New 'Grown Up' Brasserie Set to Open Alongside Riverside Studios
Former Chiswick restaurateur will launch Sam's Riverside early next year
An artist's impression of the area
A new 'destinational' brasserie called Sam's Riverside is due to open at the beginning of 2019 alongside the redeveloped Riverside Studios in Queen's Wharf, close to Hammersmith Bridge.
The 4,000 square foot brasserie, which will have views of the Thames from every table as well as an outdoor terrace, is being launched by Sam Harrison, who is well known in neighbouring Chiswick for his local restaurant, Sam's Brasserie.
Sam says his new venture will be "a grown up version of Sam's Brasserie" and will 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 spend £100," says 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 says the interior design will be "elegant", with a distinctive cocktail bar and open kitchen. A main feature will 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 has also been opened up for the first time in front of Riverside Studios and Queen's Wharf allowing the public to 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, while the remainder of the building consists of apartments.
Sam Harrison spent ten years in Chiswick and Balham before deciding to move on.
After taking a break in the Cotswolds, Sam decided to return to London and says he searched for a long time for a suitable venue. He ruled out returning to Chiswick and feels the Riverside offered a unique site.
"I was sorry to leave Chiswick, " he says. 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
