The Hope, Richmond

Interior as described below. 8 real ales and food served.

This one had on a very good ale selection, with Brain's SA, Ascot Alley Cat, Sharp's Atlantic, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Andwell Brewing King John, and East London Brewery Pale Ale all available. Pints seem to be at £4. There was also a Thatcher's cider on draft, and a further handpump was unclipped. We were told that the kitchen was quite small, but there was a limited menu available, including a burger with a sizeable portion of chips at £10. This pub has now been restored to its original name, and although I didn't know it as either Molly's or Molly Malone's, I feel sure that its current incarnation must be a quantum improvement. It has, however, been given quite a modern makeover - the ceiling and much of the walls, as well as the exterior, are painted a dark charcoal, with other walls an eggshell green. It's bare-boarded obviously, the furnishings are mixed with some settles, armchairs and normal tables and chairs. Notable features include a shuffleboard table (a new one on me), an enormous barrel seemingly used a depository for magazines and papers, and shelves around the place bearing books and other odds and ends such as an ancient telephone, crockery, brass candlesticks, etc, etc. There's a garden at the back. The landlord was an engaging chap who seemed enthusiastic about the venture and committed to making it succeed. It was fairly deserted when I was in with a couple of chums on Wednesday afternoon, but I can see that it has the potential to be a destination pub, notwithstanding any competition provided by The Shaftesbury next door. I like this pub a lot, even though it's not the traditional sort of boozer that I seem to like best. The excellent ale selection (not including any of the usual suspects) helps enormously of course, including the superb ELB Pale Ale. I expect to make a return visit.