| Places to eat & drink along the course |
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Between Putney and Mortlake are numerous pubs and a few restaurants located either on the towpath or adjacent to it. These all make fantastic places to meet friends and to watch the Race live as it passes by. Most pubs offer special menus or deals on Boat Race day and will be showing the Race live on their TVs. Make sure to arrive early wherever you are going as all the pubs and restaurants will be very popular on the day.
Pubs on the Sharp's Brewery Trail
1. Spencer Arms – 237 Lower Richmond Rd, London. SW15 1HJ
(Nearest Tube – Putney Bridge)
2. Jolly Gardeners – 61-63 Lacey Road, Putney, London. SW15 1NT
(Nearest tube – Putney Bridge)
3. Coat and Badge – 8 Lacy Road, London. SW15 1NL
(Nearest Tube – Putney Bridge)
4. The Kings Arms – 425 New Kings Road, Fulham, London. SW6 4RN
(Nearest Tube – Putney Bridge)
5. The Durrell Arms – 704 Fulham Road, Fulham, London. SW6 5SB
(Nearest Tube – Parsons Green)
6. The Fulham Mitre – 81 Dawes Rd, Fulham, London. SW6 7DU
(Nearest Tube – Fulham Broadway)
7. Southern Belle - 175/177 Fulham Palace Rd, London. W6 8QT
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
8. Crab Tree Inn – Rainville Rd, Fulham, London. W6 9HA
(Nearest Tube – Putney Bridge)
9. Old City Arms – 107 Hammersmith Bridge Road, London. W6 9DA
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
10. The Bridge – 204 Castelnau, Barnes, London. SW13 9DW
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
11. The Blue Anchor – 13 Lower Mall, Hammersmith, London. W6 9DJ
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
12. The Rutland Arms – 15 Lower Mall, Hammersmith, London. W6 9DJ
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
13. Dartmouth Castle – 26 Glenthorne Rd, Hammersmith, London. W6 0LS
(Nearest Tube – Hammersmith)
14. Black Lion – 2 South Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, London. SW6
(Nearest Tube – Ravenscroft)
15. The Barley Mow – 9 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London. W4 4PH
(Nearest Tube – Chiswick Park)
16. The Swan – 119 Acton Lane, Chiswick, London. W4 5HH
(Nearest Tube – Chiswick Park)
17. Botanist on the Green – 3-5 Kew Green, Richmond, London. TW9 3AA
(Nearest Tube – Kew Gardens)
18. Sun Inn, 7 Church Rd, Barnes, London, SW13 9HE
(Nearest Tube - Barnes Bridge Rail)
19. The Brown Dog – 28 Cross Street, Barnes, London. SW13 0AP
(Nearest Tube – Barnes Bridge Rail)
20. The Halfway House – 24 Priest’s Bridge, Barnes, London. SW14 8TA
(Nearest Tube – Putney Bridge)
Middlesex Bank
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The Temperance
90-90a Fulham High Street, SW6 3LJ Tel:020 7731 6892
The Temperance is, ironically, a former temperance billiard hall, whose function was to prevent working men falling under the influence of drink! It is a large Art Nouveau building, still displaying many original features including stained glass windows, and now boasts a restaurant alongside its bars. Located on the Middlesex Bank at the begiining of Fulham High Street it is an ideal location to dash to after watching the race start from Putney Bridge. There are large screen TV's where the race will be shown.
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The Crabtree
Rainville Road, Fulham W6 9HL Tel:020 7385 3929
Ten minutes stroll along the Thames Path from Fulham's Craven Cottage ground this pub has always been a focal part of the riverside community. During World War II a night raid left the "Crabtree" without windows and beer, but the regulars returned the next day to sup lemonade. Great viewing point as crews head for Hammersmith Bridge is outside on the pub's terrace, since inside on Race day can be "chockablock." The latter expression is a reminder of the riverside trade, since a "chock" was originally a block of wood used to make fast barrels on a boat’s deck! This part of the Championship Course is known as Crabtree Reach and the Cambridge old boys rowing club is also known as Crabtree
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River Cafe
Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, Hammersmith W6 9HA Tel:020 7386 4200 www.rivercafe.co.uk
Located 10 minutes walk from Hammersmith Bridge, along the Thames Path, The River Cafe has become one of London's best restaurants and is now entering its 22nd year. Based in an old warehouse remodelled by architect Richard Rogers and with a Michelin star to its credit the menu is of robust Italian influenced food. There is a view over the river from the dining room but you will need to drop the knives and forks and rush out onto the riverside pathway for the best view as the crews pass. Until 9 April 2009 there is good value winter set lunch menu.
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Old City Arms
107 Hammersmith Bridge Road, Hammersmith W6 9DA Tel:0872 148 5174
The closest pub to Hammersmith Bridge. Remember the bridge is closed during the Race, so best to watch from the towpath below the bridge and then dash up the stairs to see the rest of the Race on one of the Old City Arms's many plasma screens.
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The Blue Anchor
13 Lower Mall, Hammersmith W6 9DJ
Refurbished in the last year but dating from 1722, it’s the busiest time of the year for this popular Hammersmith hostelry. With the ARA just along the towpath and Auriol Kensington RC next door the upstairs function room is booked by Boat Race regulars every year and the bars downstairs are packed. The composer Gustav Holst has more than one link with this stretch of the river. Apart from being musical director at St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith and writer of "The Planets", he lived at Barnes Terrace in the early 1900s and composed his "Hammersmith Suite" in this pub.
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The Rutland Arms
15 Lower Mall, Hammersmith W6 9DJ Tel:020 8748 5586 One of the cluster of pubs on the Middlesex bank that provide sustenance on race day. Two doors away from the Blue Anchor it has also been refurbished during the last year. Plenty of burgers and chips will keep hunger at bay with plans for extra TVs to be installed. "Busiest day of the year" produces a unique atmosphere that staff say doen’t need any gimmicks, it’s the Boat Race from morning till closing time! Good venue to watch the crews head for Chiswick Eyot and Barnes Bridge.
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The Dove
19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA Tel: 020 8748 5405 Probably the oldest pub on this stretch of the river, having been serving customers since the 17th Century. The Dove has numerous bars, including the official smallest bar in England plus an outside balcony where the crews can be seen from Hammersmith all the way to Chiswick Eyot. Be warned it is very popular; Boat Race day is described as "mayhem" by bar staff!
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The Black Lion
2 South Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, W6 9TJ Tel: 020 8748 2639 Situated in a lane just behind the Thames Path, The Black Lion boasts a large beer garden and offers a barbecue on Boat Race day. Good views can be had from the embankment at this crucial part of the race as the crews race towards Chiswick Eyot.
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The Old Ship
25 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TD Tel: 020 8748 2593 Big pub with a beer garden facing the river. Another pub that has been recently refurbished and rebranded, it has great views of the river and room for large numbers of people. It is of course very busy on Boat Race day, but if you are there early enough you may get a seat and some of the excellent food.
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Pissarro's Brasserie
Corney Reach Way, W4 2TR Tel: 020 8994 3111 www.pissarro.co.uk Very pleasant riverside restaurant located on Corney Reach next to the RNLI. A good place to eat before the race, or just to enjoy a drink while watching the crews emerge from Chiswick Eyot and move off towards the Bandstand. This is the last hostelry on the Middlesex bank before the finish.
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Surrey Bank
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Thai Square Putney Bridge
2-3 Lower Richmond Road, Putney SW15 1LB Tel: 020 8780 1811 www.thaisquare.net Purpose built as a restaurant in the early 1990's and once boasting a Michelin star, this modern restaurant, built to resemble an ocean liner, is now a branch of the Thai Square chain. The bar upstairs provides great views of the Boat Race start. A good place for a Sunday lunch with a difference or exotic cocktails prior to the race this year, but book in advance.
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The Star & Garter
4 Lower Richmond Road, SW15 1JN Tel: 020 8788 0345 www.thestarandgarter.com A perfect setting on the Surrey bank to watch the pre-race build-up and then the "off". It’s just past the University Stone which marks the start, about a metre high and painted orange on one side, easily obscured by the crowds on race day, but a precious item of Boat Race history. The 'Star' has been redecorated and refurbished in the last 12 months, restoring many original features. For the 2009 Boat Race the pub is selling tickets at £15 or £10 for local residents.
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The Dukes Head
8 Lower Richmond Road, SW15 1JN Tel: 020 8788 2552 www.dukesheadputney.co.uk One of the most popular pub's on this stretch and a very short walk from the Star & Garter. The "Duke's" has both a cellar bar, main bar and restaurant with picture windows overlooking the race start. Extensively and controversially refurbished in recent years it still has the feel of a traditional town pub, but on Boat Race day it may well be the busiest bar in Putney.
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The Bull's Head
8373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, SW13 9PY Tel: 020 8876 5241 www.thebullshead.com First recorded in 1684 and rebuilt in 1845, The Bulls Head has since 1959 enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of London's finest jazz venues. The Young's pub also has a Thai restaurant in the old stables. You'll have to nip over the Lonsdale Rd to see the crews pass but the race will be on the bar TV's on one of the pub's biggest days of the year.
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Ye White Hart
The Terrace, Riverside, Barnes, SW13 ONR Tel: 020 8876 5177
Whether it’s building up to a tight finish or one crew is turning on the style, then the patrons of the "Hart" will have a prime view from their riverside terrace. We’re almost at the winning post from this vantage point on the Surrey bank. The Hart was rebuilt in 1899 and has been a hostelry since 1676. Expect it to be busy!
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The Depot Waterfront Brasserie
Tideway Yard, Mortlake High Street, SW14 8SN Tel: 020 8878 9462
A restaurant rather than pub, so bookings well in advance are needed with a capacity of around 120. Seats by the riverside window are much coveted with the finishing post in sight on the far Middlesex bank. If you haven’t booked for this year, take the longterm view and reserve lunch or dinner for the following year, seats are at a premium on Race day. Past crews have often held their reunions here.
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The Ship
10, Thames Bank, Ship Lane, London, SW14 7QR Tel: 020 8876 1439 Ideal for watching the last few strokes of the race, located as it is just before the University Stone that signifies the finish of the race. The Ship is next to the Mortlake Brewery and popular with the workers there. The last pub on the Boat Race course expect it to be crammed with supporters celebrating or drowning their sorrows.
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Riverside Bar and Kitchen
Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9RL.
Tel: 020 8237 1009, email: riverside@alfrescoservices.co.uk
Riverside Studios is a unique arts and media centre situated on the bank of the River Thames overlooking Hammersmith Bridge. ITV have chosen to film the race from our large river terrace in previous years due to its prime location along the race course, the point where in previous years the race has been decided.
The BBQ starts from 12pm until late, free entry and boasting a plasma TV screen in the main bar for the last few strokes. Tables are on a first come first serve basis so get here early!
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