The Blurb
Bingham Riverhouse is part hotel, part wedding venue, part private members club nested in a strangely secretive spot along the Richmond river walk. In the gardens out back of this an old residential property there is a feeling that you’re spending the weekend away at your wealthy friend’s family home.
Inside, the walls are covered in black and white photos of famous rock stars, from Duran Duran to Amy Winehouse, and there are bookcases filled with old Penguin classics. The decor is modern with a nod to the early 19th century, with chandeliers over wicker chairs, brass tables and very English teacups.
I loved the drawing-room, which had a huge feather and wood ornament overhanging the fireplace, and high Victorian ceilings with floral cornice designs. Bingham Riverhouse maintains all the aspects of an old townhouse club (including weekly saloons and cigar and brandy nights) but is modernised where necessary, including plug and USB sockets neatly hidden under every table.
Sleep
Our room was divine, with beautiful river views, a walk-in king shower and in the bedroom itself a stunning copper bath in front of a mirror tiled wall. Amongst some very moreish cosmetics available for the stay, there was even a bottle of CBD drops to help you fall asleep on the inviting kingsize bed. There is also an option to purchase a lot of the items, if you decide you want to take them away with you, including a very fancy designer yoga mat. The room also had some delicious mood lighting, a slightly out of date set of speakers of an iPhone 4, and a cosy woollen rug showpiece on the bed. We were there on a bank holiday after a long few weeks of working in town, so I slept well, maybe for too long. It was glorious.
Eat
Location-wise this is by far the best place to go for brunch on the Richmond riverfront. We ate ours whilst sitting by the window overlooking the gardens and the river whilst listening to some very classy live music.
After we’d finished our house cocktails (part of the brunch menu), the waiter serving us recommended the house red, Terra Franca 2019, a Portuguese wine that was not too light, and not too rich, full-bodied without attacking the senses. It was so delicious that I ordered a bottle when I got home.
My guest started his brunch with an Eggs Benedict with salty ham, sourdough and a deliciously buttery hollandaise sauce. I ordered a goat’s cheese and beetroot salad. Instead of walnuts, it came with roasted hazelnuts, which gave a smoky flavour to the salad.
I then had the steak, which came with a peppery salad, a gorgeous butter garlic concoction and salty chips. My guest ordered the chorizo and butternut squash hash with fried egg, which was deliciously rich but not overbearingly so. The butternut was cooked to perfection and the sausage and onion made for a hearty main course. They were perfect portions for a three-course brunch; I was full but not overfilled.
I then had the granola crumble for dessert. The ice cream was spot-on creamy, the cooked apple filling was tangy and sweet, and the crumble was actually granola. Now, I am a huge fan of a crumble on a lazy Sunday, but one of my favourite parts is the stoggy, gluttonous crumble topping, so this wasn’t for me. However, in spite of my particularity, I still relished lapping up the entire dish. My guest had a French toast to finish, which is ideal if you want a dessert but don’t want to go for something overly sweet. It came with a subtle caramel sauce and poached bananas. Looking back, it was an ideal brunch dish; I could have had just the French Toast and been happy with my lot.
We woke the next morning to an incredibly healthy breakfast spread. We went straight in for a banana heavy berry and maca smoothie (maca is great for energy and balance in case you wanted to know!), and a continental selection of cured meats and artisanal cheeses. I also tried a slice of the banana and chia loaf and some overnight oats with chia seeds and a healthy dose of yoghurt. They also had freshly squeezed orange juice on tap and, for those who need it, Oatley milk, as well as fruits and cereals – why not go for the granola, which is made in house?
We also sampled one of their cooked mains to top off what was already a beautifully balanced and nutritious start to the day. I chose the heritage tomatoes, mozzarella, buckwheat and pesto toast. It wasn’t what I’d usually go for in the morning (the eggs Benedict from yesterday was tempting me) but I’m glad I chose it – it was simple yet brilliant, like an English breakfast version of a Caprese. My guest went with the full English breakfast, which was chock full of high-quality meat, and again, a really good sized portion when added to the kitchen table spread.
The Crowd
A mixed range of unpretentious west London types, country dwellers who happen to live in the city, and small parties of friends enjoying the wine list in the snow globes in the garden.
Out and About
If you don’t know, you go to Richmond for the deer and the river, and you stay for the food and the shops. You can wander the village-like streets, go deer spotting, biking and even boating.
The Best Thing
Nothing compares to Richmond on a Sunday, and the Bingham Riverhouse is in the perfect location to soak it all up. This place is so peaceful and there’s something magical about it: it feels like you’ve been transported to another time.
The Worst Thing
This is not a bad thing at all, but if you’re looking for a hotel with grounds to explore, this isn’t for you. Half of the venue is a private member’s club and wedding venue, so you won’t be able to visit those parts if they’re in use. However, with the river and Richmond park at your door, I doubt you’ll be in need of stimulation!
The Details
61-63 Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 6U
020 8940 0902
The Sunday brunch set menu is £55 per person and rooms are £125.
