THE HAPPIEST OF GOODBYES FROM REBECCA MASCARENHAS

April 2nd 1986 seems like yesterday. That was the day Sonny’s opened and I started my career as a restaurateur. In my mind, moving to Barnes was like moving to the country but I took a leap of faith that Barnes would be my home.

Sonny’s was named after my father, my mother remortgaged her house to help fund it and my husband, James worked alongside me. It was a family affair.  James and I moved in above the restaurant and worked harder than we could have imagined to bring an idea to life – that of an excellent neighbourhood restaurant just as good as anywhere you would have to travel to central London to visit.

We served brasserie-style modern British food and decorated the walls with the art we loved, and, gratifyingly, people came and became regular guests and friends.

One of my proudest achievements is that we have several families that continue to dine with us in varying combinations of grandchildren, children and grandparents (now some great grandchildren) – all having a good time in my restaurant. We have held christenings, communions, bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes and almost every birthday milestone that you can think of.

Over 38 years, Sonny’s became Sonny’s Kitchen and then Church Road, and we’ve been the favourite restaurant of generations of Barnes families and welcomed guests from music divas to movie stars and politicians. The only time I became star struck was when Placido Domingo came for lunch.

Looking through old reviews, it’s lovely to see that they were nearly always kind, and digging around through old files the other day I found one from around the time Prince William broke up with Kate Middleton – the reviewer felt that the split would have been avoided if only they’d come to Sonny’s!

This August I’m stepping away from Church Road but I’m really happy to say that I’m passing on the torch to two brilliant young restaurateurs both of whom have worked for me for years. They’re taking the reins. It’s time for a new generation – it’s going to be their show, and their story.

Church Road will close its doors this week – Sunday lunch will be our last service, and the restaurant will be transformed into a new neighbourhood restaurant, with the same ethos that we applied 38 years ago. I do hope that you will support them with the same gusto and generosity shown to me.

It opens in September and is going to be a very exciting addition to Barnes.

All that remains for me to say is thank you for being brilliant, regular guests, and to hope that you will love the new restaurant just as much as Church Road.

We’ll send out details of what’s to come soon, but for now, it’s the happiest of goodbyes from me.

Rebecca Mascarenhas

P.S. If you’ve got voucher for Church Road, it will be honoured at the new restaurant, or I’ll happily refund it. Existing bookings will also be honoured, and we’ll be in touch with anyone who has booked for beyond this Sunday.