West London's newest nightclub Gallery is opening 27th March, so we sat down with co-founder Barth Rougier to find out more about the opening and what it means for London's nightlife.

In the gloom of talks about London’s dying nightlife comes the opening of Gallery, a new nightclub on Kensington High Street that will be bringing East London’s gritty underground culture to the West. Brought to you by four founders Carlo Carello, Jake Parkinson-Smith, Steve Manktelow and Barth Rougier – the minds behind B Club – this new opening aims to give Londoners a space to enjoy electronic music at its core and provide a safe and welcoming space.

 

“With Gallery, I hope we can play a role in that evolution of giving up-and-coming artists a platform to be discovered and build their fan base,” Barth Rougier, the co-founder tells us. “More than that, I’d love for Gallery to inspire others, whether that’s someone deciding to start their own club one day or simply feeling drawn to join the industry because they’ve found a real passion for it.”

 

In addition to two club rooms, the venue also has a 360° concrete DJ booth, a Cuban bar, and a pizzeria. Here, he sits down with us to talk about London’s current nightlife climate, the moment he fell in love with nightlife, and the impact he hopes Gallery has on the industry.

What inspired your journey into the nightlife and music scene, and how has that shaped your vision for Gallery?

I fell in love with electronic music at a really young age. Growing up in France, incredible artists and leaders from the French touch movement such as; Daft Punk, DJ Mehdi, Bob Sinclar and Pedro Winter were all at center stage at the time and it inspired me. I was too young to even think about where I wanted to go with it, but I knew music was something I was passionate about.

 

At first, I wanted to be a DJ, but by 18, my path started shifting. I went to university for two weeks before deciding to drop out and diving into the club scene as a promoter. That led to artist management, then talent buying, and eventually, ten years later, to owning my own clubs. Looking back, I feel lucky that my love for electronic music evolved so naturally, it took me time for me to find where I truly belonged in the scene.

 

Being my second club, Gallery is shaped by so many different inspirations. The great thing about opening a second venue is that you learn from your first. You think about every detail and refine every aspect. You certainly try to learn from any mistake you’ve made previously. I’m lucky to have partners who share a similar passion and vision. We’re able to come together and continuously aim to create a new great experience every time. 

With London’s nightlife facing ongoing challenges, how do you see Gallery contributing to revitalising the city’s club scene, particularly in West London?

Since launching B Club two years ago, I’ve noticed a real shift in energy in West London. We’ve brought in some of the world’s biggest DJs, as well as rising and underground talent in a small boutique-club-size environment, something that hasn’t really happened in this area before. We’re constantly pushing boundaries and trying to bring something fresh to the scene.

 

There are incredible promoters and club entrepreneurs who share the same ambition as us, and what’s really exciting right now is seeing more collaboration between owners and key industry leaders. Instead of being in constant competition, I feel like there’s a growing sense of people wanting to work together. That’s what I hope Gallery can represent, an institution, a brand, and a space where people can come together, collaborate, and help shape the future of London’s nightlife.

West London’s club scene has often been seen as more polished and exclusive compared to East London’s underground culture. How do you plan to merge these two worlds with Gallery?

At Gallery, we’ll be operating on a season-by-season basis, with each season featuring a carefully curated program of artists. I want to be playful with it, pushing genre boundaries and keeping each season fresh and unique. I’m excited for people to see what we have planned.

 

This approach hasn’t been done in West London before. You see it at major clubs like Fabric, Village Underground, or E1, but there’s no reason why we can’t bring that kind of programming and energy to this side of the city. Every event will be ticketed and open to the public, ensuring that anyone who loves music and nightlife can be part of it.

The clubbing landscape has changed significantly in recent years. What do you think makes a successful club experience in 2025?

I truly believe that a great club experience comes down to good hospitality, creating an environment where people feel safe, can let go of their day-to-day stress and just have a good time. At the end of the day, we’re in the business of entertaining, and I think some industry leaders forget that.

 

We’ve all had experiences where we’ve walked up to a club and been treated poorly, whether it’s rude staff or an unwelcoming atmosphere. That, for us, is a big no. Everyone should be treated with respect, and we make sure all our staff embrace that mindset. We want our customers to feel like they are part of our family, like they’re coming to a home away from home.

 

That’s how we’ve run B Club from day one, and it’s clear that people love coming back because they feel good the moment they walk through our doors. Of course, things like sound quality and production matter, but above all, hospitality is what makes a club truly successful.

From house to hip-hop, London’s music scene is incredibly diverse. How are you planning to celebrate that range at Gallery? What genres, sounds, or artists can we expect to hear?

Our club room is designed to deliver an incredible experience, with a top-tier sound system and immersive lighting visuals. We’re focusing on a wide range of house music, from classic, tech house to minimal, disco house, and deep house. I haven’t set any boundaries when it comes to house music, so we’re open to exploring different sounds and styles within the genre.

 

The main club room, which we’re calling Room 1, will be the heart of the energy, while Room 2 will have more of a lounge-bar vibe. In there, we’ll be hosting DJs playing a broader mix of sounds, from open-format sets to more diverse genres. The goal is to create a space where people can experience different styles of music under one roof, keeping things fresh and exciting every night.

Are there particular music movements, artists, or club spaces that have influenced the club’s aesthetic and vibe?

I’ve always loved underground clubs, their industrial feel, the raw energy, and the way the focus is purely on the music rather than the decor. That’s something we’ve really embraced at Gallery.

 

We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from clubs like Fabric’s Room 2, which is one of my personal favourites. Our club room is intentionally simple and raw, designed to let the music take centre stage.

You’ve described Gallery as “an experience like never before”. What elements of the club’s design, music programming, or atmosphere do you believe will create that uniqueness?

I think people love going to a place where every visit feels different, where there’s always something new to discover. A lot of clubs can feel one-dimensional, but at Gallery, we’ve created multiple experiences under one roof.

 

We have four distinct spaces; a main club room, a Cuban lounge & cocktail bar, a secret studio room, and even a hidden pizzeria. We want people to move freely between these spaces, whether they’re looking to sit back and relax in the lounge, dance to their favourite DJ, or grab a pizza at 3 AM.

 

It’s all about giving people options and making sure every night at Gallery, feels unique.

The 360° concrete DJ booth sounds very immersive – what inspired this design choice, and how do you see it shaping the energy of the club’s dancefloor?

Our love for DJ performances was the main inspiration behind this design. From the start, we knew we wanted to create a space where the DJ was truly at the centre of attention.

 

I’ve always loved intimate gigs, and I know DJs do too. They thrive on feeling connected to the crowd, and that’s exactly what this setup allows. By placing the DJ booth in the centre, completely surrounded by the audience, we’re creating an immersive and interactive experience. It breaks down barriers between the artist and the crowd, making for more special moments on the dancefloor.

What’s been your most memorable clubbing experience and how has it influenced what you’re creating with Gallery?

I’ve had so many memorable clubbing experiences, but one that really stands out was when I was 18 at a techno club in Berlin. It was a defining moment for me, the first time I truly discovered and fell in love with the underground scene.

 

I remember watching people raving by themselves, which, at the time, really surprised me. Now, it makes perfect sense, but back then, it opened my eyes to how freeing electronic music can be. It showed me that a club isn’t just a place to party, it’s a space where people can feel completely themselves, without judgment.

 

That’s exactly what I want Gallery to be, a home away from home. Just like those solo ravers in Berlin, I want people to walk into Gallery and feel like they belong, whether they’re with friends or on their own to enjoy the music.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of London’s nightlife, and how do you see Gallery contributing to that evolution?

I’m excited to see more emerging artists coming out of London and to witness the next wave of talent shaping the city’s music scene. I’m also hearing about exciting plans from industry peers, with more clubs set to open, which makes me feel like London is entering a new chapter for nightlife.

 

With Gallery, I hope we can play a role in that evolution of giving up-and-coming artists a platform to be discovered and build their fan base. More than that, I’d love for Gallery to inspire others, whether that’s someone deciding to start their own club one day or simply feeling drawn to join the industry because they’ve found a real passion for it.