Twickenham is a treasure trove of wonderful pubs, inns and taverns – especially if you love rugby!
From riverside watering holes to raucous rugby strongholds, William Gadsby Peet rounds up his top 10 pubs in Twickenham.
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1
The White Swan
A traditional riverside free house that dates back to the 17th century, you will rarely find The White Swan excluded from a list of the best pubs in London, let alone Twickenham.
A pub for all seasons, its cosy interior and roaring log fires make it a brilliant choice for holing up with a book and goblet of red wine during winter, while a beautiful garden and terrace balcony offers an ideal summer sanctuary.
During the UK's sparse days of sunshine, it's perfect for lazy afternoons spent sipping Pimms and watching the river slip idly by.
P.S. Be forewarned: the riverside garden occasionally becomes a part of the river during particularly high tides!
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2
The Cabbage Patch
As the giant inflatable rugby ball that occasionally sits atop the pub on match days oh so subtly suggests; this is a pub deeply dedicated to all things egg chase.
Indeed, The Cabbage Patch has a valid claim of being the most famous rugby pub in London, if not the whole of England.
If you haven't managed to get tickets to Twickenham, you will find the best atmosphere outside the stadium itself within The Cabbage Patch. If you have acquired tickets, a pre or post-match pit stop for a couple of pints of Guinness is a vital part of your match day experience.
When the rugby isn't on, The Cabbage Patch is still the best sports pub in Twickenham. With regular boxing, burlesque and swing dancing classes, as well as live music and a pub quiz, there's something for non-sporty folk too.
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3
The Eel Pie
A wonderful pub that pays tribute to the two things Twickenham is most famous for; rock 'n' roll and rugby.
The place takes its name from the (in)famous Eel Pie Island where Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton (among others) all started out during the birth of the rock and roll scene of the early 1960s. You'll find plenty of quirky musical and rugby memorabilia adorning the pub's walls, as well as a fab roster of live music events including a regular vinyl night.
Owned by the small Dorset-based Hall & Woodhouse chain, this is also one of the few pubs in London where you can find their tasty range of Badger beer, so if you love your hops do make sure to pop in for a pint of Tangle Foot, Wicked Wyvern or Fusty Ferret.
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4
The Alexander Pope Hotel
Another of Twickenham's superb riverside pubs, the stylish contemporary design of The Alexander Pope Hotel makes the most out of every single ray of sunshine.
It's glass-fronted entrance acts like a magnifying glass, throwing a constant spotlight on the pub's vibrant interior decor.
Best of all, the elegant food and drinks menu is surprisingly reasonable in price – anywhere that does world-class Espresso Martinis for £7.50 a pop is definitely on to a winner.
Good thing there are 32 boutique bedrooms above the pub for a salubrious tiger snooze after a few too many cocktails.
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5
The Sussex Arms
This pub is worth visiting for its gorgeous interior alone – the ample polished wood, exposed brickwork and genuine log fire all make The Sussex Arms feel like it has just landed in Twickenham straight from the South Downs countryside.
A large beer garden adds to the rustic rural feel, as does the pub's regular beer festivals, hearty BBQs and a huge variety of beer – there are 15 cask ale pumps, 6 ciders and 10 keg lines on at any given time.
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6
The Crown
An extensive refurbishment back in 2013 turned what was already a good pub into one of the best in Twickenham.
The original building's Georgian and Victorian architecture blend seamlessly with the interior design and comforts of a modern day gastropub.
There's also a large beer garden and a private dining room above the pub that seats 28. It's available for hire on match days, but be warned: it gets snapped up quickly!
Given its location, this is a particularly good pub to consider for a pit stop after a visit to The Orleans Gallery, Sandycombe Lodge or Ham House. The food here is also excellent – the two-course roast menu on Sundays for £20/head comes with a hearty Essential Surrey & SW London stamp of approval!
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7
The Prince Albert
A proper traditional boozer with a fun Thai twist, The Prince Albert is a great pick for those after a slightly more laid back atmosphere.
As it's off the beaten path, it's less hectic on match days than some of the other pubs in this roundup.
Though its beer is standard fare, what makes this pub special is its fantastic Thai kitchen. The head chef Charlie hails from SE Asia, and whips up incredible dishes from recipes that have been passed down through generations.
With both BT and Sky Sports and plenty of screens, this is another great local pub for watching sport in.
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8
Barmy Arms
Another pub that is kind enough to help you locate it on match days with massive inflatable goal posts and rugby balls, the wonderfully named Barmy Arms is barely a grubber kick from Twickenham stadium.
Due to it's location, its an essential post/pre-game establishments that the rugby faithful flock to.
They also often have a live band on after games playing all the drunken classics for a bit of celebratory boogieing - depending on how your team performed!
When there isn't a game on, the pub's location overlooking the river and ample front beer garden make it a superb summer pick for working up a tan while you drink.
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9
The Turks Head
A very pretty Fuller's Pub with a large sprawling interior layout that features a saloon bar, restaurant and hefty events hall that throws regular live music and comedy nights.
There's also an extensive L-shaped beer garden in the back that boasts a children's playground, perfect for tiring your little nippers out while enjoying a pint or two as well!
The food here is decent if unspectacular, with the standard Fuller's selection of stodgy pub grub. That said, the veggie fish 'n' chips are particularly good – beer battered halloumi! As is the Sunday roast.
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10
The William Webb Ellis
Bear with me, I know, it's a Wetherspoons, but it's probably the best Wetherspoons in West London.
If you're looking for a pint under £4 in the usually pricey local of Twickenham high street, there really isn't any other choice.
That said, they do rather cheekily raise their prices to the usual £5+ on match days!
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