The Harlot's Progress Is Slow

New restaurant on the High Road postpones opening until next year

The interior could look similar to their latest pub in Maida Vale

The Harlot, the much anticipated new restaurant and bar opening at 210 Chiswick High Road will not be serving customers until the new year.

Award-winning Henry Harris, the chef-director associated with the project, has told us that due to 'building issues which were outside their control' the opening has been been pushed back to January. Henry says they are very disappointed.

Henry Harris

This is the second postponement for the restaurant. Originally the were reportedly hoping to launch in April then targeted a July opening hoping for an improved trading situation for local restaurants by this point.

Henry Harris, formerly of Racine in Chelsea, told ChiswickW4.com earlier this year that The Harlot will offer a seven-day a week, all-day menu, from morning to breakfasts, onto casual or formal lunches and dinners. Private dining will also be available. The pub expects to cater for 100-120 covers.

The provocative new name for the former police station, was inspired by William Hogarth's eighteenth-century series of prints, The Harlot's Progress, and the decor will reflect Chiswick's historical heritage.

The drinks menu will include cocktails, Fuller's Pride, and a range of beers from family-run breweries. Wines will range from Old World names to up-and-coming vineyards. They will also offer grower champagnes from independent producer and a wide selection of spirits and apéritifs.

The pub is the fourth opening from Harcourt Inns, a collection of four pubs with dining rooms set up by Henry Harris together with business partner James McCulloch. Their most recent opening was The Hero of Maida Vale.

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.

The Harlot will still retain most the previous layout for the dining areas, with the main change being the relocation of the bar to free up the lobby area to be of more use as a pub. The decor is likely to feature mahogany tables and chairs, leather banquette seating, antique mirrors, and artworks which reflect Chiswick, all being put together by interior designer Liana Braune. The colours and feel will reflect the history and the origin of the building, said Henry.

The two original police cells will be used for wine storage and a room facing onto the Windmill Road side may be retained for private dining.

Work on the upstairs room, formerly a function room, was already scheduled to be completed after the opening. The open air dining space in the courtyard will be linked to a comfortable dining room with banquettes with foldback doors and a retractable awning.

Local company Wheelers will carry out any planting and landscaping The manager of the pub will be Ruth Leigh (daughter of Rowley Leigh) who is formerly of Cafe Anglais.

November 2, 2018