The paintings and the ceiling sculpture in the restaurant were created for The Don by the late John Hoyland, RA, described in the Sunday Telegraph as "Britain's leading modern abstract artist". Shortly after his outstandingly successful Retrospective at the Royal Academy at the end of 1999, John flew to Oporto to visit George Sandeman. Standing beneath the Sign of the Don, which was then still hanging in the Oporto cellars, John tasted the complete range of ports and sherries that Sandeman produces and was thus inspired.

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