Botanist TW9

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
Southwest London: Richmond and Kew

Brewhouse at the Botanist, Richmond TW9 (London)

Contemporary pub, brewpub (Convivial)
1 Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AA
T (020) 8948 4838 W www.thebotanistkew.com f The-Botanist-Brewery-Kitchen-Convivial-London-Pubs tw _TheBotanistkew
Open 1100-2300. Children welcome until 2000, later if eating.
Cask beers 6-7 (Botanist, occasional guests) Cask Marque, Other beers 1 keg (Meantime), 30+ bottles Also Around 30 wines
Food Enhanced pub grub/gastro menu, Outdoor Front terrace, beer garden, Wifi. Disabled toilet.
Wed quiz, Thu beer tasting & retro vinyl, Sat acoustic music, food promos, bookable “Brewer’s Breakfasts” with tastings.

Kew Green is an extensive green space just on the other side of Kew Bridge, unfortunately now bisected by the busy bridge approach road but still achieving that picturesqueness that seems to come so easily to London’s historic urban “villages”. It is centred on the 18th century St Anne’s Church with its Royal connections to nearby Kew Palace, is overlooked by fine houses of similar vintage and even hosts cricket matches in summer. The Botanist’s name is an obvious reference to the proximity of one of London’s premier attractions, the Royal Horticultural Society’s world famous Kew Gardens.

This family friendly pub doesn’t enjoy the most favoured spot on the green — it’s on a busy corner by the traffic — but is nonetheless well-placed in one of London’s most desirable residential areas, and the big windows provide great people watchng. The interior rejects traditional rustic decor for a slightly self-conscious contemporary feel, with a mix of furniture sprawling over several spaces, some tucked away cubby holes and a restaurant area off to the side.  Of special interest to beer lovers is the attractive wood-clad brewhouse that since September 2011 has taken pride of place right by the large bar, with sacks of Bairds malt also clearly visible in the adjacent grain store.

The house beers, brewed by manager Mark Wainwright, have proved so successful that pubco Convivial is planning to repeat the initiative in one of its other pubs. Up to seven might be available at any one time, all cask, with the occasional guests from local brewers like Twickenham. Meantime London Lager is on keg, and there’s a strong bottled list too: classics like Duvel, Früh Kölsch and König Ludwig Weissbier, and a good showing from leading British craft brewers like Dark Star, Hopback, Magic Rock, Oakham, Thornbridge and Saltaire. Main courses at prices you’d expect for the area include pork belly, “risotto of the day”, chicken caesar salad and sea bass, supplemented by “grazing boards” and lunchtime sandwiches. Food suggestions are included on the beer list. A welcome addition to London’s growing list of brewpubs.

National Rail Kew Bridge Overground/Underground Kew Gardens Cycling LCN+ Mortlake, Richmond, Chiswick, link to NCN4 Walking Thames Path, link to Capital Ring