Speculation grows about the fate of other local establishments

The recession has hit Chiswick early in the New Year with the closure of one High Road restaurant and the apparent demise of another.

Brasserie Gerard has closed following the collapse of parent company Paramount Restaurants which went into administration at the end of last year. There are 32 restaurants in the chain and although the administrators are keeping some of them open, the Chiswick branch was not one of those chosen.

Another favourite, Balans, which was popular with locals for its ourdoor area, has also apparently closed. It is not yet known how many jobs will be affected.

The closures come only a few months after another eatery, French Kitchen, bid goodbye to Chiswick, and Cafe Rouge has aleady been "identified for disposal as it no longer considered suitable for the brand" by the company that owns it. There are reports that a long-established family-run cafe on the High Road is up for sale.

However, rumours that Wetherspoons is set to open a branch in Chiswick have been denied by the company.

In the retail sector, the failure of the camping goods group Black puts a question mark of the operation of its store on the High Road though at the time of writing it was still open.

January 6, 2012