Rebecca Mascarenhas’ Church Road closes ahead of plans for new concept

Rebecca Mascarenhas’ Church Road restaurant in London’s Barnes has closed ahead of plans to relaunch under a new concept.

Mascarenhas originally opened the site as Sonny’s in 1986 and it became a much-loved neighbourhood favourite.

In 2014 chef Phil Howard, of Michelin-starred the Square, joined her as co-owner and the pair relaunched the restaurant as Church Road in 2019.

However, Church Road closed on 18 August and will reopen as HomeSW13 in mid-September.

Mascarenhas has handed over the reins of the restaurant to Craig Gordon, who runs the HomeSW15 restaurant in Putney, and Church Road’s general manager Alan Perry.

Details of the new restaurant are yet to be announced but sister site HomeSW15 in Putney is known for its Sunday roasts and weekend brunches, which include a ‘Messy Nessie’ breakfast with haggis and potato cake, sausage patty, crispy bacon, black pudding, poached egg and hollandaise.

Mascarenhas retains sole ownership of Italian restaurant Flour + Water in Putney. 

She also owns Michelin-starred Elystan Street in Chelsea and Kitchen W8 in Kensington in partnership with Howard.