The Cricketers, Richmond

Facing onto Kew Green just off the southern end of Kew Bridge it’s a large detached pub. One L shaped room with an L shaped servery and further seating and tables receding to the back of the pub. Four pulls on the shorter front edge but a dreary choice of Fullers London Pride or Young's Ordinary now rebadged as London Original, ok condition but nowt special. There’s a keg trio and a couple of solos on each counter face as well. Stripped out inside and the lower half woodwork has suffered from the grey plague, fortunately the outside is still white, conservation area rules perhaps? It is possible to discern the old dividing wall between two former bars as a stub of wall remains, sadly making a choke point by the counter. The ceiling is chunky distressed wooden beams and there’s an exposed brick fireplace, not too much in the way of decor, just the odd picture and the cricketing murals. Nice seating area at the front overlooking the green.

Official site of The Cricketers - thecricketerskew.com

Official site of The Cricketers - thecricketerskew.com

Although there are various original and interesting features on view here, the overall feel is rather corporate and even clinical with uniformed staff and a definite lean towards the gastro route. The bar is ahead on entering, against a back wall, then the area expands to the right and runs back with a slight return at the far end, all this area being set for formal dining. There is a distressed beamed ceiling, exposed brick fireplace with stacked logs and some remaining leaded windows with the occasional bullnose. The cricketing theme runs through, there are a pair of wall murals of a game in the days of yore plus bats and stumps on the window cills, framed prints and even a table lamp with a series of cricket balls forming the base. There is just about every form of seating you can imagine but enough regular style to suit the likes of myself, the flooring is similarly varied. To the rear is a walled garden and there is a tiered terrace facing the green to the frontage. The TV had some kind of game show on, thankfully muted while a strange woozy ambient music played. There are four handpumps but just two were clipped, Hook Norton Greedy Goose (£4.13) and Plain Ales Innspiration. It doesn't really feel like a drinkers pub based on my mid-afternoon visit, in fact I was the only customer sitting with a pint, a few were eating and one lady came in for a pot of tea. I didn't feel awkward or unwelcome but I didn't really settle in here.

I liked the interior of this pub, with lots of large exposed original oak beams. The pub was comfortable and felt quite homely and relaxing. Probably the best on Kew Green on this visit. There were four pumps on the bar, so we went for the Twickenham Grandstand. The staff were friendly and service was fast, even though a lot of people had called in for lunch.