The Britannia

I came here on a Friday lunchtime only really because I’d been before years earlier. It’s up one of the quaint side streets that leads from the Green. From the outside it looks like an oldish pub, but inside it is more modern and a firm gastro-​type-​pub thing. Inside it’s small with only a few tables. On my visit they weren’t very busy. Beer wise was disappointing-​only a couple of ales on. The food menu is expensive-£13.50 I recall for fish and chips. Up the road outside another pub they were advertising beer battered cod and chips at £10.50. To be frank, the food was a tad over what I wanted to pay so ended up having a small salad of tomato, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar (£7.50).It was small but looked very nice and tasted the same.
Service was nice-​I was asked if I liked the salad and I indeed did. Would I return? For those of you who know Richmond will know that it is literally chock full of great pubs, many a very short walk from this one. The competition is too hot for me to want to return. Perhaps if they got some extra ales on and lowered the prices a tad I might.

I am going to give this pub four stars because the other reviewers have been totally unfair. The place is nice, comfortable, clean, theres a better selection of beer here than most of the other pubs in Richmond and its nice beer.

On a trip to Richmond we decided to go for a pub lunch and wanted something different from the generic Weatherspoons type pubs. We stumbled on the Britannia which looked good. The food wasn’t cheap and was described like it was quality gastro-​pub food. When we got it it was was oily, poor quality and did not match the description of what was on the menu. The staff were rude and surly.
If I could give The Britannia a lower rating than one star I would!

Two occasions: laissez faire staff who just don’t care. A disastrous leaving lunch, and a rude Sunday lunch rebuttal later and frankly the half price lunches can’t lure me in. It’s a pity because the terrace is lovely.

We picked this pub because it was a gorgeous day and the pub had a nicely sized garden in the back as well as a roof terrace with extra outdoor seating. Given it was a warm sunny day in Richmond, everywhere on the water was mobbed so it was nice to find this slightly out of the way pub with plenty of outdoor seating.
The staff were incredibly friendly and the service was great but the food definitely left something to be desired. I ordered the bruschetta starter which was so horrific I couldn’t believe they served it it was just some toasted bread with what looked and tasted like canned chopped tomatoes spread on top. My friend had the sole which she said was nice and I also had a ploughman’s board which is pretty difficult to mess up it was really the poor starter that literally left a bad taste in our mouths. Given the price of the whole meal (Close to £20 each with one drink!) it was really a disappointing experience.
Great for a nice place to sit in the sun when Richmond is heaving and friendly service but be careful with the food choices and don’t go for anything that you wouldn’t expect as typical pub grub for your best chance of a decent meal.

Oh, Britannia, why’dja have to go and let me down? I had such high hopes for you! It was the first time I’d been back probably in about 2 months (moved flat and been on holiday), so I was expecting some big progress towards a cocktail menu!
I was sorely disappointed when I got to the bar, and asked the bartender about it. He gave me some tale about his line managers, and they have one written up, and yadda yadda yadda. His saving grace was offering to make me a mojito (because fortunately they DID have the ingredients for that). I passed, and drowned my sorrows in a double vodka and cranberry.
Also, when did you stop serving Jack Daniels?! Giving my mate some weird Bulleit Bourban brand. I’ve never heard of it!

I think any charm that The Britannia has comes from the little paved street that it sits on. It’s narrow and pleasantly away from the high street. As a pub itself though it’s a little bit lacking. Basically it’s little and lacking any really recent upgrades. I think it might have had a lot of the really traditional and original features ripped out at some point and in its place they’ve installed slightly generic/​chain looking alternatives.
There can be a bit of charm to the atmosphere on occasions, especially in the winter and in the summer there are outside bits to get a bit sun. There’s also a comedy club which runs on Sundays. There have a few of the big promoters so the acts are always of a certain standard.

Its a shame that The Britannia pub seems a bit worn, and in need of some TLC, because it is a perfect setting — down a little side alley which leads onto Richmond Green. Perhaps though, the owners don’t want to pour money into it in order to change it into a trendy, fashionable pub, and fair play. It has it’s niche. Plenty of regulars keep it ticking over.
I have been to a couple of private parties upstairs. This is a large upstairs room, which can be hired out. Once upstairs, you are pretty much left to your own devices. I have not tried the food here, but common consensus is that it is good. Essentially, it is a very friendly, peaceful old boozer in a charming location. If you into comedy clubs, take note; it has a comedy night on a Sunday.

Small, old pub down a lane off the high street in Richmond. Very traditional outside, with hanging flower baskets outside. It’s close quarters downstairs with a tiny outdoor area behind. There’s more seating upstairs. Typical ales, typical pub food.