The Cricketers, Richmond

Situated overlooking the charm of Richmond Green one could be make the hideous mistake of going into this pub. The interior decor is drab and depressing. Should you decide to sit in the elevated section at the back, you will be overpowered with the smell of urine that eminates from the nearby toilets. The selection of quality of the beer is dire to say the least, not a single decent premium ale on tap - their only saving grace being that they serve both regular and extra cold guiness. This means that there is one acceptable on tap beer, however the regular guiness as drinkable as it should be just isn't. The last time I visited this pub I walked in from the pouring rain with my two year old daughter to be informed that buggies were not acceptable and that I would need to collapse it outside! Why? Surely, I could collapse it inside without causing any grief to the other two occupants of pub. I asked to run a tab and was informed that I could not do so, but could pay by card and get cashback. Again why? To call the staff obtusive and lacking in any form of decent customer service would be rude to obtusive and unhelpful people. Perhaps it is a lack of staff training, but I believe to be that unhelpful takes a degree of planning (how can I best p**s this customer off enough to not want to drink here?) I will admit that I have not tried their food although having had to gag on the hot frangrant smell of urine for my entire duration there I could not think of looking at their menu without pondering if everything was offered as "aromaticely spiced". Do yourself a big favour, cross over the road to the pub next door that serves a superb pint of ESB, good food, has great bar staff and although they do not allow children inside you could far worse than having a spare rug with to keep the little one warm as you sit at the outside tables and enjoy a proper pint as it should be from a proper licencer!

19 Dec 2011 22:52