This has to be the best pub on the Thames in terms of location, food and service, located just by Kew Bridge on the very pretty Strand on the Green. We’re lucky that it makes a very nice half-way stop on an 8 mile circular walk from our house, which is possibly why I like it so much! This is my first Kew pub review, and I’m keen to highlight its great location. Also as a keen Thames Path walker, I’m always keen to let my fellow travellers know where there is decent food (and a toilet…)

Where possible, we sit out on the veranda overlooking the Thames. Finally, after many years, you can book the veranda online. I have never understood quite why they did not want to take reservations for outside, even when the sun was shining. Many pubs open the online booking on the day when it is obvious it won’t rain. It was a little ironic, then, that the veranda was available to book today (at last), even though it was a drizzly mess outside, and the veranda was very, very shut. At least it’s an option in a few months. Reading a Kew pub review like this can help you plan your visit better.

Sunday is a bad day to be a walker, looking for pub food. A lot of menus disappear in favour of roasts, which is understandable as everyone has to make a living. Fortunately, the Steam Packet has a wide variety of starters and nibbles, enough to make a suitable lunch. There used to be a salad available on a Sunday, but that is sadly no longer an option. For more details, keep reading this Kew pub review.

We had Bang Bang Pork, Maple Figs on bread, Red Pepper Houmous and Halloumi Fries. Due to someone introducing peanuts into the world mustard supply, I was unable to try the Pork, but I am told it was very tasty. The Houmous never disappoints, apart from a major attack of shrinkflation over the time we have been going to the pub, being much smaller and much more expensive than even 3 years ago (now £7 to its previous £5). The figs, though, we utterly tasteless, and the bread was soggy. Deffo take that off the menu.

The service was particularly attentive today, with the waitress offering to take our drinks order as we sat down. It is a pet peeve of mine that once seated it can take ages to get a drink, so top marks for that.

Conclusion

Still a 5 star pub. Good food, location and beer, and today, particularly good service. It is becoming pricey, with a pint of beer at £7.40 and a glass of wine at £9, and eye off the ball a bit on the food front. Maybe it was because it is a Sunday and a lot of time was going into the roasts. This concludes my Kew pub review, but it you’re interested in another superb local(ish) pub, read my review of the Hand in Hand in Wimbledon

Rating: 5/5

The Steam Packet: https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/steampacket/