I opened the plush velvet bedroom curtains to a view of a golden Willow tree blowing in the breeze, grassy banks twinkling with morning dew and the Thames trickling on by.
It felt all very countrified but in fact I was just a short walk from a London tube station.
Following a major refurb, I’d present the Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond as the ultimate London staycation spot.
The interiors are chic yet cosy and with only 15 rooms, there is a certain intimacy about the place.
I checked into the quaint redbrick townhouse (a former literary hub frequented by the likes of Ruskin and Yates) on a Monday evening and the reception phone was ringing incessantly with people inquiring for Christmas bookings.
When the receptionist finally got a moment to breathe, she showed me to a room down a corridor and up a small flight of stairs.
I was staying in the ‘Borgia’ room, which boasts lovely riverside views, a large bed and a copper deep bath tub proves to be the cherry on top.
One thing to note if you’re doing a girly night away or a mother-daughter break, the tub is located in the bedroom, so you must be comfortable taking public dips!
I loved the interiors of the room, with a refined 60s-inspired feel. Think natural woods, forest greens and brushed brass fixtures…
Moving to the bathroom, the place was clad with white marble, giving it a bright feel, with a large rain shower and divine smelling products from Oxford-based toiletries brand La-Eva.
In terms of amenities, other perks of the room included USB sockets by the bed, water on the desk, an ironing kit in the wardrobe, a coffee maker in another cupboard and a well thought-out mini bar. A dinky bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne caught my eye as did a sophisticated-looking bottle of 2015 Chateau Montaiguillon Montagne St Emilion.
Topping things off, there were fluffy white robes hanging on the bathroom door, with slippers to complete the look.
THE BINGHAM RIVERHOUSE RESTAURANT
If you’re staying at the Bingham Riverhouse, then a major perk is having a top notch restaurant on your doorstep.
At 7pm, my friend and I headed back down the corridor to the dining room, which serves up delicious seasonal British fare.
The place is decked out with powder pink paint and a grand piano takes centre stage.
The main bar also gives off a cosy glow, with an assortment of bottles backlit.
Taking a seat next to the river-facing window, we perused the food and drink menus.
The Bingham certainly boasts an impressive selection of tipples to suit all tastes.
We counted almost 10 different types of dessert wines, whiskies taking up an entire menu page and the martini menu was a particular winner for me.
I went for a concoction containing Sipsmith Gin, Noilly Prat and grapefruit bitters, while my friend opted for a pineapple-infused mocktail.
Moving on to the dining, we opted for the three-course set menu at £45.
There is a nice concise selection of dishes, with the options changing regularly.
The night we visited, we plumped for a hearty mushroom veloute and melt-in-the-mouth duck confit to start.
This came served with some very moreish slices of buttery focaccia with paprika-infused butter, which didn’t last long!
Moving to mains, the baked celeriac caught my eye, while my friend was drawn to the monkfish.
Both dishes we well portioned, with an assortment of flavours coming through.
The arty crockery got another thumbs up from me, with the duck confit served in a heavy stone basin and the cheese selection, which got my vote for dessert, arranged on a polished slab of slate.
While I opted for a savoury pudding, my friend went for the white chocolate rice pudding, which was deliciously creamy and highly irresistible!
Feeling well fed and watered, we rolled back up the little flight of stairs to bed.
We both slept like logs in the giant bed, and thanks to an easy-to-use heating panel, the temperature in the room was spot on.
While my friend had to run to work, I thankfully had a bit of time to play with before the 11am check out.
My first aim was to use the copper bath and my second, to make it to breakfast before the 10am curfew.
I fulfilled both wishes, with the indulgent bath setting me in high spirits for the rest of the day.
The dining room is transformed come the morning, with the bar turned into a breakfast counter complete with a buffet including fresh pastries, fruit and cereals.
I didn’t order off the menu but there were a few things that piqued my interest, one being crushed avocado on rye bread and the other being a hemp-infused ‘Repair’ smoothie.
On checking out of the Bingham Riverhouse the reception phone was still ringing.
It’s no wonder that people are calling to enquire about this place.
It’s the perfect place for a spot of recuperation and it won’t break the bank either, with rooms starting at under £150.
I’d get your call in while you can…
The Bingham Riverhouse is located at 61-63 Petersham Rd, Richmond TW10 6UT
To book a dining experience or stay visit www.binghamriverhouse.com or call 020 8940 0902
