Chiswick Fire Station
An old firehouse-turned exciting eatery
Chiswick High Road is a relatively long stretch of road, where you can find all sorts of shops and restaurants along there: high-end supermarkets, mid-value clothing stores, that indie bookstore down the street – pretty much anything. But there exists a separate road, still with the same road name, and with the same style of shops. This patch of road serves as a microcosm of what the High Road has to offer, and this restaurant is exactly that.
The old, unused fire station has been revamped and recently reopened, showcasing an ‘independent neighbourhood’ bar and restaurant. First impressions are somewhat elevated – literally. The restaurant was built on a raised level, and there’s parking on that level as well. It gave the feeling of separation from the hectic main road, yet still being a part of Chiswick at the same time. The food: exceptional. A wide range of choices at reasonable prices show why it’s gaining so much traction over a short period of time. It depends on what time of day you enter the place, but there are a few immediate observations when you first arrive.
If you are entering during the day, or at least when there’s still light outside, you’ll find that the place is built to allow as much natural light to come through. The walls are painted white, the tables painted white, the whole aesthetic is white. Having lunch here brings that feeling of innocence and purity to the whole affair. Pop in for a cocktail, and the whole experience makes you leave feeling refreshed.
Moreover, the atmosphere twists itself when it gets darker outside. The diminishing light outside can no longer accentuate the décor, and so they replace natural with artificial light in the form of candles. The flickers provide a seamless backdrop to a relaxing evening – the addition of booths allow for that chilled vibe for unwinding at the end of the day. It’s very rare that atmospheres can intertwine with one another in the same restaurant. The designs are contemporary: no fuss, no embellishments to distract customers – just let the food do the talking.
It is the fourth opening from Darwin and Wallace, a partnership to give a collection of independent restaurants, located in ‘iconic London villages’. Started in 2012, each of their locations are individually designed, and it shows: a minimalist style with futuristic sensibilities – neon signs hang at various places to give that added dimension. Having recently opened in April, the creators have definitely breathed new life into this old station – talk about fire.
197-99 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR
