From resplendent riverfront retreats to beguiling old boozers hid amongst winding cobbled streets, Richmond is a pub lover's dream.
Renowned throughout London for its many fantastic taprooms, inns and taverns, Richmond is a veritable treasure trove of discovery for that uniquely British institution, the humble pub.
William Gadsby Peet raises a glass to his top 10 local taprooms. With a history of involvement in the local area stretching back over 24 years, he's more qualified than most to remark upon its wettest watering holes.
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The Mitre
A beautiful Victorian pub & beer garden on a quiet street in Richmond. Based in an 1860s building, The Mitre serves ales & ciders amid leather chairs & vintage woodwork.
Recently voted by Bloc as the best pub in Richmond, The Mitre specialises in real ales using only independent breweries from around the UK. Rudi's Kitchen (named after the pub's cute dog) serves delicious Neapolitan pizzas made using authentic Italian ingredients, often reviewed as the best in South West London (370+ Google reviews)
Tip: The Mitre is often a safe haven from the crowds on rugby days, making it a great place to watch the game. It is also the only pub in Richmond to have been in the Good Beer Guide for the last 6 years straight.
The Mitre serves delicious food and a premium selection of drinks in a laid-back atmosphere, either in their traditional bar area or south-westerly facing beer garden.
Our favourite part: Rudi, their pub dog, has been crowned ‘Britain’s cutest pub dog' and is usually there to greet you by the door.
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The White Cross
The White Cross, Off Water Lane, Riverside, Richmond, TW9 1THA simply brilliant pub overlooking the Thames. Make sure to grab a window seat if you can to watch the river and world slip idly by.
Indeed, The White Cross is so close to the occasional wroth of Old Father Thames that its beer garden sometimes floods – a true watering hole.
But that's all part of its charm, and there isn't anything quite like watching a crew of rowers stop off in the middle of a skull to imbibe a quick half.
While this pub really comes into its own in summer, a proper old fashioned fireplace during winter months also make it a wonderful refuge when temperatures drop and being dog-friendly, it's an excellent pit stop during walks down the towpath.
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The Sun Inn
One of the finest pubs in Richmond – and by a mile the best venue for watching sports. So, if you're passionate about real ale and rugby, there really isn't anywhere else worth considering for a tankard of London Pride and a pew to watch the egg chase.
The interior decor is a sports lover's dream: there isn't an inch of wall or ceiling that's bare, with hundreds of sporting trophies accumulated over a 40-year history weaving a rich tapestry of accolades in rugby, football, cricket, netball, darts and – occasionally – tiddlywinks.
The food is basic but wonderfully cheap for Richmond; I would particularly recommend the Sun Downer, a hot mess of chips, cheese, chilli con carne and gravy that will uncomfortably fill the stomach of two hungry punters for under £8.
There's also a BBQ held in summer before the big games at Twickenham, and plenty of pavement to spill out on to with a glass of Pimms and burger to hand.
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Tap Tavern
A relative newcomer on the block having opened its doors to the public for the very first time in the summer of 2017, The Tap Tavern has wasted little time since then establishing itself as one of the best pubs in Richmond.
It's an especially good choice for lovers of the craft beer revolution, as the pub boasts an ever-changing roster of 17 weird and wonderful draft beers that include quite frankly mad concoctions along the lines of pink watermelon pale ales or chilli and sea salt stouts, as well as more conventional fare like IPAs and Pilsners for traditionalists.
And if all that isn't enough to get beer lovers hopping with excitement, there's also a well-stocked fridge of almost 100 bottled beers to work your way through.
Along with excellent beer, the other major attraction of The Tap Tavern is its sterling selection of G&Ts, with a menu of 28 lovingly tailored combinations quite aptly titled 'Gin Perfect Serves'.
All 28 offer a pairing of specialist small batch gins with flavourful boutique tonics, resulting in a goblet of refreshing perfection that dances merrily across the taste buds with every sip. This pub also has the latest licence in Richmond from Thursday to Saturday, so is worth considering for night owls.
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The Old Ship
One of Young's Brewery's better efforts, The Old Ship is a charming little British boozer with an interior decor that does in many ways resemble an old fashioned ship of the line. Well, a particularly gentrified ship of the line that charges £6 for a pint.
The interior is all sumptuous wood, polished brass and dark upholstered leather with the occasional streak of navy blue for colour, and some wonderfully quirky accoutrements scattered throughout like a chandelier made from the salvaged wooden steering wheel – or helm if you're an old salt – of a ship.
As you'd expect from a Young's Pub, the food and drink on offer are all decent if not spectacular, though the Sunday roast is particularly good. A great pub to consider for a few quiet pints with friends, as with the exception of match days at Twickenham, it rarely gets uncomfortably busy.
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The Roebuck
Situated at the top of Richmond Hill, this pub, especially in summer, is worth a visit for its unrivalled views over Richmond alone.
You can see all the way to the river, with the iconic beauty of Terrace Gardens and Petersham Meadows in between, and on a clear day – once you have slipped somewhat sneakily with your pint over Richmond Hill Road – there really isn't anywhere better for appreciating the tranquil beauty of Richmond.
Being a Greene King establishment, you can expect a good selection of cask ales, while the food is the sort of pie/gammon/egg/chips-laden pub grub you'd expect. Another pub with a very good Sunday roast offering – the nut roast Wellington, in particular, is one of the best veggie options in Richmond.
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The Cricketers Richmond
Another great pub that really comes into its own during London's rare spells of sunshine is The Cricketers.
It backs right on to Richmond Green, and during summer you can watch regular games of cricket between the keen amateur sides that play there from the comfort of the pub's trestle tables. It certainly doesn't get much better than sitting in the summer sun with an ice-cold cider to hand and the sound of willow on leather wafting lazily over the breeze!
The pub itself is gorgeous both outside and in, with well kept hanging baskets on the exterior, and a cosy interior that includes an upstairs dining room overlooking the green.
The food is also impressive considering the size of the kitchen, with some surprising dishes on the menu like teriyaki salmon or beef shin and tail pie, as well as the usual pub staples of nachos, chips and burgers you'd expect.
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The Marlborough
Definitely the best beer garden in Richmond and probably top three in the whole of London! The Marlborough's garden is huge, and when it's full during the summer has an almost festival vibe, with room for well over a hundred people.
The pub's Garden Room restaurant is also an absolutely gorgeous little space in which to grab a bite to eat, cleverly using mirrors, large glass windows, botanical prints and beautiful plants to conjure all the beauty of al fresco dining and combine it with all the comfort of an indoor restaurant.
Dog and child-friendly, this is a fab pub for the whole family to enjoy a refreshing pit stop in after tramping around Richmond Park.
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The Orange Tree
Situated almost opposite Richmond Station, The Orange Tree is an elegant and airy pub with a fun eclectic interior and compact beer garden out front.
Another good pub in which to watch the rugby or stop off at on the way to watch the rugby, they have a couple of really big screens inside and tend to put on a BBQ and a couple of small gazebos out front for matches at Twickenham.
There are also 13 stunning boutique hotel rooms above the pub, so if you're really feeling worse for wear after one too many celebratory pints of Guinness watching England triumph at Twickenham, you can always sleep it off upstairs!
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The Red Cow
A wonderfully cosy little pub with a proper community feel, The Red Cow is a much-beloved fixture of Richmond to locals and visitors alike.
There's a weekly pub quiz on Tuesdays and you can look forward to half-price burger night on Thursdays. The pub also tends to host a couple of live music events each month, with some surprisingly good acoustic acts that really make the most of the intimate and cheerful setting.
Another Young's Pub – they're everywhere in Richmond! – the beer on offer is ale-focused, and the food is mainly meat-heavy, with the pub's pizzas, burgers and slow-roasted lamb shank all particularly good choices for a hearty dinner.
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The Duke's Head Inn
Slightly off the beaten track of Richmond's high street, The Duke's Head Inn is a perfect choice for anyone after a quiet pint in an atmospheric old pub with tonnes of charm.
The pub's history stretches all the way back to Victorian times, and it maintains a traditional coaching inn feel to this day that harks back to a bygone era of British pubbery.
The landlords are a married couple that has owned and operated the site independently for over 20 years, and many of the regulars have been coming at least once a week since they were old enough to legally drink.
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Comments (9)
Comment FeedLass o Richmond hill
Chris more than 1 year ago
The Mitre Tw9
John more than 5 years ago
White Swan, Richmond
Lynsey more than 5 years ago
Another Missing pub
Jim more than 5 years ago
Sports?
Bob more than 5 years ago
Missing pub
Bob more than 5 years ago
The White swan is not in Richmond The
Nick Guinness more than 5 years ago
White Swan
Adam more than 5 years ago
Yes it is.
Bob more than 5 years ago