An enjoyable theatre bar in Hammersmith, offering a wide range of food and an excellent view of the Thames.

The Venue
Up until the early seventies, the Riverside Studios was owned by the BBC and had been graced by television legends as diverse as Tony Hancock and the Daleks. It still offers production facilities for TV today, as well as hosting a range of other cultural activities and events, from film to dance, music to plays. The Riverside Studios Cafe Bar is situated within the studio complex itself and provides film and theatregoers with pre-show sustenance, although if you’re not planning to indulge in the cultural offerings it is still a pretty cool place to enjoy a drink or a meal.

The solid metal floor and pipes around the walls and ceiling of the bar are reminiscent of the interior of a classic television studio. A TV screen shows constant but silent reminders of the Riverside’s heritage. If you find the industrial, silver decor a little impersonal you could always head for the large, chocolate coloured sofas of the lounge area. Alternatively, if you follow the corridor onto the bar terrace, resisting the temptation to knock on the dressing room doors as you do, then you will discover a magnificent view of Hammersmith Bridge and the Thames.

In summer it is romantic to sit at one of the outside tables and listen to the honking of the geese overhead as the sun sinks slowly in the distance. When the temperature drops, however, the two meagre terrace heaters don’t provide much comfort or encourage you to stay outside.

The Atmosphere
As you may well expect, the Riverside Studios Bar has a very cultured ambience enhanced by the changing art and photography exhibitions held in the space next to the bar. During the quieter times, in the afternoon for instance, the bar is a good place to relax and meet friends. However, as show time approaches, the gentle buzz becomes a crescendo of chatter and pre-performance excitement, which naturally abates once the audience has taken its seats.

The Food
The Riverside Studios Bar menu reflects the artistic fare on offer at the venue in that it is varied and attempts to cater for all tastes. The dishes are seasonal with a distinct Mediterranean accent. The menu is strong on meat and fish but there is a good veggie choice including frittata with caramelised onion, goat’s cheese and thyme. Carnivores will no doubt want to tuck into the chargrilled boar meat sausages or perhaps the six ounce Riverside beef burger. There is geographical diversity here with noodles and dumplings starring alongside sharing plates of mezze and tapas.

If you have room for an encore, desserts include sticky toffee pudding and apple and pear crumble. The disparate menu means a range of prices but expect to pay up to £14 for a main course with the burger coming in at £8.

The Drink
The modestly stacked shelves of the bar, illuminated from below by fairylights, belies the large range of tipples available. Again, there is a ‘something for everyone’ arrangement. The draught beers are continental such as Staropramen and Leffe, but the more common beers, Becks for instance, or ciders such as Magners are available by the bottle. Wines on offer include a nicely chilled Grenache and Merlot, served by the glass or bottle. Prices are reasonable with a bottle of wine coming in at around £12 or £25 for Champagne. Havana Club Rum, Jameson’s whiskey and Absolut vodka are amongst the spirit options.

A softer, considerably healthier alternative is provided by the range of delicious fruit smoothies along with organic lemonade and ginger beer. The more eco-conscious among you will be glad to know that the Riverside Studios Bar purports to recycle all its glass, paper and cans.

The Last Word
The quality menu along with the classy decor and picturesque surroundings make the Riverside Studios Bar more than your average theatre bar.

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