Francis Iles Galleries
Francis Iles Galleries
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
27 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
13
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
1
futtock21
London, UK17,277 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
It’s an art supply shop and framing service downstairs and several separate rooms exhibiting art on the two floors above. There’s even art on the staircases. Its strengths lie both in championing the work of Kentish artists and contemporary Russian work. Individual rooms exhibit work by three or more artists at a time. In the upper rooms I found browsers containing prints and etchings by Kentish and Russian artists alike at very appealing prices. Entrance to the shop and gallery alike is carefully controlled; indeed the staircase to the upper galleries is roped off to ensure no more than a couple of visitors are present at any given time.
Written August 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandygranny
Sandy, UK921 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
While walking down the High Street in Rochester we went in and had a wander round and found the items on display very interesting.
Francis Iles is a family business in Rochester and the premises enjoy listed status for their historical interest. The Art & Craft Works was once part of the old Leonards department store. Hidden behind the tall shelves at the front of the shop, the Art Deco wall tiles still remain from Leonard's Dairy. The original black and white floor tiles date from that period, and are still in use today.
There is a wide range of artworks including original paintings by quality contemporary artists from all around the UK and Europe and they specialise in offering personal advice and guidance on framing and restoration services.
The staff were friendly and pleasant and there was one very helpful lady who explained some of the exhibits to us.
Although we liked some of the paintings we viewed, most of them were quite expensive so we did not buy anything on this occasion.We also saw some lovely ceramics, glass and jewellery on display.
Francis Iles is definitely worth a visit if you are in Rochester.
Francis Iles is a family business in Rochester and the premises enjoy listed status for their historical interest. The Art & Craft Works was once part of the old Leonards department store. Hidden behind the tall shelves at the front of the shop, the Art Deco wall tiles still remain from Leonard's Dairy. The original black and white floor tiles date from that period, and are still in use today.
There is a wide range of artworks including original paintings by quality contemporary artists from all around the UK and Europe and they specialise in offering personal advice and guidance on framing and restoration services.
The staff were friendly and pleasant and there was one very helpful lady who explained some of the exhibits to us.
Although we liked some of the paintings we viewed, most of them were quite expensive so we did not buy anything on this occasion.We also saw some lovely ceramics, glass and jewellery on display.
Francis Iles is definitely worth a visit if you are in Rochester.
Written January 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isobel B
Chatham, UK97 contributions
Sep 2019
I always visit this shop if I want gifts, cards etc which are a little bit different. There is such a lovely selection to choose from. The staff are always friendly and helpful. It is a little bit more expensive than some other shops but worth the extra cost and always worth a browse.
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FDReviews
Kent, UK12 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
Beautiful building, some fab artwork with cute items in the shop but the owner made me feel as though she was looking down at me and was not very helpful. I may have caught her on a busy day and the staff seemed friendly. The art is worth a look at if this is of interest to you because it is very good. Might give this place another go as it may have been a one off.
Written March 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LEditSE1
4 contributions
Dec 2015 • Business
I have never felt as unwelcome in an art gallery as here. I will not be visiting again and the owner/s will never receive my patronage.
Written November 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deadbeatdave
surrey62 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
There was a great warm welcome to the Gallery and enthusiastic staff at the desk and in the main galleries. An amazing collection of works by Roland Hilder - some of which were a great temptation to buy; and works by Mike Chaplin of WaterColour Challenger fame. The Russian paintings revealed how far standards have fallen since the collapse of the Soviet Union - they may be decorative, but they seem to a collector of Soviet Art, to be gaudy and derivative. The lady who was on that floor was very dismissive of the Soviet tradition (which does back to the fine art days of the 18th and 19th century) and was condescending to a couple who had bought a Roland Hillier only a couple of months earlier.
She succeeded in undermining the good work done by her colleagues. So - great art for sale with some friendly staff and at good prices. But look out for she who is trying to push you into purchases. We went away empty handed
She succeeded in undermining the good work done by her colleagues. So - great art for sale with some friendly staff and at good prices. But look out for she who is trying to push you into purchases. We went away empty handed
Written August 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stella r
10 contributions
Jul 2019
Went to the town walked shopped had a bite to eat. Yes it was ok, would not say it was the best place I’ve ever been too but fine for a change
Written November 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sah52
Trowbridge, UK332 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
The art gallery is now upstairs on one side of the street with a lovely gift shop underneath. Whereas the crafts are now in the shop on the opposite side of the road.
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay1048
Maidstone, UK42 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
Some original gifts and greeting cards as well as art work. Always buy a stock of cards here when I visit.
Written October 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
futtock21
London, UK17,277 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
Apart from three impressive paintings in the window, little in the ground floor shop selling cards and general knick-knackerie prepares one for the quality of the art in the gallery above. It's almost two galleries in one focusing as it does not only on works by local artists from this century and the last but also artists of Russia, some, like Katya Gridneva, who live here in the U.K., others like the Vodka-sounding Andrey Smirnov, live in Russia. The current exhibition paiting works by Jeremy Sanders with Nicolai Romanov rather sums up this duality. Frances Iles also has an art shop opposite. For those who cannot easily get to Rochester the gallery exhibits in many fairs in London and elsewhere around the country.
Written June 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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