The Italians Closes Its Main Premises |
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Another blow for the High Road as popular venue shuts
December 15, 2025 The Italians has closed its main bakery and café on Chiswick High Road, with the shutters coming down on Monday 22 December. The closure affects the larger of its two neighbouring units — the double-fronted premises with the bakery, café seating and open preparation area. Its smaller wine bar and deli, located two doors down, continues to trade as normal. The departure marks the end of a popular presence on the High Road. The Italians first opened in Chiswick in 2016 and from the outset it positioned itself as a hybrid: part gourmet grocer, part neighbourhood bakery, part café. Freshly baked sourdough, focaccia and pastries were produced on site each morning, while the shelves were stocked with Italian staples — regional pastas, olive oils, cured meats, cheeses and wines. The café area, with around 25 covers, became a popular daytime stop for coffee, breakfast plates and simple lunches built around the bakery’s output. The future of the larger unit at 454–456 Chiswick High Road had been in question for several weeks. The lease has been advertised as available for over a month, and attempts to obtain confirmation from The Italians about its plans had gone unanswered. The closure is confirmed on the company's web site. Marketing materials describe the property as a “prominent double-fronted retail unit currently trading as an Italian gourmet store and Bakery Café”, arranged over ground and basement. The ground floor includes the café seating, bakery and food preparation areas, with additional storage and back-of-house rooms below. The listing seeks premium offers of around £40,000 for the leasehold interest, with a passing rent of £73,500 per year.
The unit falls under Use Class E and is fully fitted out for café or restaurant use, with extraction suitable for baking rather than heavy cooking. It also benefits from a premises licence for on- and off-sales of alcohol from 10:00 to 22:00 daily, and a pavement licence allowing outdoor tables and chairs from 07:00 to 23:00. The lease runs until 4 May 2026 and the rateable value is listed at £64,000. While the bakery café has now closed, The Italians’ smaller wine bar and deli remains open. That unit has long complemented the bakery by offering a more curated, evening-friendly space focused on wines, antipasti and specialist groceries.
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