Heading to a pub garden is practically mandatory during the British summer, and there’s no shortage of boozers to choose from up and down the country. While we can all get pretty defensive when it comes to declaring which pub is the best, and it’s usually our beloved locals, there’s no denying that some are simply better than others.
But if you’re looking to cool off during the hot water weather, there’s one establishment that you might want to dip your toes into, which one travel influencer has described as the “most unique pub I have ever seen.” In a video posted on Instagram, @loulouexplores shared her visit to the White Cross in London, showing clips of bar staff wading through water in wellies, and locals having to tow their bikes through the overflowing River Thames.
Located in Richmond, the quirky pub is right next to the River Thames, and when the tide is high the entire beer garden becomes submerged in water.
While you might expect your local to close down in the event of a flood, its business as usual at the White Cross. Once the beer garden is submerged in the Thames water, staff simply swap into a pair of wellies and continue serving pints.
If you don’t own a pair of wellies, don’t worry about getting your hands on any beforehand because the pub keeps a complimentary supply of them ready for visitors. But if you don’t feel like getting your feet wet, you can simply order drinks on their On Tap app.
Some Instagram users expressed concern at the quality of the murky-looking water flooding the garden, with one user asking: “Isn’t the water from the Thames all nasty?” but Louise, who shared the video, assured followers that it doesn’t smell.
Although the Thames River might not look so appealing to swim in, it’s actually considered one of the cleanest major city rivers in the world, and Louise said: “No it doesn’t smell nor is it full of sewage…people swim in this section of it.”
It’s not a daily occurrence either, so if you do want to visit the Grade II listed pub and take in the sweeping view of the Thames instead of being submerged in it, this is also an option.
Secret London reported that the pub tends to fully flood around three to four times a month, although given how close it is to the water, regulars say that at least a little bit seeps into the garden daily.
Reaching four and half meters during high tide, tidal information is available on the pub’s website, so you can plan your visit accordingly.
Not something you might expect to see at your local, the White Cross is used to it, and their website explains: “We are famous for being the pub that floods in Richmond, where high tides, high vibes, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience come together.”
Besides that, they’re like any other boozer, serving pints alongside quintessential pub grub. They’ve even got a newly-opened fish and chip shack open Friday to Sunday, and the pub is open from 11am-11pm daily.