Forum Topic

Another closure

Laurent's deli on Turnham Green Terrace seems to have closed. Stock cleared from shelves and chairs stacked. Still flagged as open on Google Maps.

Paul Charlton ● 1d12 Comments

The Upper Room talk/interview with Sam explained a lot but not all of how difficult the situation has been.  This is referred to in the front page article and also Andy Slaughter's Diary entry. I loved the Brasserie for office lunches - when I could herd a team together.  New potatoes haven't been the same since - they are now crushed new potatoes.  I also loved the interest in community work and opportunities - the vegetables from Chiswick House, the judging at Green Days and the winner's tips the reducing your kitchen waste competition - making sure you have three different recipes on hand when trying a new recipe because the original recipe you intend to try with a new ingredient may be too complicated for the time you have and you may end up needing to make something simpler so as not to waste that new ingredient.  (Well that's my memory of it!)  Seasonal food how it should be!

Philippa Bond ● 14m

I completely agree with Felicity on all counts.A very odd thing for Peter to have said. Shows a lack of understanding and, perhaps, empathy.As for the functionality and feasibility of the spaces in question, the amount of covers and turnover and offer are all part of the equation. There is also far more of an experience going to either the Hammersmith or Brentford location. No disrespect to Sam, but a cafe on TGT is another cafe on TGT plus there is no water view. I read an article in today's NY Times about local restaurants closing in the NY/NJ area where I'm from. The old maths was 40/60 food to alcohol. Alcohol sales have tanked. Non-alcoholic drinks cannot bring in the same revenue nor margin. So venues are struggling to keep up with ever rising costs especially given how younger generations are socializing. This will also be a factor here. Folks I know with pubs in town are seeing their once 100K takings on booze dwindle to a tenth of that.

David Lesniak ● 4h

You seem to have forgotten that there was a pandemic which also changed the way people behaved and where they went ie more shopping than eating out.

Philippa Bond ● 6h

Speculation on my part as Sam didn't specifically say at the talk last week, however the brasseries in Hammersmith and Brentford are a lot bigger than the TGT location so will have more covers and average spend per cover will be more than someone having a coffee and a pastry in Chiswick.Also, the Hammersmith and Brentford locations are new developments and there may have been good deals from the developers keen to get a prestigious anchor tenant to increase the attractiveness of the location for other tenants.

Michael Robinson ● 6h

Maybe, and this is just a guess, one factor might be that a place the size of Sam's Brasserie in Hammersmith is more affordable in Hammersmith than in Chiswick.

Andrew Jones ● 6h

In terms of rent etc.

Andrew Jones ● 6h

What’s the  reason Hammersmith and Brentford branches have allegedly done well and Chiswick has failed?

Steve Taylor ● 6h

Sam talked about some of his decisions at a charity event last week.  A caveat this summary may not capture the nuances of what he said.  He said he realised he wasn't good at retail hence closure of Brentford larder and the change of TGT location away from retail, but Hammersmith was still ok because it was small.TGT as a location has more competition for what Sams Kitchen provided.  He wanted to focus on the larger brasseries in Hammersmith and Brentford.  He didn't rule out having another one but it would need to be within a ~15 min e-bike ride of the other two as he was hands-on going around the locations most days.

Michael Robinson ● 7h

This is a very odd take on the situation and shows that you aren't really familiar with what happened. The closure of Sam's Brasserie was a complex matter and the decision to close wasn't taken on a whim. I believe Sam when he says he has a genuine affection for Chiswick and wanted to make a go of something here but he can't be expected to subsidise a loss-making venture for a customer base insufficient to make a location profitable. It's great, but not a surprise, to hear that the Hammersmith and Brentford restaurants are doing well.

Felicity Caborn ● 7h

I’m somewhat critical of Sam, who once had his popular Brasserie in Chiswick but then decided to close it and move elsewhere, and seems to be continuing this approach with opening and closing his Larders and Kitchens at will, with little apparent concern for his customers.

Peter Evans ● 17h

It must be a real struggle for any business to survive at the moment, not only increased costs but all the thefts as well, such a shame for High street stores everywhere.

Janice Evans ● 23h

Closed weeks, if not months ago, sadly.

Gordon McDonald ● 23h