Too many exhibits and not enough souvenirs, says Brian Sewell (not)

The sense of humour of our esteemed art critic Brian Sewell seems lost on the British Museum. Speaking at the Oxford Literary Festival, Sewell criticised galleries and museums for having too many shops and restaurants.

“To get into the National Gallery from the Charing Cross Road side you must go through two restaurants,” he said. “Museums and galleries are all about making money. I’ve just been to an advance showing of the Pompeii/Herculaneum exhibition at the British Museum and jokingly suggested a few more souvenir items to the shop assistant. She took it seriously and thanked me.”