Pints, Pubs & Pub Runs

From Ted Lasso’s “Believe” to a mad dash along the Thames — Richmond delivers heart, humour and a happy ending.

When the whole team pressed a hand to that poster in the locker room — you know, the one above the door with the simple word “Believe” — I swear my heartstrings received a little tug.

Hi there lovely readers,

So here we are in Richmond — Ted Lasso territory. And yes, I’m unabashedly into that poignant, hopeful message: “Craft your thoughts, be patient, stay kind, stay positive.” It’s the kind of thing that can change the way you walk down a street or talk to yourself under your breath.

We wandered into the forecourt (the one that’s strung with fairy lights by evening), passed the bench where Ted and Coach Beard mused over takeaway coffees, and walked the lane to “Ted’s home away from home.” I just loved the wee barrel yielding water for the pups.

We also dropped by The Crown & Anchor — real-life The Prince’s Head — where we collapsed, ordered our usual, and let our boots take a rest. Richmond’s charm doesn’t depend on the show, but Ted gave every corner a little extra warmth.


After lunch, pints, and lots of laughter, we made a beeline to the White Cross Pub to rendezvous with our host Adrian (who’s basically family now). He’d just told us we are running late for the Thames cruise back to Westminster — cue the classic dilemma: drain your pints in one gulp, carry them with you like juggling grenades, or leave them behind as sacrificial offerings. We opted for speed (sans beer), sprinted the 800 metres to the dock, hopped aboard mid-boarding, and collapsed into deck seats. Evidence of gasps + apologies? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Because, dear readers, we made it. Believe!

Richmond Park, London

And of course a post will not be complete without a fact or two yes? Here’s my Richmond top 5:

1. Locations used in Richmond for filming Ted Lasso include:


 • The Prince’s Head Pub: This pub was used for the exterior shots of the “Crown & Anchor” pub. The interior scenes were filmed on a studio set.
• Richmond Green: A large public park that frequently appears for outdoor scenes, including Ted’s walks, public events, and Roy coaching his niece’s team.
• Paved Court: The charming alley where Ted’s front door is located in the show.
• Richmond Theatre: Appears in the show and can be visited in the area.
• Gaucho Richmond: A restaurant on the riverfront where some scenes were filmed.

2. Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and home to anthills that go back150 years, an ancient oak that’s an estimated 750 years old and the 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer that have roamed the park since 1637.

3. The Thames in Richmond is tidal, meaning even this far upstream the river’s level changes with the tide, often leaving the White Cross punters wading to their seats, beers aloft.

4. Richmond Bridge, completed in 1777, is the oldest surviving bridge across the Thames in London.

5. • Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest borough in London for several consecutive years.

The cruise back down the river was delightful, a warm breeze on our faces as we sipped G&Ts and marvelled at what a fabulously vibrant city London is, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. A toast to the weather, our hosts, and the city, now bathed in glorious shades of dusk, now, where to for dinner?

 

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Dreams, Breaths & Blue Light

Somerset House’s luminous lady invites us to pause and imagine.

Sometimes London throws you a curveball. One minute you’re dodging black cabs and pigeons, the next you’re standing in a grand courtyard, gazing at a luminous, breathing blue lady stretched out as if caught between sleep and dream.

Hi there lovely readers,

The G and I had just walked A, our beloved host, to work. It’s 7am, a perfect time to bask in a hazy sun and breathe the last vestiges of crisp air before the masses emerge. ‘I have something to show you that’s totally wild!’ G whispered over our post good deed coffee. Lead on, said I. If it excites the big G it has to be intriguing!

The Spell or The Dream

Picture it: a giant glowing figure, her chest rising and falling as though fast asleep, while the fountains pause to let you tune into her slow rhythm. Add a haunting soundscape by Maxwell Sterling and suddenly the whole courtyard feels like it’s holding its breath.

This is The Spell or The Dream by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani, and she’s taken up residence at Somerset House’s Fountain Court.


But it’s not just a sculpture — it’s a conversation. Around the installation is The Dream Radio, a 24/7 broadcast where artists, writers, and even musicians like Brian Eno share stories of dreams, catastrophes, and futures yet to be written. It’s strange and beautiful, like being invited into an intimate ecstasy party.

For me, it was the sense of that kind of intimacy that lingered. Here, in the middle of buzzing London, stood a glowing figure that made you stop, sit, and listen — to her, to the city, and maybe even to yourself. Art that reminds you to breathe? I’ll take it.

The Blue Lady
Screenshot

Now by now you’ll have identified I love a good fun fact. A little research and here they are:

Top 5 Fun Facts: The Blue Lady at Somerset House

1. She Breathes – The luminous blue figure doesn’t just lie there; her chest rises and falls with a slow, hypnotic breath. Standing beside her, I soon found myself matching her rhythm.

2. Soundtrack to a Dream – Composer Maxwell Sterling created an ambient soundscape that surrounds her, so it feels like you’ve stepped into someone else’s dream.

3. Dream Radio – Alongside the sculpture is a 24/7 broadcast featuring people sharing stories about hope, nightmares, and futures still to come. Could call it bedtime radio for big thinkers.

4. Pause for Effect – Twice a day (12 pm & 4 pm) the courtyard fountains switch off so visitors can fully experience the sculpture and sound without watery distractions.

5. Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time – This giant glowing lady leaves London on the 14th September. If you’re here prior to then, don’t miss her. She’s more than a sculpture — she’s an invitation to dream in broad daylight.

Somerset House
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A Spot of Pomp and Ceremony

Securing the Tower of London…

Every night at exactly 9:53 pm, the gates of the Tower of London are locked in a ritual that’s been running for nearly 700 years — the Ceremony of the Keys.

Hi there lovely readers,

And, at exactly 7pm, we assembled in our refinery — dress shoes essential (the boys moaning after days in sneakers!) — and reverently followed our guide over the moat, past glowing fields of poppies, the raven’s luxurious home, and into the bowels of the Tower.

Led by the Chief Yeoman Warder (yes, one of the famous Beefeaters), we were regaled with the bloody yet fascinating history of the Tower: the warders’ homes, their duties, the lavishly feathered ravens, tales of ghosts and of discovery in 1674 of the remains of two young missing princes, thought to have been murdered by Richard the III, their heritage yet to be proven until current royalty agree to DNA testing (requests declined by the late Queen and now King Charles)


Over drinks at their mess, we learned that all Yeoman Warders are retired Warrant Officers (and above) from the Armed Forces. The big G and our buddy chuffed to hear this, given they too were former Warrant Officers and the three of us there thanks to the request of our London host, himself the Australian Attaché to the Navy. The Yeoman Warders are part historian, part storyteller, part tourist-wrangler — with a generous dash of humour — which makes them the perfect keepers of this nightly ritual.




And then… the Keys

At last, lantern in one hand and the King’s Keys in the other, our Yeoman Warder strode out with his Foot Guard escort to begin the rounds. The air was electric as we filed behind until we reached the Bloody Tower archway.

“Halt! Who comes there?”
“The Keys.”
“Whose Keys?”
“King Charles’s Keys!”

And with that, the gates were locked, the keys returned to the Kings House, and the Last Post echoed through the Tower. Ten minutes, a lifetime of tradition. No photos. Respect.

This ritual has been carried out without fail for centuries — interrupted just once, in 1940, when a bomb blast blew the Chief Warder clean off his feet. He picked himself up, dusted off, lantern still lit, and carried on. How’s that for the stiffest of stiff upper lips?


Top 5 Fun Facts about the Ceremony of the Keys

1. The Oldest Military Ritual in the World — It’s been performed nightly for over 700 years. Historically, crucial for protecting monarchs who resided in the Tower and preventing prisoners from escaping. While no longer a royal residence, it continues to safeguard valuable artefacts, including the Crown Jewels.

2. Boom! Carry On — Only once interrupted, in WWII, when a bomb threw the Warder off his feet. He finished anyway.

3. Military Precision — It always starts at exactly 9:53 pm. Not 9:52. Not 9:54.

4. No Latecomers — Miss your slot and that’s it — not even the King’s Keys will get you in.

5. Free, But Coveted — It costs nothing to attend, but you’ll need to apply well in advance.

After battling sunburnt crowds by day, the Tower by night felt ethereal — shadows whispering through the cobblestones, every step echoing with centuries of history.

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