No 197 Chiswick Fire Station — London, UK

The latest installation on leafy, well-heeled Chiswick High Road is a part of the Darwin & Wallace coterie, which also includes No 11 Pimlico Road, No 32 The Old Town and No1 Duke Street in Richmond. No 197 Chiswick Fire Station is housed in the area’s former red brick fire station.
Inside, the cavernous core has been gutted and whitewashed by two local studios, Box 9 Design and Red Deer, who have cannily filled the space with artworks selected by The Hang Up Gallery, pendant lighting, terracotta tiles by Bert and May, handcrafted oak chairs and Instagrammable giant cacti.
Plush merlot and blush pink velour lounge chairs by The French House, soft tan leather cushion benches and steel grey velour stools perched around the central oval-shaped bar, results in a look that is more Los Angeles than London, though you can expect more than cashew cheese and nut butters here; substantial plates of chicken Caesar salad, steak and skinny fries, trout with samphire, pesto and peas run the gamut of British gastro fare while local roaster Caravan provides the coffee and the juices are by Sundance.
The wine list is well considered and the cocktails feature house-made infusions. The atmosphere is buzzy, the music loud and there’s a dainty brickwork courtyard out back that is crying out for summer gatherings.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
197-199 Chiswick High Road
-
Serious cyclists now have serious options, courtesy of two new models from Canyon
With two new bikes, the Endurace: ONfly e-bike and Endurance: AllRoad, Canyon is innovating with both price and performance
-
New members’ club Beihouse revives Beirut’s architectural heritage
Following the devastating 2020 explosion, three 19th-century homes in Gemmayzeh become a social hub balancing cultural memory with contemporary luxury
-
Aman New York unveils exclusive US Open-themed experience
Aman’s ‘Season of Champions’ pairs Grand Slam action with personalised recovery and performance treatments designed by Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova
-
Ready to unplug? Sign up for this digital detox retreat in Cornwall
Offline escape provider Unplugged has partnered with Cabilla Cornwall to offer a phone-free, nature-immersive group experience on Bodmin Moor
-
Anya Hindmarch’s Ice Cream Project is London’s tastiest (and weirdest) summer tradition
The cult pop-up has returned, transforming a Belgravia corner into a sleek, steel-clad shrine to British pantry nostalgia
-
The best bars in London for bartending greatness
From chic hotel cocktail classics to game-changing flavour combinations, our resident drinks correspondent, Neil Ridley, explores ten of the best bars in London
-
NoMad London’s new restaurant fast-tracks you to New York’s jazz age
Martin Brudnizki Design Studio conjures up old-world glamour at Twenty8 NoMad, where the menu features nearly as many martini variations as main courses
-
Italian-Japanese fusion’s a joy at east London’s Osteria Angelina
A Victorian warehouse in Spitalfields has been given a slick modern makeover to house a unique Italian-Japanese restaurant
-
This Hackney bar is reviving London’s legacy of lesbian spaces
Designed by Studio Popelo and Wet Studio, La Camionera emerges as a vital sanctuary for London’s FLINTA* community, honouring it right down to the details
-
Time-travel to the golden age of the cruise ship at Sea Containers London
The South Bank hotel celebrates its tenth anniversary with four new suites inspired by period cabin design, from Edwardian elegance to 1980s glamour
-
Twin Peaks’ Double R Diner is coming to London (for a day)
Mubi marks Twin Peaks’ 35th anniversary with pop-up diner and streaming release