Restaurant

Scope and content: Restaurant Sub-Committee, 1970-1995; finance, 1982-1986; correspondence, 1932-1978; Rex Whistler murals, 1925-1990; staff restaurant, 1967-1972; menus, 1950-1959; coffee shop, 1981-1983;restaurant refurbishment, 1983-1986; Tate Gallery Restaurant Limited board meetings, 1996-2000

OPEN

In 1898 the Trustees sanctioned the sale of light refreshments within the building and the balcony on the first floor was temporarily set apart for this purpose. In 1909 a new refreshment room was provided in the basement under Galleries I and II. This room was decorated with murals by Rex Whistler in 1928 in a scheme financed by Duveen. The restaurant was closed in 1939 and re-opened on 1 April 1949. Until 1970 the restaurant was run by outside caterers under contract but in September 1970 the Treasury agreed to allow the Trustees to run it themselves. The coffee-shop opened in 1972. In 1996 Tate Gallery Restaurant Ltd. was incorporated as a company limited by share and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tate Gallery Publishing Ltd. All profits are covenanted to the Gallery. In 2001 Tate Gallery Restaurant Ltd. was restyled Tate Catering and placed under the umbrella of the new Tate Enterprises Ltd.