Plans Submitted for New Restaurant on Carvosso's Site

Owners want al fresco dining area to take up part of pavement outside

Artist's impression of planned exterior

Plans have been submitted to Hounslow Council for work to take place on at 210 Chiswick High Road, the former site of Carvosso’s restaurant.

The new owners wish to make a number of external alterations to the existing building at an estimated cost of £1.64 million. These include the creation of a terrace and external seating area with awnings and modification of the bay window to create an opening to access the terrace. The exterior railings are to be removed to be replaced with low level planters.

The plans involve some encroachment onto the pavement at the corner of Chiswick High Road and Windmill Road. There is more pavement space at this spot following the recent removal of a mature tree. However, the proposal to build Cycle Superhighway 9 currently requires the pavement to be narrowed at this point to allow a bus lane to be built. The exterior seating would protrude 2.5 metres onto the pavement. The report submitted with the application states, “The footpath has generous width in this area and exterior seating will add to the high street atmosphere and vitality. Low level temporary planters are proposed to form a barrier between seating and footpath.”

A retractable Victorian style awning is proposed that would cover the exterior seating area

The application is being made by South West Leisure Ltd, which is the fundraising vehicle set up by Ducalian Capital, for investors in their Chiswick restaurant venture. They were aiming to raise £5million for the project but recently told investors that opening would be delayed until summer in expectation of better trading conditions. People associated with the company including former head chef for the Soho House group, Henry Harris, have been involved in the launch of three new gastro-pubs in London over the last few months, in Maida Vale, the City and Clerkenwell. The prospectus for investors in the venture names Mr Harris as being responsible for food and beverage at the Chiswick site.


Henry Harris

The Carvosso's site has a total area of almost 6,000 sq feet and is situated in a 17th century building that was converted from a former police station and stables into a large bar, two restaurant dining areas, a sitting room and four private function rooms, all wrapped around a stone courtyard.

Karen Liebreich of the Chiswick High Road Action Group said, Carvosso's is situated in an important Chiswick building and CHRAG was sad to see it close its doors recently. Chiswick High Road Action Group supports outdoor seating, however is concerned about the removal of the elegant railings at the front and side. CHRAG believes this could be retained whilst allowing for outdoor seating, even if this required making sensitive modifications to the railings."

March 24, 2018