s popular young talent.
The multitude of paintings on display depict a broad-​range of techniques like:-Surrealism, Abstract, Expressionism, Pop-​Art, Minimaland Conceptual Art.
The food was absolutely fabulous-​preparedby the award winning chef Stephen Englefield. The menus are very innovative, regularly reviewed with an insistence on fresh ingredients. The Crab-​on-​Confit of Leek and Potato, followed by braised Cumbrian Lamb shoulder with a Champagne and Lamb sauce was just perfect.