Richmond Nightlife

Be at One is a small chain of bars that have a huge cocktail menu and offer tempting Happy Hour specials each evening. The time Happy Hour runs from seems to change each day, so best refer to their website if you want to time your visit to take advantage of their two-for-one cocktails.

I have only been to the Richmond branch once. The music was blaring, and I am just too old and boring these days to have to yell at my friends over my Cosmo. Though, my friend did say that she normally sits in the rear section which is apparently quieter.

The barman was flirty and over-familiar immediately….which he could have gotten away with if he was attractive.... Yep, not only am I old and boring, but shallow too.

But then the cocktail menu is huge, and there are some interesting sounding concoctions, so perhaps I may return to sample more of what Be at One has to offer, making sure I nab a table out the back and send someone else to the bar.

The Cricketers is an historic pub located opposite Richmond Green. Split over two floors it is a very popular place for a drink, a cheap meal or to watch the sport. On a sunny day it is nice to sit upstairs with the window open, looking over the Green, or if you are lucky you may bag one of the tables out the front.

My last visit was on the day of the Richmond May Fair and the pub was filled to the brim with people having lunch or a refreshing pint after a browse at the fair. We just stopped by for a quick beer, which we took out the front and perched on the neighbours steps to enjoy as all of the pubs outdoor seats were in high demand.

Dress Code: Cricket whites optional

Revolution is a large bar located by the river in Richmond. Part of a chain, Revolution is a place for vodka lovers - they offer a menu full of vodka based drinks and cocktails, along with beer, wine and all the other usual options.

I was impressed by the airy interior and high ceilings. Large windows let in lots of light and offered some views of the river which is just metres away. The bar runs along one wall and was hectic when we stopped by late on a Friday afternoon. Service was incredibly slow, though it was worth the wait as our drinks were delicious - I had a Bison Grass Mojito and loved it, very refreshing on a warm evening.

As mentioned, the bar is located right by the river, and as the weather was so glorious we asked for our drinks to be served in (hard) plastic glassed so we could go outside and find a seat by the river.

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SoBar is a small bar located on a narrow lane in Richmond. A welcome relief from the large High Street chains, it is stylish and intimate, and feels more like a West End cocktail bar.

The more upmarket atmosphere comes with a price though, with cocktails being more expensive than many of the bars nearby - worth getting there early in the evening for happy hour. That said, the cocktails we have sampled were tasty.

There is a small menu offering bar food and larger meals, though I haven't tried any of the food as yet. A friend tells me there is jazz on a Wednesday night, so I will have to get back to check it out.

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Steins is a Bavarian Beer bar located by the River Thames in Richmond. Its trading hours vary depending on the season...and the weather I would think seeing as all the seating is open air (with umbrella cover).

It is a fairly basic concept. If you want to drink, you need to buy some food. First, find a table - there are large tables, great for groups of happy beer swillers. Then, remembering your table number you go up to the counter to order your food and then to another counter for your beer.

There is not a huge choice of food or beer....but it is all about drinking a cold one by the river.

Alex and I stopped by one sunny day for lunch along with fellow VT'er Jessica-b. We all ate some funny looking meat loaf and enjoyed a Paulaner beer. It was certainly an enjoyable place to relax and enjoy the summers day.

Only one small problem....later that day we all had a slight case of food poisoning....lousy meatloaf.

Dress Code: Dress for outdoor drinking

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The White Cross is a traditional, historic pub located right by the river in Richmond. It is so close to the water that you may well get flooded in if there is a very high tide (there must be worse things than being stuck in a pub!).

One of the most popular pubs in Richmond, it is pretty busy all year round, though rammed in summer. Some lucky people manage a table outside, though there is plenty of room inside over two levels. It has been recently renovated and I was pleasantly surprised by what a nice looking pub it is inside.

They have a bistro with a varied menu, offering hot meals and lighter options. We stopped by for lunch one autumn day. The weather was mild enough to sit outside and we got a great table with views of the river and Richmond Bridge. The boys had the daily special - Beef Bourguignon, and I just had a Tandoori chicken wrap.

A great place for a drink and to enjoy gorgeous Richmond!

Dress Code: casual

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One Paradise Road is a small bar located, not surprisingly on Paradise Road, one block up from the main street. It has an attractive glass frontage, making it a lovely place for a drink during the day and on summer evenings, and a good place for spying out onto the street.

The bar calls itself "south-west London’s most talked about brasserie/bar" and is apparently "the bar of choice for the discerning" Richmond resident. Looks like we went to the right place!

We popped in one evening for a drink before dinner. It was a Friday night and the bar was nice and busy....also pretty smoky, even in the non-smoking section.! Oh well, come 1 July 2007 it will be blissfully smoke free and we will definitely return then, as I really like the look of this place, and it is where all the discerning residents drink after all ; )

Dress Code: Smart casual

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The re- formed Leaf Hound group,( Pete French) will be performing at the Black Horse pub in Richmond on December 10th.Their original album,'Growers of Mushrooms' has just sold on Ebay for over £1000!
Pete French often performs at the Eel Pie Club in Twickenham, supporting Art Wood, etc.
Girls--see those arms for real!!

Dress Code: Whatever!