300 guitars to pick up, sling over your shoulder, and play for free.
It sounds like a 15-year-old's dream (and let's face it, a 51-year-old's too) — and that's how the Gibson Garage plans to lure London's strummers, noodlers and sundry other axe-wielders through the doors, when it opens for business later this February.
This is the second immersive showroom from the guitar-making giants (the original is in Nashville), and as well as inviting you to live out your Jimi Hendrix/Belinda Butcher/Nigel Tufnel fantasies on the guitar of your choice, a downstairs stage hosts weekly live performances, showcases, and panel discussions from musicians — plus there's a revolving exhibition gallery, beginning with the works of rock 'n' roll photographer, Gered Mankowitz.
Of course, they'll also hope to shift a few guitars; those with the cash will be able to design made-to-measure guitars in the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab, although we'd recommend taking a few lessons before making that kind of investment.
Situated on Eastcastle Street, just around the corner from Oxford Street, the Gibson Garage should help further revive the area's musicality — given that HMV has recently reopened too.
Oh, and we're just going to leave this here:
Gibson Garage, 61-62 Eastcastle Street, open 24 February 2024
