What’s New
Brook & Badger
It was sad passing the vacant and run down looking site that was previously Locale and then the Fulham tavern on Munster Road, so we were delighted last November to see builders inside and a sign outside announcing the arrival of Brook & Badger. Eamon Manson, owner of Brook House, is a 30 year veteran of the local pub and restaurant scene, he opened the Pen in Parson’s Green in 1993, followed by the Sands End, Brown Cow and Cross Keys which he sold as a group in 2016. This time Eamon has joined forces with long term friend and pop art dealer Adrian Palengat, to work his magic in Fulham once again.
Urban Village LDN caught up with Eamon who told us “I’ve been looking for another location in Fulham. I didn’t want a site that would compete with Brook House so Munster Road was perfect. Size and aesthetic was also important and 222 ticked all those boxes. This time round I wanted to create a place that said “pub” but still delivered a beautifully curated interior and if I’m honest I think Brook and Badger has delivered on both. We opened in mid-December and have literally been full every night. Sundays sees 250+ coming for lunch. I feel this part of Fulham has been under served for many years. Until now there has been no social hub on Munster Road. My hope is the arrival of the Brook and Badger will encourage other small and boutique businesses to make this part of Fulham a village again”.
We’ve already been twice, to do some in depth investigation on your behalf of course, and we know, because you’ve told us, that you like an Urban Village LDN restaurant review. So here goes …on our first visit we were a little thrown by the entrance, don’t try the doors in front of you instead head to the left hand side of the building; it wasn’t just us we’ve seen others do it! The interiors are predominantly gorgeous shades of green with dark wood tables, floors and a beautiful wallpapered tree scape alcove in the dining area. To start with we tried the Whipped ricotta walnut, pomegranate molasses, pear with baby rocket and Roast beetroot goats cheese, hazelnut truffle pesto, apple balsamic dressing which we shared and deemed both to be equally delicious. For mains we had the whole plaice and Cottage Pie. Truth be told we did slightly struggle with the main course choices, we were looking for something lighter and would have loved a chicken option. Having said that both mains were full of flavour and left us sated and we’re sure they’ll be some lighter options in the summer.
On arrival the second time, the restaurant was bustling on a Friday night. We swerved starters because there weren’t many gluten free options for one of our guests and they didn’t fancy the salad options so we went straight to the mains. We opted for one of Brook & Badger’s pub classics, Hanger Steak with horseradish butter and fries (we’re not chimichurri fans which is the other option). The fries were incredible as was the quality of the steak we inhaled. Other pub classics include Chicken and Mushroom Pie, Beer batter Haddock and a Cheeseburger. The other two members of our party chose Pork chop with creamed sprouts, cranberries, chestnuts, bacon which features on the mains menu alongside Pumpkin risotto and Braised Venison. The portion size was met with approval and every morsel enjoyed.
The service was great even though it was so busy. On arrival our table wasn’t ready but that was explained to us and we were told it wouldn’t be long and it wasn’t. We loved the atmosphere and think, like Brook House, the combination of being a place where you can drop in for a pint, a glass or wine or two and some nibbles or alternatively have dinner is a great one . It makes it a good social option for a younger demographic of which there is a lot in this part of our urban village. We have to say we agree with the Brook & Badger claim to be “Munster Road’s missing ingredient”. We know from previous incarnations that the terrace is a great sun trap in summer but for now the terrace has heaters to get cosy under in winter temperatures. Our research didn’t extend to Sunday lunch but we’ve heard its phenomenal - guess what we’ll be checking out on our next visit!
Bricks 4 Kidz
Bricks 4 Kidz is a well established franchise in over 60 countries and now London has its first centre which opened here in Fulham a few weeks ago. The essence of Bricks 4 Kidz is that children are introduced to S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) from an early age through structured, play based learning experiences designed to support cognitive, social and creative development.
We headed off to the Munster Road to meet owners Rachel and Florian and find out more about their new venture. Rachel told us “both of us are from the South of France and whilst I was a graduate studying Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL in London I started a summer job at Bricks 4 Kids back home in France and loved it. After coming back to the UK I started work as a SEN teacher and was then offered a teacher apprentice role at which point Florian joined me here in the UK. The role was quite overwhelming and I found the strict and rigid structures at odds with the playful side of education that I’d previously experienced. I messaged Bricks 4 Kids to express interest in a franchise here in London and they responded straight away. I quit my job as a teacher last summer and we took the leap”.
Rather than a mobile businesses Rachel and Florian decided to chose bricks and mortar. They loved the feel of Fulham and it felt “meant to be” when they found a vacant site (previously an estate agent) opposite St John’s Walham school. Florian told Urban Village LDN “I ran a group in the South of France that involved activities for kids through schools and sports so I knew the pull of Lego was huge. We’re excited to be the first centre here in London and are keen to expand the business. Rachel continues “Fulham is such a wonderful community, we love it and the first few weeks of business has been great with lovely feedback and incredible word of mouth recommendation from parents”
Bricks 4 Kids also host birthday parties with different packages for 5+ and up, relaxed week end sessions, after school clubs and holiday camps. There’s also a French motorised building session twice a week. We were so impressed by Rachel and Florian’s positivity and excitement about opening their first Bricks 4 Kidz franchise here in Fulham. We really enjoyed meeting them and hearing about their shared passion for creative learning, commitment to creating a positive and engaging environment where children can learn and grow through play.
Sunny Spot
Sunny Spot is a Japanese inspired deli and café led by two chefs from Tokyo one of them, Kensuke Suzuki, worked for over five years in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Japan. They wanted their small Japanese food business to bring high-level, authentic Japanese food to the local Fulham community, without the need to travel into central London. Gendai one of the founders told Urban Village LDN “although we have experience working in fine Japanese restaurants in London, our training and foundations were built in Japan itself. This strongly influences how we cook from technique and flavour balance to respect for traditional methods. Our aim with Sunny Spot is to offer people in Fulham and Wandsworth the opportunity to enjoy genuinely authentic Japanese food at a level normally associated with central London restaurants, but in a more local, approachable, and affordable way. We want our food to be something people can enjoy regularly, as part of their everyday lives”.
Sunny Spot’s menu is designed to be enjoyed from lunch through to dinner with build your own bento-style boxes, Japanese comfort dishes such as chicken katsu curry, rice bowls, tempura, Sashimi, Udon and sushi. All their food, from sauces to desserts and drinks (including matcha) are homemade, which means they don’t serve ready-made or pre-prepared products. As well as eating in you can also order delivery from all the usual platforms.
Gendai told us “Fulham felt like the perfect match for Sunny Spot’s ethos. It’s a neighbourhood with a strong sense of community, health-conscious locals, and a great mix of families, professionals, and creatives. We wanted to open in an area where people genuinely value quality food, wellbeing, and independent businesses and Fulham naturally stood out. We loved the visibility, footfall, and the character of Wandsworth Bridge Road It feels like a growing local hub, and we saw an opportunity to bring something fresh and uplifting to the area, a space that feels bright, welcoming, and community-driven”.
We asked Gendai how the response has been from locals since they opened “really positive. We’ve had great feedback from locals who appreciate the healthy focus, fresh ingredients, welcoming atmosphere, and the authenticity of our Japanese food. We’re also seeing Sunny Spot become a popular option both for lunch and for dinner, with a growing base of regular customers who value genuine flavours and a true taste of Japan, which has been very encouraging. Our hope is that Sunny Spot becomes a warm, welcoming space where people gather, connect, and feel uplifted just like a sunny day”.
Sambal Sim
Fulham locals can enjoy a plethora of international cuisines and for the first time that includes Malay food. Sambal Sim located at 636 Fulham Road is a cafe style restaurant where traditional Malaysian flavours meet contemporary home cooking techniques. Owner Sim is a Malaysian from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in East Malaysia and, wanting to share her love of Malay food with others, she embarked on a journey to start her own business. The team opened the doors to Sambal Sim in December last year where most of Sim’s dishes are inspired by her mum and sister in law’s home cooked meals. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients with no short cuts to create well-liked Malaysian dishes such as Nasi Lemak, Mee Goreng, Satay and Mango Salad.
We were amazed to see how swiftly Sambal Sim renovated. Sim told us “from start to finish it took around 10 days. All the wall baskets and other local handicrafts used in the decor were carried here from Malaysia by my Mother”. We asked how business has been since they opened “the reaction has been great, although business has been unstable as we are new and its slow in the month of January we already have many regulars after just two months of being open. It is so encouraging and the whole team are so grateful for the support and we promise to provide a consistent and quality dining experience for everyone that comes to Sambal Sim. We’ve been busy working on the new menu additions as we want to introduce a few new dishes every few months. The latest additions include curry dishes with paratha/ roti canai (layered and buttery flatbread) with fresh and delicious homemade sauces and we look forward to more locals coming through our doors to try us”.
Other dishes on the menu include starters Ayam Goreng (fried chicken wings), Udang Goreng (prawns with lemon grass) and chicken satay. Mains include lamb chops served with turmeric coconut rice, cucumber salad and green sambal and Butter Prawns (both £16.50). Malaysian drinks include Milo Dino (a creamy chocolate malt drink) and lychee jasmine, coconut mango and coconut pineapple punches.
We’ve no doubt Sim and her team will give you a warm welcome if you fancy trying a taste of Malaysia. Book a table and find out more on the link below.