Aleksander TW1

The Aleksander, Twickenham TW1 (London)

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
West London: Twickenham and Hampton Hill

Contemporary pub (Independent)
277 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 2NP
T 020 8892 9277
Open 1200-2300. Children very welcome until early evening.
Cask beer 3 (Twickenham, Sharp’s, local guest), Other beer 8 keg, 14 bottles, Also 24 wines, specialist spirits.
Food Wood fired pizzas, gourmet sandwiches, Sunday roasts, Outdoor Beer garden, Wifi. Disabled toilet.
Fri/alternate Sun live music, Sun food market, board games, skittles, major big screen sport.

Unbelievably, this pretty and picturesquely sited pub almost became a convenience store when former owner Young’s sold it to Sainsbury’s, but a restriction on the covenant proved too bothersome an obstacle and the pub was saved by new landlord Roger, who took over in August 2012. The rustic but elegant corner building gazes across green parkland towards the imposing façade of Marble Hill House, a Palladian villa now managed by English Heritage, the grounds of which sweep down to one of London’s prettiest stretches of riverside. The pub boasts its own little country estate in the form of a leafy beer garden, which deserves to be popular with strolling families on warm weekend afternoons.

Roger is keen to offer a range of quality beer – Doom Bar and locally brewed Naked Ladies are the regular cask offerings, with the guest often supplied by localish breweries like Dark Star, Sambrook’s or Surrey Hills. O’Hara’s Celtic Stout and Brooklyn Lager offer alternatives to the mainstream on the keg taps, while Anchor Porter, Affligem abbey beers, Paulaner wheat beer and a choice or two from Thornbridge enliven the fridges. Wood fired pizzas, fresh pasta and locally made artisanal ice cream are among the highlights on the menu.

Pub trivia. The pub has been known previously as the Marble Hill and the Rising Sun but takes its current name from the landlord’s young son.

National Rail St Margarets Bus St Stephens Church (numerous Twickenham, Richmond) Cycling Link to LCN+ Richmond and NCN4 Walking Thames Path