If anyone uses this - the php server process doesn't currently kill itself when you return to the chroot.
within the chroot:
sudo apt-get install php5
cd ~/
mkdir scripts
cd scripts
nano launchChrome
#!/bin/sh
#launch the webserver to listen for connections
php -S localhost:8000 -t ~/scripts/ &
#switch to chromium
croutoncycle cros
nano index.php
<html>
<head>
<link href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.1/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
</head>
<body>
<div class="container">
<h2>Chroot Running.</h2>
<form>
<input type="hidden" name ="croutoncycle" value="true">
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Return to XBMC</button>
</form>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<?php
if (!empty($_REQUEST['croutoncycle'])) {
system('croutoncycle 1');
}
?>
Now once the chroot is running you can return to chromium by executing the launchChrome script.
Create an app launcher to return to the chroot:
chrome://flags/#enable-streamlined-hosted-apps
enable and now go to localhost:8000
chrome menu->more tools->add shortcut to this website to create a launcher.