If you're looking to host your Christmas party away from the bustle and stress of central London, Watermans Richmond is the venue. With mainline, tube and various other transport links available, this riverside gastro pub offers the perfect setting for an end-of-year celebration next to the river.
Inside, Watermans feels instantly cosy. The layout is flexible, meaning it can host both seated meals and standing receptions, and there’s also a spacious outdoor garden patio which is ideal for those who fancy a winter-warming drink or smoke break under the southwest London stars (and a few fairy lights). Whether you’re booking a section of the restaurant or taking over the space entirely, the events team are on hand to help plan everything from drinks packages to festive menus and optional extras.
The food at Watermans is a far cry from soggy sprouts and dry turkey. Christmas set menus offer three-course feasts with dishes like Norwegian fresh cod goujons with tartare sauce or bruschetta on flat bread with fresh tomatoes and mixed olives to start, followed by a roast turkey feast with all the trimmings or alternative mains such as honey-glazed chicken skewers with avocado mayo and mango salsa.
Also available is the seasonal a la carte menu that fuses British classics with Mediterranean flair. Start with burrata topped with mango and truffle paste, move onto a 35-day dry-aged ribeye steak with truffle butter or homemade ravioli cooked in lobster bisque, before finishing off with home-made baklava. A variety of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes complete the offering.
Drinks-wise, Watermans shines with a curated wine list, signature cocktails, and draft beers, as well as festive specials that can be tailored for your group. From Christmas Day lunches to New Year’s Eve blowouts, this welcoming Richmond favourite offers the kind of thoughtful details, adaptable space and relaxed charm that make it easy to host a memorable celebration. Get away from London’s smoke, gather your group, raise a glass and let Watermans Richmond handle the rest.