The Marlborough is on quite a quiet street on Richmond Hill, just back from Petersham Meadows and surrounded by some of this leafy bit of London's nicest homes. But it doesn't look like much from the front. Sure, the entrance is nice enough, but it's tucked away rather than on display. In Winter you can see the fire burning so it's welcoming, but you still might have ventured in - if you didn't know about their brilliant beer garden.
It's far larger than a backyard, yet is hemmed in by other back yards which means it's as quiet and leafy as the area. There's a covered section, like an open conservatory, which in Winter they drop marquee like walls over and heat, and lots of wooden tables and chairs - some picnic style and some with a bit more to them than that. So there's plenty of space as well as plenty of grass - and, here's the best bit, at the bottom of the garden there's a rabbit hutch. For the kiddies. Who are welcome. Dogs are welcome too, but only if they stay away from the bunnies.
The Marlborough does a BBQ in the summer months which is decent, if slightly disorganised and unreliable. And their regular food is fine - pub grub that scores about a six or seven out of ten, depending on what you order, Their drinks menu is also pretty good. But it's that fire in Winter and the beer garden in Summer that make this pub worth marking on your little mental map of London.
The Rock-a-billy manager is a friendly soul as well, who you can tell really enjoys being where he is. Which is a nice atmosphere for a pub to have. Feels like a real local. Especially when you start learning the names of all the dogs.
Just forgive the slightly naff wallpaper.
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