Supporters’ House: What To Expect From The National Gallery’s New Club

Poised as it is between bustling Westminster, Soho and Charing Cross, bordered by two free-to-visit, world-class art galleries, Trafalgar Square is one of London’s busiest spots – especially when the sun is shining. But behind a subtle door now lies a tranquil haven, where art lovers can unwind, socialise, drink and dine, all under the same roof as one of the world’s best-loved art galleries. Welcome to Supporters’ House, The National Gallery’s brand new space dedicated to members and patrons, which harbours the elegance and sophistication of a members’ club without the price tag.

It’s the very first time The National Gallery has had a dedicated space for its members, bringing it in line with the likes of the Tate and the V&A – but Supporters’ House is a cut above. So what inspired the space, and what will visitors enjoy with a new House membership? We sat down with The National Gallery’s head of loyalty, sales and ticketed experiences, James Beardsworth-Shaw, to find out more.

Supporters’ House is accessed through a private door on Trafalgar Square (Richard Gaston © National Gallery)

What Is Supporters’ House At The National Gallery?

Supporters’ House is The National Gallery’s brand new members’ room – but it’s so much more than that. Stepping inside from a private entrance on Trafalgar Square, visitors will enter an elegant series of rooms laid out by New York-based architect Annabelle Selldorf with Purcell Architects. A cafe-bar area with lofty ceilings and uber-soft sofas is joined by a sophisticated restaurant, a private dining room, and a quieter lounge area drenched in a blush hue for relaxing and perhaps getting a little work done.

‘I knew instantly that I wanted to break that mold of the modern museum and gallery members’ room,’ James says. ‘It wasn’t about playing catch up with other places who already have a space for members, it was about doing something different, innovative and maybe unexpected for The National Gallery.

‘I refer to it as a bit of a low key private members club,’ James says. ‘I wanted to create something that actually felt premium, but doesn’t necessarily have a premium price tag. Of course, it’s behind a pay wall and it’s not free for all; we’re mindful of that as a government funded organisation. But I did find inspiration looking at some of those more premium private members’ clubs: the Soho Houses of the world. The luxury hotel market has also changed so much in the last 20 years, and those luxury premium spaces were where we went looking for inspiration. I was also really inspired by what they’re doing at Hauser & Wirth.’

As for creating the vibe, it was all about that sense of openness – of tranquility, a place to unwind yet reenergise. ‘It sounds obvious, but we wanted to create a space members were going to enjoy, but they can also relax in,’ James explains. ‘Of course, people can reflect in painting galleries. But also we wanted a space where members could reflect away from the paintings, away from interpretation, away from school groups and audio guides and screens, almost like a sanctuary.’

‘Sanctuary’ is spot on: the overwhelming feeling when I stepped inside was tranquility. The Studio Linse designed interiors are optimised for calm, with soft lighting and enveloping colour palettes creating a welcoming atmosphere, with a kind of hushed reverie. Soaring windows offer views of Nelson’s Column and the fourth plinth. Art selectively adorns the walls, with a particular highlight being Matthias Schaller’s photographs of the paint-smeared palettes of celebrated artists, a subtle nod to the renowned artwork adorning the walls of the Gallery above. The original parquet floors have been refurbished, and prodigious archways guide you through the space – from the wide-open all-day cafe to the more intimate lounge, nicknamed the pink room. As London continues to bubble outside, there’s the sense that the volume dial has been turned down, hushed chatter the only suggestion of the hubbub just beyond the window.

The space was chosen for its size, layout and dedicated entrance, all of which create the homely feel you’d expect from something with the moniker ‘house’. ‘When you’re looking for a house, you’ve got criteria, right?’ James says. ‘You want outside space, two bedrooms, that kind of thing. Having a dedicated entrance is a game changer, because it’s a venue within a venue. Even better, Supporter’s House has its own way into the gallery internally, so people don’t have to go back outside to get back in. It’s the best of both worlds.’

(Richard Gaston © National Gallery)

What Was There Before?

Immediately before the team set to work creating Supporters’ House, the space was filled with curatorial offices – but the history of the building stretches back much further. In fact, Supporters’ House is part of the original Wilkins Building, the very first iteration of The National Gallery, which famously opened with its 38 paintings in 1838. That very first gallery sits right on top of Supporters’ House, which itself occupies what was once the home of the Gallery’s keeper.

‘You can’t get older,’ James says. ‘This is the heart of the historic building. The keeper and his wife and their children lived there.’ Indeed, the family’s time living onsite is immortalised in diaries, kept safe in The National Gallery’s archives. Last year, archivists delved into the writings, James tells me. ‘They found the entries on pages of the kids’ diaries, watching the lions being winched into Trafalgar Square while sat in the window frames, and being caught smoking by the gallery security guards, and all sorts of stuff that kids get up to.’

Later, the family would leave and the space would be used variously as a library, a boardroom, and offices for the Gallery’s curators. When you’re inside Supporters’ House, ‘you’re sat in the place where geniuses thought up the exhibitions people have been coming to for 150 years,’ James points out. ‘That’s a really nice thought.’

(Richard Gaston © National Gallery)

Why Is It A Separate Membership Tier?

The National Gallery’s membership scheme – providing unlimited access to exhibitions and exclusive discounts in the gift shop – only turned 10 years old in 2024, James tells us. ‘It’s a relatively young scheme,’ he says, ‘but it didn’t have a space, so actually, one of the driving forces to create a space was to ensure the success and longevity of a relatively young membership scheme that was growing year on year.’ Member numbers didn’t even sink in the pandemic – and soared amid recent demand for the spellbinding Van Gogh exhibition.

But plenty of museum memberships include the room; what makes Supporters’ House different? ‘We could have just opened a one room space, right?’ James acknowledges. ‘One that’s trying to be a restaurant, a lounge and a place to relax all in one, which is where a lot of other places go. But we were really fortunate to have a [spare] space that’s large enough for us to call a “House”.’

And with this experiential elevation comes a slightly higher membership tier. ‘We used the creation of the space as a moment to also reassess our membership and the proposition of membership at the gallery,’ James summarises.

(Richard Gaston © National Gallery)

Who Is It For?

The National Gallery is hoping to attract new members with the proposition of Supporter’s House – as well as encourage existing members to upgrade. ‘We wanted to create something that felt uniquely National Gallery,’ James says. ‘We have 68,000 members who we are inviting to upgrade to House membership.’ Many of the fabrics found in Supporter’s House were designed by Gainsborough Silk, for example, who have been producing wallpaper for The National Gallery for over 100 years. And the response from those loyal members? ‘We’ve been calling it optimism,’ James says. ‘We’ve had a really great response from existing members. People are upgrading early. But we’ve kept the existing membership – though we’ve rebranded it the Exhibitions Membership – for anyone who wants to stay where they are and see all the exhibitions for free as many times as they want. We’ve had a few early access moments where some people who are on the fence see the space and are like, “Oh my god, where do I upgrade?”, which has been really reassuring.

‘But we’re also wanting to attract a slightly younger, professional audience, who might not know The National Gallery that well.’ James adds. ‘It’s a dangerous line. We don’t want to go too far the other way, and people who love the National Gallery don’t recognise it.’

‘The gallery tagline is “for everyone, everywhere,” and I would repeat that mantra here,’ James tells us. ‘Of course, it’s behind a pay wall, but there are people from all walks of life who will be interested in this proposition.’

Naturally, London members will benefit most; the opportunity to nip inside such a centrally located, private space – whether to eat, drink, wind-up or wind-down – from just £130 per year, is unparalleled. James acknowledges this: ‘We know people from London and the South East tend to visit these types of venues the most. But we also want Supporter’s House to be a sanctuary for people who come to London or The National Gallery once, maybe twice a year, who want to feel like a VIP. It gives them that kind of bolthole – but a city bolthole, rather than a country bolthole.’

‘We know that there’s an international market out there, too,’ James says, ‘who will be staying in nice hotels or in nice apartments, and want the flexibility of a members’ club, but one they don’t have to drop a couple of grand on.’

VISIT

Supporters’ House officially opened its doors on Monday 2 June 2025 – but entry is only granted with a membership, of course. Prices start from £130 per year, including all the benefits of a standard exhibitions membership. Exhibition Membership starts from £68 per year.

Find out more and sign up at nationalgallery.org.uk/membership