Welcome to the garden
Tom Stuart-Smith introduces the Keeper’s House garden.
The Keeper’s House
The Keeper’s House
A café, a cocktail bar with its own secret garden and a place to encounter art, the Keeper’s House offers a variety of delicious food and drink options and is home to an exclusive space for Friends, Patrons and Corporate Members.
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See inside
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Sir Hugh Casson Room
The Sir Hugh Casson Room is a bright and friendly café located on the ground floor of the Keeper’s House. Open all day to Friends of the RA, its selection of freshly-baked pastries and refreshing drinks make it the perfect pre or post-exhibition pit-stop. On the walls you’ll find our latest RA Editions display, showcasing artworks for sale by our Royal Academicians and invited artists.
No reservations, walk in only. Menu subject to availability.
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Belle Shenkman Room
Adjacent to the Sir Hugh Casson Room, the Belle Shenkman Room is a more intimate lounge. With its velvet mohair chairs, it’s the perfect place to sit and while away the hours with spectacular views of the garden.
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The Shenkman Bar
Found on the lower floor, the Shenkman Bar features a delicious light-bites menu with our favourite truffle fries, as well as an ever-changing cocktail menu.
On Thursdays and Fridays, the Shenkman Bar will be open until 9pm and will offer monthly food and drink pairings making it the perfect destination for post-exhibition refreshment.
No reservations, walk in only.
Last orders 30 minutes before closure.
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The Keeper's Garden
Design by renowned landscaper Tom Stuart-Smith, who has created his personal vision of an art oasis, the Keeper’s House garden features our very own ‘fifth plinth’, currently featuring work by Ann Christopher RA. Titled Following the Journey, this sculpture evolved through several months of development and is characteristic of the artist’s abstract visual language, which often uses solid form versus line to create a sense of tension and balance.
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The Academicians’ Room
The Academicians’ Room is the RA’s private members club, a vibrant and relaxed haven where members can meet to share wonderful drinks, conversation and food in beautiful surroundings designed by Martin Brudnizki. To book a table, please call 020 7300 5881.
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Opening times
Sir Hugh Casson Room, Belle Shenkman Room
Tues–Sun, 10am–6pm
Open to the public from 4pmShenkman Bar
Tues–Sun, 10am–6pm
Thu–Fri, 10am–9pm
Open to the public from 4pm
Last orders 30 minutes before closure.The Academicians’ Room
Tues–Sun, 10am–6pm
Thu–Fri, 10am–9pm
Last orders 30 minutes before closure.
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Art at the Keeper’s House
Discover our ever-evolving collection of artworks throughout the Keeper’s House on your next visit. Start your collection with unique and limited edition works by our Royal Academicians and invited contemporary artists from the UK and beyond.
Image caption: Mali Morris RA, Contre Jour, 2021
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Private hire
The Keeper’s House is available for various private hire events whether it be a breakfast before 10am or drinks and canapés in the evening.
As well as this, we are able to hire out half of the restaurant in the Keeper’s House for a variety of celebrations (or just to invite all of your friends for a meal).
For more details of the events we can cater and for the finer details of hire, please take a look at the PDF below.
Alternatively, please email any enquiries to entertaining@royalacademy.org.uk
For any queries about private dining, please email gertrude.hertz@peytonandbyrne.co.uk
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Contact us
Friends membership enquiries
T: 020 7300 8090 The Membership Office phone lines are open Monday to Saturday, between 10am – 5pm. The RA is operating with reduced staff during this period so our response times may be a little longer than normal.
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History of the House
Sydney Smirke RA knew how to build an artist’s home. Nestled in the corner of the RA’s Annenberg Courtyard, the Keeper’s House is his sideways extension of the grand urban palace, Burlington House. Created over 140 years ago, the space was the grace and favour residence for the Academy’s Keeper. Smirke’s plans guaranteed every nineteenth century convenience from the finest vaulted wine cellars to the Models’ Staircase, a private external entrance giving direct access to the Keeper’s studio at all hours for a select few.
Award winning architects Long & Kentish have sensitively restored the Keeper’s House retaining many details from vaults to old ceiling beams and hearths originating from the 1660s. This history is matched with contemporary luxurious interiors designed by award-winning architect David Chipperfield RA.
The scope of what is now called the Keeper’s House may have widened, however hospitality remains at the core of this revitalised space – in essence, ‘a home away from home’ – for Friends of the RA, Patrons, Royal Academicians and visitors.
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Who is the Keeper?
Be it bees, goals or the privy purse, modern day Keepers exist to take care of their charges. Our Keeper is the officer of the RA Schools (the longest established art school in Britain, established in 1769 and still running today). They are responsible for guiding and inspiring the next generation of artistic talent admitted each year onto our postgraduate diploma.
Although the Keeper no longer takes up residence at the Academy, they attend the Schools during the week and practice within one of the private studio spaces within the Royal Academy. Our current Keeper is Cathie Pilkington RA, a sculptor.
As you pass through the glass atrium of the Keeper’s House you may be able to glimpse the students in their studios. They are at work so please respect their need for peace and quiet.
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