13/10/26

Review of Brook & Green in Chiswick

From the refined world of Silver Birch to the more relaxed, all-day appeal of Brook & Green, this Chiswick address has entered a new chapter, one that brings together thoughtful cooking, welcoming hospitality and a rather lovely sense of ease. There is something particularly appealing about a restaurant that knows how to be sophisticated without making a fuss about it. Brook & Green, the new incarnation of the former Silver Birch restaurant in Chiswick, has embraced a more relaxed approach to dining, without losing the attention to detail that makes a meal feel special.

The name itself is a nod to its location between Chiswick’s Turnham Green and Stamford Brook, and the concept feels very much in keeping with the neighbourhood.

Open throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner, it is designed to be somewhere you can pop in for a coffee, linger over lunch or settle in for a leisurely evening. We visited for lunch, keen to see how this new chapter was taking shape. The interiors strike a pleasing balance between modern industrial and understated elegance. Warm timber, natural tones and comfortable seating soften the contemporary architecture, while the exposed cream-coloured ceiling ducting is a particularly wonderful feature. Rather than something to conceal, it has become an architectural detail in its own right, lending character and a little unexpected drama to the room.

There is a warmth to the space that makes it feel inviting rather than overly designed, somewhere equally suited to a morning coffee, a business lunch or dinner with friends. We also had the pleasure of meeting owner Tim Price, whose personal involvement is very much part of the restaurant’s charm. Present to meet and greet guests, he takes a genuine interest in their comfort and enjoyment. It is a lovely touch, and one that feels increasingly rare. Tim previously opened Silver Birch in 2020, and his ambition with Brook & Green is to create a restaurant that becomes part of the everyday life of Chiswick rather than somewhere reserved solely for special occasions.

And then, of course, there was the food. We began with a selection of smaller plates, including Korean glazed chicken, char-grilled and coated in a rich gochujang glaze, with sesame, spring onion and pickled cucumber providing freshness and crunch. It was a satisfying combination of sweet heat and savoury depth. But the dish that really captured my attention was the crispy artichoke with Parmesan and lemon aioli. Confit baby artichokes, fried until beautifully crisp, arrived with finely grated Parmesan, a sharp lemon aioli, parsley and mint. It was absolutely incredible. The contrast between the delicate artichoke, crisp exterior and wonderfully tangy aioli was irresistible. I could quite happily have ordered another plate and called it lunch. Sometimes it is the simplest-sounding dishes that leave the biggest impression, and this was certainly one of them.

For our main courses, we chose two comforting classics. The chicken schnitzel was made with panko-crumbed chicken, served with lemon aioli, peppery rocket and shaved Parmesan. Generous, crisp and reassuringly familiar, it was exactly the sort of dish that suits the restaurant’s relaxed approach.

The bavette steak frites came with Café de Paris butter and hand-cut chips. A classic pairing that needs little embellishment, with the richly flavoured butter providing that extra touch of indulgence. Alongside, we shared a chopped salad of mixed leaves, avocado and toasted seeds, finished with a sherry vinaigrette, a welcome fresh counterpoint to the richer dishes.

What I particularly liked about the menu was its lack of pretension. There are plenty of interesting flavours and thoughtful combinations, but nothing feels unnecessarily complicated. It is food you actually want to eat, rather than simply admire. Brook & Green also places an emphasis on seasonal British ingredients, with produce sourced from smaller growers, higher-welfare meat and fresh fish from the south coast. It is an approach that feels entirely appropriate for a contemporary neighbourhood restaurant.

The transition from Silver Birch’s more formal fine-dining experience to this accessible, all-day offering feels like a thoughtful evolution. There is still a sense of refinement, but the atmosphere is noticeably more easy-going. And perhaps that is exactly what makes Brook & Green so appealing. With its handsome interiors, genuinely welcoming owner and a menu that combines familiar favourites with a little culinary flair, Brook & Green has all the makings of a much-loved neighbourhood address.

As for me, I already know what I shall be ordering when I return. Those artichokes have rather stayed on my mind.

Address: 142 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1PU

For more information or to book a table, click here.

Words and food photos by Claire Bloom

Interior photography courtesy of Brook & Green

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The Crystal Maze Live Experience - Review

Sep 26, 2024

3 min read

7 friends stand in a room with childlike grins. A screen playing nostalgic snippets of Richard O’Brian’s sardonic humour feeds the excited anticipation of what’s to come. “Oh he was good” affirms one of the team as we nervously laugh at the misfortunes of contestants before us.

“Hello contestants” booms a joyful voice, commanding our attention, who turned out to our very own maze master. The absence of O’Brian’s eccentricity is made up by the warmth, confidence and charm of our guide who puts the team immediately at ease.

Safety formalities are covered first, each subsequent question adds a little extra memory of the TV show. “What’s your name and what strengths will you bring to the team?” Our eagerness turns to an unusual form of humility as we each replace overt confidence with self deprecating humour (perhaps an underpromise & overdeliver tactic). Who is your team captain? I am put forward and then, my first responsibility is choosing a team name. With one comrade unable to make the evening I semi-jokingly blurt “Team Missing Member” It sticks and we are ready.

The sound system springs to life, our ears are filled with the dramatic theme tune that makes you feel like you are actually in the show. The Maze Master Beckons “off to the Medieval Zone” and so it begins, we have entered The Crystal Maze Live Experience.

We semi-jog to our first zone, beaming, hooting and da-da-da…ing to the theme tune. On arrival, we are reminded that there are 4 types of games, Skill, Mental, Mystery and Physical, and that as team captain I am responsible for picking a contestant for each game. You soon realise that the evening is as much a test of how well you know your friends as it is playing the game, a great team-building exercise.

Our first crystal is won on the first game with the “mental challenge” being smashed and we are off to a good start, buying ourselves 5 seconds of time in the crystal dome finale. We proceed through each zone, from medieval to aztec to futuristic to industrial, solving puzzles, climbing walls, pulling pulleys, and hitting targets. The set design is on-point and really contributes to an immersive and realistic experience. The team surrounds each room, shouting instructions and supports whoever is inside, as we all come to terms with the fact that it all looked a lot easier from the comfort of your own armchair. Four zones and 16 games later we emerge with a respectable - and according to our Maze master - totally average score of 7 crystals and 0 people locked in a room, buying us 35 seconds in the crystal dome.

It’s the finale, the moment we have been building up to, the chance to collectively shine. The whistle blows and the familiar silver and gold bits of foil are flung into the air. 'Team Missing Member' frantically scurrys around the dome, plucking tickets out of the air - which is actually much harder than you would think - and there are more screams of excitement than a child’s soft play centre.

Team Missing Member emerges from the crystal dome victorious, with 132 tokens which we are told is totally average, yay team average. I’m not actually sure if there are many ways not to reign victorious in the Crystal Maze Live Experience, it’s 75 minutes of pure immersive, nostalgic, team-building fun and however many shiny tickets you manage to shove in a letterbox, it’s the taking part that counts (says the person who won 0 crystals).

Grab some friends, and go have some fun in The Crystal Maze. you won’t regret it.

The Crystal Maze Live Experience standard tickets start from £62 per person and can be purchased on their website https://the-crystal-maze.com

Address: 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Ave, London, W1D 7EU

Written by Rick Hartley

Photography courtesy of Crystal Maze