Tap on the Line, Richmond

Previous railway building repurposed to a two room bar, the main bar being the long thin part to the left, the smaller part to the right, an extension cum conservatory appears to be exclusively for dining. I see where the toilet tiling reference comes from, it certainly looks that way, white with green banding, perhaps a nod to the Southern Railway who ran this line at one time. The counter is finished in a garish pink with green/yellow banding, again maybe a railway reference as the London & South Western Railway used a less obvious pink on its carriages. Otherwise the only railway porn are the letters L&SWR painted on the tiles and a clock with the same inscription, the L&SWR built the station. A copy of Firth’s Paddington Station painting and some poster repro’s add to the slight railway theme and there’s a couple of railway related illustrations in the large melange of images on the extension’s wall. Six hand pumps on the counter with doubled up ESB and Pride plus Oliver’s Island and Hophead on the others, quality pretty good, especially for London, even so £6.05 for 3.8% beer brewed up the road is outrageous. Two low T-bars and five craft taps complete the beer selection.

Converted from an early part of the station buildings, with an impressive iron conservatory addition, this is now a slightly upmarket local for the slightly upmarket locals, plus homegoing visitors to Kew Gardens. The colourful bar is backed with toilet-style tiling and decorated with bogus railwayana, while the conservatory has some flashy artwork. Trains pass the windows, which overlook the platform, while on the street side there is a tabled patio area. A Fullers pub for some years, with a fair range of Fullers beers - London Pride, Olivers Island, Seafarers, Hophead and the seasonal Jack Frost. A small clump of craft taps offer the likes of Beavertown, Meantime and Four Pure. Prices ranged from £5.05 for Pride up to £6.70 for some of the craft. Not bad to stop off at if passing but overall it seems to be trying too hard.