OK! Magazine UK – 26 August 2019

WWW.OK.CO.UK 99

REPORT BY DANNY LEDGER

EDITED BY [email protected]

WHATISIT?

You might just miss this delightful, secluded

boutique hotel nestled on the edge of the

River Thames. Within close proximity to

the historic town of Richmond sits Bingham

Riverhouse, which feels more like someone’s

home when you step inside with its library,

dining room and kitchen/bar area that looks

out on to a lawned garden.

WHYDOWELOVEIT?

This 15-bedroom hotel has sumptuous

décor throughout, with its gorgeous rooms

and views of the Thames. Plus seeing cows in

the meadow next door – as well as Richmond

Park being just 15 minutes away – makes

you feel that you’re in the heart of the

countryside, instead of south-west London!

The house used to be the residence of

Edith Cooper and Katherine Bradley, who

together wrote under the pseudonym Michael

Field and lived there from 1899 to 1910, and

the literary feel extends throughout the house

with books adorning the walls.

OK!’s room had a huge king-size bed

and an amazing hand-forged copper bath

tub that we just had to plunge into on

arrival! After our luxurious soak, we headed

downstairs for a cocktail before experiencing

the exceptional three-course à la carte dinner

menu (£45) by head chef Andy Cole. We

began with a salmon starter with crispy oyster,

oyster mayonnaise and pickled cucumber.

This was followed by the lamb loin with crispy

sweetbread, black olive caramel, sugar snap

peas, broad beans, baby plum tomatoes

and goat’s

curd mash.

For dessert we

had a lemon

posset with

white chocolate

and raspberry

sorbet. The

house has

balconies and

terrace areas

where you

can sit and

eat and drink

outside, plus

a charming

walled garden

leading down

to the river

beyond.

WHOGOES?

Being in one of London’s wealthiest

boroughs, you would expect many of the

rich and famous to be seduced by Bingham

Riverhouse’s charms. Actors Tom Hardy,

Dwayne Johnson and Richard E Grant have

all stayed here, along with Fearne Cotton and

fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

WHATELSE?

As a staying guest, you get a chance to visit

Bingham’s eco wellbeing escape Bhuti, just a

five-minute walk away. Here you can indulge

in a facial, massage or even a spot of yoga.

Nearby Richmond Park with its acres of green

space is a great spot to see wild deer roaming

freely. The riverfront has restaurants, cafés

and pubs, while the Royal Botanic Gardens at

Kew are a 40-minute walk away.

VISIT WWW.BINGHAMRIVERHOUSE.COM.

BINGHAMRIVERHOUSERICHMOND

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HOTSPOT

OK!’s sumptuous room

had a free-standing,

hand-forged copper bath

Above: The riverside hotel boasts a

beautiful walled garden overlooking

the Thames (above right)

WHO GOES?

OK!