Arriving at High Road House, a brasserie, private members’ club and hotel (14 rooms available to non-members) that opened on Chiswick High Road in July, I felt a bit like a hotshot Hollywood producer turning up at a premier.

As I walked into the lobby — where the receptionist, dressed in black, spookily greeted me with: “Ah, you must be Tom” (can’t be too many guests tonight, I’d thought) — I was followed by a bustling group of glamorous women, also dressed in black and the very picture of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson “It” girls.

In a flutter of white teeth, Armani and high heels, they proceeded to a party in the private members’ restaurant. I passed over my credit card, paid the £100-a-night rate (very reasonable for London), and headed to my room.

It was small, startlingly white and a just a little claustrophobic. It reminded me of a white-washed Finnish sauna. The walls had wood panelling. There were wooden shutters on the windows. It took me a few moments to locate the bathroom door — also wood panelled and painted white. There was a large bed and a sideboard with a white enamel Bush radio and a burgundy lamp. The bathroom was tiled in white, with two Return of the Jedi-style, camel-coloured robes hanging from a peg.

I looked around and decided: “Strange . . . but I like it.”

High Road House is the sister club to the media haunt Soho House, not so far away in central London. I was meeting a pal in the private members’ bar before going for a meal in the private restaurant.

That’s the great thing about staying at High Road House — you get access to all the “private” places, including the funky basement lounge with its red leather sofas and centrepiece crimson pool table.

“I want one of the poncy lagers,” my pal announced. So we tried the poncy lagers and took in our surroundings. The room was dimly lit with hanging spotlights. There was a green marble bar with bottles of Havana Club rum and Grey Goose vodka lining a shelf.

The food at the restaurant was good. I enjoyed my venison carpaccio followed by roast cod, while my pal declared his lamb “perfect”. And the Châteauneuf du Pape recommended by the waitress was excellent. Afterwards, we tried the downstairs public bar — also dimly lit and stylish with jazz on the stereo. All very nice.

High Road House — even though the rooms are a bit Finnish sauna — is an exceedingly fun and good-value choice for a West London stay.

Bottom line: Tom Chesshyre paid £100 for a double; £50 for dinner with wine.

What we think: Decent value, different and handy for Heathrow.

Best thing: The “privacy”.

Worst thing: Poky room.

Access all areas: Yes.

Need to know: High Road House (020-8742 1717, www.highroadhouse.co.uk ), 162 Chiswick High Road.

Service: 9 out of 10.

Room: 7 out of 10.

Food: 8 out of 10.

Value: 9.5 out of 10.

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