Aberdeen Art Gallery Reviews Summary

Gallery Experience

Pros:

• "One of the best Art Galleries I've been to."
• "Well laid out gallery with some incredible pieces."
• "Fantastic refurbishment! The space and decor inside is incredible and as an exhibition space it is ideal for showcasing multiple large exhibitions."
• "Easily accessible."
• "This is a great gallery, lots of modern stuff downstairs, and more traditional stuff upstairs, so something for everyone."
• "Beautifully revamped building, such a lovely space and light."
• "The art gallery is beautiful, it had an incredible amount of art and the architecture of the building is amazing."

Cons:

• "Customer service training should be revisited."
• "However, some of the modern art is not much more than trash, in my opinion."
• "Great gallery in a beautiful building let down by a terrible cafe at entrance."
• "Kids would probably be bored."
• "It does not usually have any interesting exhibition on art just some ordinary and not high standard pieces but it is entertaining for an hour of so and...it is just Aberdeen you can't expect much!"
• "One visit is probably enough."
• "The gallery is OK for a small town as Aberdeen but nothing special at all."

Facilities & Accessibility

Pros:

• "The well stocked cafe adds to the welcoming ambience."
• "During covid there is an online booking process so you can select a time slot for admission."
• "Great place to go when you want to relax. It has been very well renovated and I like the added rooftop garden area looking out over Aberdeen."
• "The Café on the top floor provides stunning views and the effort put into cleaning it down between customers was massive and first rate."
• "With escalators and layout wheel chair accessible."
• "Free entry. Fully accessible."
• "Coffee shop serves beautiful coffee. And you can go out on the terrace to get super view over the gardens and great photo opportunity."

Cons:

• "The top floor extension is under utilised and unfortunately has BP blazoned on it."
• "Very poor exhibitions no marble statues and book the Piper alpha book has also gone in the war memorial room."
• "Also they hosted a private function during normal opening hours on a Saturday so access to some places was denied."
• "It's sad the the interactive features are no longer available due to Covid19 but hopefully there will be a new 'normal' soon."
• "Unfortunately, the open air terraces were closed."
• "Cafés a bit soulless and the gift shop looks like an afterthought."
• "There are, unfortunately, a few issues with the building, it was raining hard the day we were in and there were several leaking doors and roof."

Staff & Customer Service

Pros:

• "The staff throughout the building were wonderfully attentive and friendly."
• "Visited today for Zandra Rhodes exhibition (fabulous). Was with elderly mum and auntie. Staff went above and beyond to help us find a taxi home."
• "The staff is the best: super friendly, professional, and knowledgeable."
• "Staff are a credit to Aberdeen City Council; educated, enlightened, passionate and helpful."
• "Helpful assistance on site."
• "Friendly staff who advised us to stay inside because of the rain that was about to come outside."
• "Staff were very helpful in pointing out facilities."

Cons:

• "Staff are least warm, cafe staff are rude and hostile."
• "Really lovely gallery but as an exempt from mask wearing, challenged twice by staff who didn't take trouble to look at me from front where lanyard clearly visible."
• "POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXTREMELY POOR MANAGMENT."
• "Zero staff in view on arrival."
• "A wee bit more of a welcome would be good too."
• "Sadly coffee shop on floor 2 lets it down. Dirty tables, (we had to clear and wipe our own)."
• "Only 2 stars because we couldn't visit the gallery on its reopening day due to the security staff taking so long to check peoples bags."

Food & Beverages

Pros:

• "The food was lovely and you could tell the hollandaise was hand made not bought in."
• "Cafe was a lovely little pit stop too!"
• "The café is also excellent, really nice choice and all delicious."
• "Food in cafe good as usual."
• "Visited with my daughter today & we opted for afternoon tea in the cafe, presentation was wonderful & sandwiches, cakes & scones were absolutely delicious."
• "Had a coffee and cake to start although the lunch menu looked very exciting."
• "Another bigger restaurant on ground floor provides a wide range of lovely dishes."

Cons:

• "The cafe is disappointing, it looks very good and the food looks appetising, but it fails to deliver."
• "Visited the cafe on the first floor. Cakes disappointing!"
• "The cafe has nice coffee, yum cakes and good service but beware of cold stares from other guests as a person of color."
• "But the toilets need a little more attention in cleaning."
• "Nicely refurbished Gallery however for me it wasn't outstanding in any way."
• "Disappointed in VSA exhibit. No seating at video. No use if don't have QR code."
• "The Galloway hoard was disappointing as the few exhibits they had were in glass cases too big so you couldn't examine them."

Art & Exhibitions

Pros:

• "One of the best places in Scotland for any visitors who like arts,with so much see n very modernly designed,full of life."
• "I was delighted not to know what was going to be around each corner, and each room brought something else to be excited about!"
• "Each room of the gallery is themed, and has time-lines and activities you can follow."
• "This is my favorite museum."
• "Great selection of exhibits and useful information."
• "Wonderful art gallery. A nice mixture of classic and modern artworks."
• "The collection is fantastic, with both new and old pieces."

Cons:

• "Kids would probably be bored."
• "Quite a few interactive exhibits but not always obvious."
• "One visit is probably enough."
• "Not as good as many other art galleries throughout UK."
• "Whole galleries I can only describe as curatorial self indulgence I simply almost trotted through."
• "Some of the art was amazing and some of it, namely the 'modern' stuff was just dumb and looked like it could have been painted by a ten year old."
• "However the strict rules of no bags food or drink are pretty off putting."

Family & Accessibility

Pros:

• "Interactive things for kids to do and get involved."
• "A memorable trip and a lovely way to while away a few hours."
• "Very child friendly with prompts to provoke thought."
• "Beautiful building & great collection of works! Quite a lot to keep kids (and adults) interested with some interactive parts."
• "They utilise technology so well, with interactive screens, games, puzzles etc. for all ages."
• "The gallery is also great to bring your kids, they have lots of puzzles, different things that kids can touch."
• "It's really kid friendly, they have boxes of toys in some of the upstairs room, which is magic."

Cons:

• "Kids would probably be bored."
• "Aberdeen art gallery is nice place to visit if you like modern art and sculptures. But kids won't enjoy much if you are taking them along with you."
• "Nothing here captures the imagination."
• "Some of the art was amazing and some of it, namely the 'modern' stuff was just dumb and looked like it could have been painted by a ten year old."
• "Disappointed in VSA exhibit. No seating at video. No use if don't have QR code."
• "The interactive area is good though. One visit is probably enough."
• "Particularly stunning open terrace on the top floor giving good views of Aberdeen city centre."