Promises a 'destination' restaurant with stunning river views

An artist's impression of the area

Sam Harrison is to open a new restaurant early next year in the Riverside development in Hammersmith.

The 4,000 square foot brasserie will be called Sam's Riverside, and will have views of the Thames from every table as well as an outdoor terrace.

Speaking to chiswickw4.com before today's announcement, Sam said the new venture would be "a grown up version of Sam's Brasserie' and would be vibrant, glamorous and destinational. He hopes to open next January or February.

It is understood he has the backing of west London investors including a number from Chiswick, who are "well known" in the hospitality industry. Rick Stein is not involved in his new venture.

Sam's Riverside will be located in the heart of the new development close to Hammersmith Bridge where Riverside Film Studios and Queen's Wharf project is underway.

"It will be a place where you can come and have fish pie and a glass of wine for a £20 lunch but then come on another occasion and have cocktails and a fantastic meal with wine and spent £100," said Sam.

The restaurant will also feature a cocktail bar and will have a similar footprint to his former Chiswick restaurant, with about 90 covers inside and up to forty outside. He said the interior design would be "elegant", with a distinctive cocktail bar and open kitchen. A main feature would be large floor-to-ceiling widows to take advantage of the views. Works by local artists will hang on the walls.

"We want it to be the most glamorous restaurant in west London," he said.

The new 90,000 sq ft Riverside Studios will have much improved facilities including three studios for television, theatre, dance, opera, music and comedy, a 200 seat cinema and screening room, a community & rehearsal area and a greatly enhanced public entertainment facility including a local events and entertainment space. There'll be a new cinema foyer with its own bar and a permanent exhibition.

The building will have its own bakery, the brasserie, and a fine dining restaurant each with their own bar.

The river walkway in front of Riverside Studios and Queen's Wharf means the public can walk beside the river all the way from Barnes Bridge to Craven Cottage.

The new Riverside Studios will inhabit most of the ground floor and parts of the basement, first and second floors. The remainder of the building will be apartments.

Sam Harrison spent ten years in Chiswick and Balham before deciding to move on. The Chiswick restaurant premises in Barley Mow was taken over by Will Beckett of the Hawksmoor steak remains vacant.

After taking a break in the Cotswolds, Sam decided to return to London and said he searched for a long time for a suitable venue. He had ruled out returning to Chiswick and felt the Riverside offered a unique site.

"I was sorry to leave Chiswick, it had been my home for ten years. But I hope people from Chiswick will come to Sam's Riverside and we look forward to welcoming them."

May 14, 2018