The weather forecast was, again, for thundery showers. But Alfie and I refused to be deterred. So we made our way to meet our friend at Richmond station at mid-day and settled under the awnings outside Costa Coffee to discuss our plan for the day. Meanwhile, the rain continued to fall and everyone looked rather soggy.
The air warmed a bit and I removed a layer of outerwear and we strode out down the side path and onto Richmond Green. No cricketers today. Alfie was pulling at the lead – determined to be the leader of the pack and keen to run around on the deserted, damp grass. At the riverside we surveyed the scene – pretty damp although there were a fair few people (and the ubiquitous cyclists) on the tow path. We strolled along towards Richmond centre.
Duck Pond Market
We passed the arches and the White Cross pub – which was heaving – and the Slug and Lettuce which had a few tables outside. We walked up the steps on the terraces and wandered around the craft and artisan food stalls in the Duck Pond Market. The fountain in the middle was almost hidden by the traders but we could hear the singer belting out some opera. It was hard to imagine the bustle of Richmond High Street on the other side.
Back to the riverside we watched the boat builders and passed the upper terrace of the Pitcher and Piano (dogs allowed in the outside areas) and under Richmond Bridge where there were a fair few people enjoying the delights of Tides Café.
We strolled on a bit further but just before we reached Gauchos steak restaurant we found a bench and sat a while – in the sunshine – watching the people pass by on the path way and the boats on the river. There were lots of canal boats out there. We toyed with the idea of hiring a rowing boat or a canoe – but decided that this would have to wait for another day.
The White Swan
As it got towards 2pm we started to feel hungry and walked all the way back along the river, past the site of the old Richmond Palace, almost to Twickenham Bridge where we found that off-the-beaten-path pub The White Swan. Despite being hidden to most tourists, the place was really busy – the tennis was showing on a screen on the front bar and the conservatory at the back was doing a strong trade in Sunday lunches. The tiny walled garden at the back was deserted – that rain was not letting up.
The owners here have a rather jolly spaniel so we know it’s dog friendly – later on there was also a large husky sprawled outside. We settled in the garden – under an umbrella – to enjoy our glasses of wine while waiting for a table to come free. Faster than expected we were seated in the conservatory (which was now warming up with the emerging sunshine) and surveying the menu.
Whilst there were some tempting offers in terms of sea bass, salmon, scallops and risottos we both choose the roast British striploin of beef (there were lamb and pork variations) with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, seasonal vegetables (carrots) and gravy. Alfie was settled into a chair at the table – and admired by a number of the other patrons – adults as well as somewhat younger clientele. He was very well behaved, I must say.
The food was excellent – if a little over-seasoned – and we gave in to the allure of the dessert menu. My choice of the sticky toffee pudding (with butterscotch sauce and a side of honeycomb ice cream) just beating my companion’s cheesecake with summer berries. Replete, we wandered out into the fresh post-rain air to walk again along the river now that the sun was shining brightly.
The Boat at Richmond Bridge
Having been restrained with our drinking over lunch, we felt we could enjoy another glass of wine and walked over the gang plank (I carried Alfie) to sit on the deck of the Boat by Richmond Bridge. We were so close to the water it was almost as if we were actually sailing away. At this point the sun was so hot we could have been on holiday in the Med. The waitress made a fuss of Alfie as she delivered our drinks and he was now – having had a few morsels of beef and a handful of his dog biscuits – quite content to snooze on my jacket.
Before long, the waitress warned us that the tide was coming in and that we either got onto shore within the next ten minutes or accepted that we would be stranded there for a couple of hours. We drank up and got onto land with just moments to spare as the tide came in swiftly.
And it surely was a high tide – we sat on a bench on the terraces and watched the water surge up over the walk way (the ice cream van was surrounded by water but managed to continue serving people perched on the grass bank). We then spent a significant amount of time soaking up the sun and watching the kids paddling in the water, cyclists splashing through it and the bemused tourists wondering how they were supposed to tackle the lack of walk way.
Around 6pm – with the sun still beating down – we meandered slowly back to Richmond train station. So despite the rainy start, it had really been a rather sunny Sunday.
For further information:
http://www.duckpondmarket.co.uk/Duck_Pond_Market/Welcome.html
http://www.whiteswanrichmond.co.uk/
http://www.theboatatrichmondbridge.com/
