An Evening With Sam Harrison at St Michael and All Angels

Start of a new season of fundraisers for The Upper Room

Sam Harrison. Picture: Ryan O’Donoghue

February 17, 2026

The first “Evening With…” event of the year will welcome one of West London’s most admired restauratent owners, Sam Harrison.

The event, which takes place on Thursday 12 March, is being held in support of The Upper Room, the local charity that provides essential services for people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and social isolation.

Sam Harrison has been a central figure in the West London restaurant scene for more than twenty years. Many local residents will remember the excitement that surrounded the opening of   Sam’s Brasserie  in Chiswick in 2005, a venture launched with the encouragement of his mentor, Rick Stein. The restaurant quickly became a neighbourhood favourite.

Sam’s professional journey has included both significant achievements and personal challenges. After stepping away from the industry in 2015 due to physical and mental health difficulties, he made a determined return in 2019 with the launch of   Sam’s Riverside  at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The timing proved extraordinarily difficult. Within months, the pandemic forced the new restaurant to close, resulting in a sudden and severe loss of income. Against considerable odds, the business survived and has since established itself as one of West London’s leading dining destinations.

Since then, Sam’s portfolio has continued to grow. He has opened   Sam’s Waterside  in Brentford, two   Sam’s Kitchen cafés in Hammersmith and Chiswick, and   Sam’s Larder, a delicatessen at Riverside Studios that showcases many of the artisan foods, wines and spirits used across his restaurants. Sam speaks passionately about West London, the restaurant industry and the importance of sourcing exceptional produce from local growers, including Chiswick House Kitchen Garden and Phoenix Farm in White City. He is also a committed supporter of mental health causes and has raised funds for the Charlie Waller Trust through his businesses.

For this special fundraising event, Sam will be in conversation with Jo Pratt, the award-winning food writer, cook and presenter. Jo has worked alongside some of the UK’s most respected chefs, including Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and John Torode. Together, they will explore Sam’s career, the stories behind his restaurants and his perspective on food, community and resilience.

The event will take place at St Michael & All Angels, Chiswick, with   doors opening at 7.30pm and the conversation beginning at   8pm. It is expected to finish at approximately 10pm. Tickets are priced at   £20, and an Earlybird discount of 25% is available for bookings made before   midnight on 16 February  by entering the code   EARLYBIRD. Each ticket includes a complimentary snack and a glass of prosecco provided by Sam’s Riverside, along with a 20% discount voucher  for Sam’s Waterside.

Book now for the Sam Harrison event

Following the Sam Harrison evening, The Upper Room has confirmed two further events in its 2025 “Evening With…” series, each bringing a different strand of arts, media and cultural insight to the community.

On Thursday 16 April, the BBC’s Health Editor Hugh Pym will join Torin Douglas for an in-depth conversation drawing on more than two decades of reporting on politics, economics, public spending and the NHS. Known to millions for his calm, authoritative analysis on BBC News, Hugh brings a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how major health and policy stories are covered. Further information about this event will be released shortly.

The third event in the series welcomes actor Graham Seed and producer-director Denise Silvey. Graham is familiar to generations of listeners as the voice of Nigel Pargetter in The Archers, alongside a wide range of television and film roles. Denise is an acclaimed actress, director and producer, currently serving as Artistic Director of The Mousetrap. She is also producing A Thing of Beauty, starring Imogen Stubbs as Leni Riefenstahl, which runs at the Tabard Theatre from 25 February to 1 March. Further details about this event will also be announced soon.

All proceeds from these events will support the work of The Upper Room, helping the charity continue its vital services for vulnerable people across West London.