Community Gives Back: An Art Club With Love

What is an art club? It’s a rather grand title, but what does it actually mean?  A social or professional organisation for people interested in the arts, sometimes community-focused spaces for creative activities, or sometimes a private members’ club for established artists and cultural figures. Maybe it is open to the public, the local community, or maybe it’s private members only. There is, of course, a historical suggestion behind the name that it’s exclusive to the landed gentry. Yet these intimate institutions have grown over the years, and now a new breed is born, one that feeds, entertains and yet at the same time supports and gives back. Find out more in Community Gives Back: An Art Club With Love

All Images Courtesy of Ladbroke Hall and Carpenters Workshop Gallery

Ladbroke Grove London

The West London area of Ladbroke Grove is as famous for its Portobello Market, its bohemian crowd, and for being in the film Notting Hill, yet it was once not a glamorous area but a run-down community of working people.

The area and the street are named after James Weller Ladbroke, who developed the Ladbroke Estate in the 1840s. It was originally a predominantly rural area on the western edges of London, the suburbs, if you like.

But by the mid-20th century, it had become rather run-down. Ladbroke Grove then became a centre of the British counterculture in the 1960s. The area was blacklisted for development following the 1958 Notting Hill race riots, and consequently found favour with individuals who distrusted authority, preferring a more fluid lifestyle.

Slightly set back off the street in Barlby Road, a main thoroughfare between Ladborke Grove towards Sheppards Bush, is a beautiful Beaux Arts architectural building that once made cars.

Ladbroke Hall, 1903, started life as the Clément-Talbot car factory and showroom. Founded by Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, the hall’s grandeur, in the neoclassical French architectural style, echoed an English country house. Here, he started with tires and moved into car production; the famous Sunbeam Talbot was produced here. During WWI, the factory also produced military vehicles, contributing to the war effort.

By the time the Second World was came to an end, the site still had links to automobile activities but also housed the TV station Thames Television in the 1980s.

Ladbroke Hall

But its latest incarnation came about when Loïc Le Gaillard and Julien Lombrail founded the Carpenters Workshop Gallery, restored the building, and once again, the majestic building stood as a completely single entity

Julien Lombrail and Loïc Le Gaillard. Photo by Tom Jamieson. 

Today, named Ladbroke Hall, it is a vibrant cultural venue open to all, that highlights multiple facets of artistic expression, from Jazz to dance via poetry and sculpture, to food and jewellery: the site, a legacy of creativity and innovation.

Having worked in the art arena for over twenty years, the new owners wanted to create a space that wasn’t just transactional, nor a private members club, but an ode as such towards an all-encompassing creative hub. These sections combine to create a comprehensive “art ecosystem” that includes fine art, design, music, dance, and culinary experiences.

The building is made up of different parts, including the Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the Pollini restaurant with its Italian menu, a private garden with a Prouvé House, performance spaces like the Sunbeam Theatre, event spaces, and a patron bar named Lamyland. 

Gallery, London

Starting with Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, which has been running for twenty years (the east side of the building), where the art shows are programmed and shown, with the presentations falling under the cultural direction of the owners. Many of the shows are by artists known the them or represented by them, and the shows are usually changed every quarter.

The works and shows presented seem to tie together with a sense of material, a sense of strength and weight: physically and emotionally. Many of the works on show feel as if they carry the power of the building and its history within them. Stone, Steel, Brass, Wood, Gold, Silver, Marble, the materials of the works hold a permanence that echoes the life of the building back at it. Each holds stature by the very nature of its being. Some pieces are permanent and others are on show for specific exhibits.

Note, across the works on show, see a sense of visual art and design practice, melding into almost functional art, much of which again feels materially driven.

Moving across the building, a number of exhibitions are on at any time, and spaces for items like art jewellery and other artists not represented by the gallery. Yet again, materials meet with form take centre stage, see for example, jewellery imagined with reptilian forms, with textures of wildlife, and prehistoric forms.

Next up, find the music space. The Sunbeam Theatre space holds Jazz concerts, other musical events, as well as spaces to wine and dine directly from the restaurant. The space has a layered arch across the top where dinner can be served whilst the music plays on. There is also Studio One for similar style music, film, dance, comedy and theatre events. There are also spaces that can be rented for private use for events, parties and even fashion shows.

But also tied into the programmes are events linked to the local community, yoga classes, breathwork spaces, exercise classes, intentional walking, and a local canal pilgrimage. There have also been programs for young kids in the area, as well as community ambassadors involved, ensuring opportunities for those living in the area to engage and support the local neighbourhood.

There is not just diversity in the area; it is extremely cross-cultural, but those who live here are still reeling from the Grenfell Tower fire, so there is very much an open-door policy whenever possible. The space is very sensitive to the community and encourages local involvement, and engages different aspects of the community with projects. After all, Ladbroke Grove houses some of the wealthiest and some of the poorest communities in London, so the space really has enabled different conversations between all.

Research and Development.

But the company doesn’t just give back to the direct community. In 2016, they launched their own workshop space outside of Paris. This is an 8,000 square metre arena devoted to true craftsmanship and creativity, artistic research and development.

This unique production facility in Mitry Mory (north-central France) is a dedicated space for artisans and is there to support artists and provide designers, mechanics and craftspeople with an unparalleled opportunity to experiment with new materials and processes.

They offer opportunities across disciplines to artists who are skilled artisans. From masters of wax and metal casting to woodwork, patina and upholstery, their expert knowledge supports the diverse artistic output from the Mitry Mory workshop.

Emphasis is placed on training young artisans in these disciplines to pass down generational knowledge and preserve the traditions of these crafts.

This is a real investment, true giving back. Not just in young talent but in ancient crafts, enabling the young to grow and the established to share knowledge and expertise.

The Italian Restaurant, London

And so to eat. Because what is time spent with art not made better by delicious food? In the central atrium of the building sits the Italian restaurant Pollini’s.

Pollini Restaurant

The self-named eatery by Emanuele Pollini serves seasonal Italian cuisine, having been voted in 2020 the best Italian Chef by Gambero Rosso, the Italian food and wine magazine.

Born in Cesena, Italy, Emanuele started his training at the Istituto Alberghiero Pellegrino Artusi in Forlimpopoli. Emanuele gained extensive experience throughout the Adriatic coast and worked with one of the most acclaimed chefs, Vincenzo Cammerucci. He then moved on to Martin Berasategui in Spain and Maaemo in Norway, both with 3 Michelin stars, and Clooney in New Zealand with 3 hats, the highest rating achievable, marking just a handful of his achievements. In the autumn of 2023, he opened Pollini at Ladbroke Hall in Notting Hill, London.

Find classical approaches to Italian heroes, but here interpreted for a modern palette using the choicest ingredients. His heavyweight reputation allows him to serve signature dishes from his repertoire as well as new ones.

Find an extensive list that includes à la carte, dolce, bruch bambino (kids), Friday jazz menu and signature cocktails. Also, the team serving has an excellent knowledge of the menu and are keen to explore it with customers, advising on the chef’s signature dishes and his latest masterpieces.

Palette openers in the à la carte include mouthwatering dishes that, of course, change seasonally, but as an idea, find such delicacies as

Mortadella E Tarttufo, Tapioca crisp, scamorza, mortadella I.G.P with Umbrian summer truffle, Prosciutto Crudo Nebrodok D.O.P 24-month aged ham from Sicilian, wild roaming black pigs, Pizzetta Al Tartufo Umbrian black summer truffle, fior di latte and scamorza 

Next up, be tempted by bold, fresh dishes like

Fritto Misto Di Mare Fried assortment of British coastal seafood, heritage julienne vegetables and caper aioli, King Crab Panzanella, Perilla, celery and Isle of Wight tomatoes, Spaghetti Al Pesto Gamero Rosso (Red Prawns), Rosso di Mazara and burrata D.O.P, Risotto Marinara of aged carnaroli, British coastal seafood and red mullet broth. And one of his signature dishes, King Crab Linguine with Datterini tomatoes and chilli, alongside reworked classics such as Scampi Vongole, with tiger prawns, palourde clams and chilli 

For the final flourish and the sweet-toothed, find classics and interpretations such as

Vanilla Panna Cotta, Served with British summer berries,  Tortino Al Pistacchio Guanaja by Valrhona 70% (elegant bitter-sweet chocolate), matcha and salted caramel ice cream, Tiramisu Mascarpone, savoiardi and amaretto disaronno, and Apple Tart Caramelised fine apple tart, served with vanilla ice cream or the classic Italian dessert of Italian profiteroles with Felchlin chocolate.

There is an extensive wine list as well as some signature cocktails, which the serving team are able to advise on perfect pairings. The is also the option for outside dining for patrons (the garden oasis was created by Chelsea Flower Show winner Luciano Giubbilei). Or the ability to book private events in one of several of the buildings’ unique spaces.

Ladbroke Hall Garden

One final item that in many ways sums up so much of the energy and commitment to creativity of this unique west London gem. Find in the garden an original 1944 Prouvé House. Originally designed by Jean Prouvé, these portable houses were created by the French designer to provide emergency shelter to refugees in war-torn France. Made entirely from wood and metal, easy to transport and able to be assembled in as little as a day. The Ladbroke Hall team have not only preserved this most important piece of 20th-century design but also works hand in hand with the Prouvé foundation to ensure restoration is kept within the guidelines.

1944 Prouvé House

Working within the arts brings with it a responsibility towards all those involved, the artist, the viewers and the artworks themselves. Never to be taken lightly, the pledge must come from the heart, and it’s fair to say Ladbrooke Hall does with a plethora of loving care.

79 Barlby Road, Notting Hill, London, W10 6AZ, United Kingdom. Find all information for galleries and events at Ladbroke Hall.com and Pollini restaurant here.

If you enjoyed reading Community Gives Back: An Art Club With Love, why not read The Pathetic Fallacy Here

.Cent Magazine, London. Luxury Minded