London is a patchwork quilt of neighborhoods. Everything is stitched together to form one big, glorious city, but each area retains its own personality. In this series, we interview local people who enrich their communities to understand what makes London special. In the first episode, we meet Ricardo Garcia, a Twickenham wine merchant who sees community spirit on the rise.
Writing for Foxtons, I'm usually sitting in our Chiswick Park HQ talking about the latest Help to Buy news and explaining how to make an offer. So it's fun to get out and explore the areas I write about. Coincidentally, that was the only way I could get an interview with Ricardo Garcia. We've been playing phone tag for months and he's been really busy lately (more on this later). So we finally agreed to come to Ricardo's cellar and conduct an interview while he was serving customers.
When I entered Ricardo's cellar, as expected, he was busy recommending cheese pairings to customers. It's okay because I get easily distracted. Along the left and back walls you'll see Old World wines, local craft ales, fruity ciders, robust porters, perfectly chilled roses… Stepping into a sweet shop for the first time as a child I feel the same dizzy feeling I had when I woke up. Ricardo has curated a truly impressive selection and I can't wait to walk around and read all the labels.
Immediately, he gave me a charming smile and a warm handshake. He shows me around and explains the day. Suddenly, you feel at home surrounded by impressive artifacts and delicate pieces of glass. I think Ricardo is the kind of owner who can honestly admit that I don't know much about wine. If I say I like plum and pepper flavors, he'll say, “Oh, I only have a bottle!” 
When I complimented the impressive selection, he said, “When people first come in, they want to see the wine list,'' pointing to the floor-to-ceiling shelves lined with gleaming bottles, and saying, “These are the wines.'' “It's a list.'' With such a wide variety, he realized that customers didn't have to choose Pinot Noir in their price range or stick to the Merlot on the menu when they really wanted Cab.
We sat at a table in the back facing the wine list. He pauses the interview several times while he heads off to support a customer. Some people greet you by name. They come to get their favorites. Ricardo's Cellar is primarily known as a wine bar, and some people come here to catch up with friends over a glass. Others are new to the area. Ricardo takes the visiting couple outside, enjoys a craft beer and an incredibly beautiful street view, then returns a few seconds later.
While watching him work, we learned the best way to experience Ricardo's cooking if you have an afternoon to spare. First, explore the bottle. Read carefully about white wine, red wine, sparkling beer, craft beer, and ale and choose your favorite beer. Ricardo said: “Instead of charging exorbitant prices, we’ve introduced a £5 corkage fee, so you can drink great food at a more affordable price.”
Grab a glass and stroll through Eel Pie Records, an adjacent shop in the back, before heading outside for bistro seating.
This street, Church Street, has only recently been closed to cars. This was in response to the coronavirus and allowed residents to practice social distancing while supporting local businesses. As it turned out, the pedestrianization of Church Street only added to its appeal. Now you can meander through the streets without dodging traffic. You can window shop without having to worry about parked cars. You can sit outside Ricardo's and sip a glass of wine while watching the pups being pampered as they come in and out of the pet salon. As you relax on the beautiful planter-lined and cobbled lanes under a string-lit sky, it's easy to see why people fall in love with Twickenham.
I asked Ricardo what he liked about working on this street and we looked at passersby. he says: “Church Street is a big part of the spirit of the community as it has a lot of businesses packed into a fairly small space. There are a lot of different types of shops and a lot of different nationalities…especially when the sun is out. It feels very European when you're there.
I spotted a visiting couple sunbathing with a cold craft beer. “Maybe I'll be vacationing in Italy soon,'' I mused.
“Yes,” he agreed, “Bingo!”
Quite a year
In addition to running the shop, Ricardo told me about being a member of the Business Improvement District (BID) board. The BID uses funds donated by local businesses to support projects that enhance Twickenham for local people and the professional community. The BID and its members are voted in every four years.
We paused the interview so he could help someone with their bills. When he comes back, I ask, “Why are you even trying BID?”
Ricardo sits on a chair and smoothly crosses his legs on his lap. He seems very at home in the store. “I’m very passionate about Twickenham,” he says. “I've lived here a long time and run a business here. (The board) is not something I get paid to do. I hope I can use my experience to help make good decisions. Thank you.”
Ricardo was born in Trinidad and moved to London by his parents as a young student. He has been in Twickenham since the 1990s and has worked as the region's main wine distributor for the past 19 years. He went from founding and operating TGI Fridays at the airport to opening Ricardo's Cellar in 2017, before becoming the owner of Ricardo's off-licence in 2003.
Ricardo then said he started working with the BID “just about two years ago.” Of course, that's when COVID-19 happened, so we're sharing our knowledge. “It has been a difficult few years for the BID, but there are quite a few things we have put together during this period.”
BID engages TwickTraders to help local shops increase online visibility (now part of the MyTown platform), increase visibility for local shops through TW Magazine and support reopening strategy organized.
“It's great to see the different events and how they work out,” Ricardo recalls. Looking back over the past few years, it appears to have been a pivotal time for something like the BID to be introduced to support and protect local commerce in Twickenham.
Since the pandemic, Ricardo has been spending a lot of time personally serving customers inside the store. Finding the right staff is critical, and their expertise is an invaluable part of the Ricardo's Cellar experience. Of course, he has also put a lot of effort into the BID. In addition to that, Ricardo's Cellar celebrates the local community through many events. This is why the interview took so long. Ricardo has a very busy schedule these days.
Ricardo's Pop-Up Bar can be found at many community events in the Greater Richmond Borough. “We support a lot of community activities, such as school fundraisers and church wine tastings.”
This weekend, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the BID will be installing big screens in Jubilee Gardens to watch tennis. Ricardo's operates a pop-up bar with Pimms and beer. There will also be several free film screenings, an example of what Twickenham BID is doing to strengthen its community.
Ricardo's also hosts private events such as weddings and outdoor parties, where a wide variety of bubbles and cigars come in handy. What his customers are interested in varies. “A certain age group of a generation is used to drinking wine from the Old World, like France or Italy. Some younger people prefer the New World, whether it's California or Australia. I We adjust to the crowd. Cigars are often featured at weddings, but there's also bubbles and champagne.' In addition to that, the shop also hosts its own tasting events, as well as tapas nights and cigars. Tastings and more solidify our place in the community tapestry.
A community where flowers bloom
As the dinner crowd began to trickle down Church Street, I said goodbye to Ricardo. I walk listening to the soothing hum of many conversations. The bustling restaurant smells of garlic and cream, cumin and cardamom. The warm light of the street lights brings a smile to my face.
“When businesses and communities come together, we can have a far greater impact,” Ricardo said on the BID's website. When I asked him about it in an interview, he replied: People are becoming a little more civic-minded and trying to support each other. There's conversation and engagement, and that's a positive thing. ”
I think I understand what he wants to say here. Treat yourself to a walk down Church Street.
Next time, we'll be interviewing another Twickenham local who will have a lot to say about the coming years for Twickenham, including the riverside development that residents are constantly talking about, so don't miss it!
