The Photographers Gallery - Pubs and bars to play host to venue during refurbishment

THE Photographers’ Gallery in Soho is set to  take up residence in pubs and bars in the West End while it undergoes a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Barrio Central, Poland Street, is one of a number of venues in the area that are due to host exhibitions while the gallery is transformed into a “cultural oasis” when it reopens in September 2011.
 

It is hoped the rotating programme will open up exhibitions for people who might not ordinarily visit a gallery.

The venue, the first photography gallery in London when it opened in 1972, is to close on September 19 and reopen in time to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
 

Under the £8.7million refurbishment, the gallery will be expanded and also feature a new bookshop and café.

Brett Rogers, director of the gallery, said: “I’m trying to embed us in Soho life. There are people who love the gallery and have followed us from our original home in Great Newport Street here but I don’t think that what the gallery offers to Soho and to London is really well known to all the media-savvy and fashion types who work around the corner.”