The White Swan

It’s boldly positioned as “Richmond’s Best Kept Secret” – probably because it is so tricky to find if you are coming from Richmond town centre across the green, in the dark. Easier to find if you walk from the main riverside area towards the St Margarets bridge – perfect on a summer’s evening for building up a thirst.

Richmond has a wealth of bars and restaurants but this one is worth seeking out for a number of reasons. First, it is sufficiently tucked away that it isn’t heaving with the over enthusiastic and noisy teenagers that sometimes blight the more central establishments. Second, it’s in a great location – just tucked away from the riverside which offers a fabulous stroll along a quieter stretch of the river. Third, it has a sizeable, sheltered and comfortable garden at the rear. Fourth, the food is above average for a regular pub - closer to the gastro pub end of the scale but not pretentious. And there is an upstairs function room which is open between 630 and 930pm in the week and at the weekends (you need to book if you want Sunday lunch). Fifth, because the owner has a lovely and well behaved spaniel who isn’t a pest but potters round being friends with anyone showing an interest.

Despite being a rather old and quaint building (dating back to 1777) the interior is modern with character at the front and almost minimalist modern at the rear – with tables that are equally suitable for eating as for drinking. The large conservatory style windows mean that it is much lighter and airier than most buildings of its age.

Starters include butterbean and rosemary soup (£4.50), chicken liver parfait (£5.95) and goats cheese and red onion tart with a red pepper chutney and balsamic reduction (£5.95). Mains include rib eye steak (£14.95), roasted veal chop (£12.50), slow baked lamb chump with rosemary roasted butternut squash, fine beans and a red pesto sauce (£12.95) and pan seared sea bass fillets (£12.95). The warm coconut pudding (£4.95) and sticky toffee and date pudding (£4.95) caught my eye on the dessert menu amongst the other comfort food items.

On match days, you will find the place heaving with rugby fans and has a reputation for good ale. At other times it has a mixture of small groups of friends and a fair number of young, affluent couples and older students.