John Gibson: Art for art's sake at the vegan shrine

Published on Wednesday 19 November 2008 09:28

ALL happening at Henderson's, vegans' paradise in Hangover Street and well worthy of the "institution" tag. Janet and Mac (today alive and kicking at 101) were the founders in 1962 and the family are determined the dynasty will survive.

For ever, it seems. They've just created the Janet Henderson Gallery within the restaurant, one lengthy wall of exhibition space to accommodate pictures and paintings in memory of the Glasgow architect's daughter who married eligible East Lothian bachelor Mac in 1935.

The family comprises hands-on Oliver and his business partners (Nicky opted out to concentrate on Whighams, the venerable Hope Street Wine Cellars), Peter and Catherine.

Now it's restaurant, bistro, deli with the Henderson Gallery round the corner in Thistle Street Lane, another arts haven.

Says Peter: "Vegetarians don't seem to be aware of the crunch (the premises were heaving on a Tuesday lunchtime) and we'll want the arts side to flow through the restaurant. Art students and up-and-coming artists will find Henderson's accommodating. We can also boast two screens and we'll be showing quality films to a 60-seater audience."

Gallery manager Claire Hamill and director Peter Warburton are the contacts at 225 7464.

Celebrations for Scotland rugby cap Mac's 102nd birthday on May 1 are bound to be of an artistic sort.

Key worker

Uptown pal. Blind pianist Robert Grimwood is looking for a minder. He's the occasional guest piano man, Saturday or Friday evenings, in the Balmoral Hotel's Palm Court lounge. A class act.

Says recently-married Robert, a jazz-influenced performer much experienced in quality rooms in the States: "I'm searching for somebody who'll escort me from the piano to the bar and back between sets, thence down to the Waverley and the Glasgow train. It's unpaid but there's a refreshment with me at the bar and I do play requests. Standards and evergreens."

Robert is at 0141-643 1488.

Afterwords . .

. . . paparazzi's friend Sienna Miller regrets : "I have all this beautiful stuff from the Sixties and now someone can get it for 10 in River Island."