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Beer of the Week (w/e 17th March 2024) with Mobyduck on the Pub Forum

Windsor Castle, Marylebone, W1

27-29 Crawford Place
W1
W1H 4LJ

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about Windsor Castle

Backstreet pub just off the Edgware Road. The place is a shrine to interesting bric-a-brac; plates on the ceiling, toby jugs, old bottles, old photos of yesteryear’s showbiz stars (including Wendy Richard, who used to drink here apparently) and a strong royal theme. The dark wood central bar effectively divides the pub in two. Along the counter there are affixed a number of brass plaques, presumably commemorating former regulars (a number of which are so worn down the name is no longer legible). Upstairs is a small restaurant area. It has a very homely (almost country pub) feel and you can easily pretend you are million miles away from the hustle and bustle of central London. All to the good so far. Four ales on, with a pretty middling line-up of Youngs Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Wadworths 6X and Bombardier. My Adnams was under-par and eye-wateringly expensive at £4pp. Reading elsewhere it seems that indifferent-to-poor beer quality appears to be the norm, which is a crying shame.

An odd one to sum-up; I’d say it’s well-worth a visit for the novelty value but frankly I think ale drinkers would be best advised to stick to a softie and make it last long enough to take in the atmosphere. Could be an absolute must-visit if the ale was better (or at least 30p cheaper…). For now, an intriguing enigma.

On 31st January 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5030 recommendations about 5013 pubs]


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Blackthorn _ left this review about Windsor Castle

Where do I start with this one? There is “stuff” absolutely everywhere, not only on the walls but the ceilings as well. In many cases you can’t even tell what the décor is, as there is literally not a spare square inch of space.

The first thing you notice is a full size model soldier stood on guard in a glass case outside the front door. Before you even step foot inside, you’ll probably also notice the rows and rows of jugs lined up in shelves just inside the window. I can’t even begin to document everything that’s there, but I did notice plates in glass cases covering one ceiling, photo’s of various stars such as Anita Dobson, and numerous photo’s and drawings of royalty, from a painting of Queen Victoria and her extended family to photo’s of Diana and a very young William and Harry.

Upstairs is a small restaurant area that has a slightly odd appearance with a narrow staircase to get to it and green plastic tablecloths, but you’ll probably be more interested in the royal pictures plastering the walls or the piano in the corner. The restaurant is a Thai and has friendly Thai waitresses serving. The menu was extensive, with most of the dishes being priced at little more than you would expect to pay in a takeaway. The two dishes of Pad Thai and Green Curry were both very good and we would certainly recommend the food here.

The barman seemed slightly indifferent when he served us, but waved a friendly goodbye as we left, so perhaps he was just a little perturbed about me questioning his selection of cider and then deciding to go with the one that was right in front of me. One bar counter had a copper tap, fed by a shiny copper pipe about 12 inches above the bar. Whether this was just an unusual feature, or for customers to help themselves to water, I’m not sure.

Beers on tap were 6X, Bombadier, Young’s Bitter and Adnams Bitter. The solitary cider was Addlestones which was a pleasant change from the sweet fizzy stuff you seem to get in most pubs round these parts.

On 28th March 2011 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


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Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Windsor Castle

Certainly one for memorabilia fans, with all sorts of stuff on the walls, shelves and even in the windows. Quite a few real ales on, but the Wadworth 6X was only just about OK. Taken slighly by surprise when my packet of crisps was decanted into a little bowl, but at least they didn't charge extra for this 'service'! Overall, an interesting place, but perhaps they should sell fewer but better real ales?

On 4th October 2009 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8039 recommendations about 8039 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about Windsor Castle

One of those quirky pubs with all sorts of seemingly random paraphenalia to look at; there are however some themes, notably a Royal one with pictures of various royal family members through the years, some pub tables are marked with the various families, eg Stuarts, Tudors. The Royal crest stands above a mirror. Over the bar are numerous photos mainly of 1970's TV actors and names, there is also a hint of a military theme with a number of pictures and an aircraft propeller mounted on the ceiling adjacent to a youthful Prince Charles in uniform. The front windows are full of shelves of cups, toby jugs, plates etc, while a Union Jack and Stars and Stripes flag flank either side of the entrance.
The central dark wood island bar has brass plates fixed to the counter presumably in memory of former regulars. Upholstered banquette seating, carpeted. Details of the Cato Street conspiracy are displayed (Cato St is opposite).
Beers choice was unremarkable in Youngs Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Wadworths 6X and Bombardier. I had the Adnams which was ok on the day. Thai food is served and seems popular.

On 8th August 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


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Rex Rattus left this review about Windsor Castle

This is one of those pubs that has taken the collection of bric-a-brac to extremes, with all manner of assorted items occupying every available space. Maldenman’s review below goes into more depth in this respect. This is a comfortable pub with mainly banquette seating, comprising essentially two inter-connected rooms. Something I hadn’t seen before (at least not to the same degree) was the very many little brass plaques on the front of the bar counter, no doubt commemorating previous regulars that had passed on to that great pub in the sky. Quite a nice touch I thought. I did have a Thai meal there, and thought that £8.10 (plus tip) for a pretty basic chicken stir fry plus some plain rice was a bit expensive. I’ve had better Thai food in other pubs in the general area (e.g. Duke of Kendal) for a couple of quid cheaper. But let’s not go all foody – this is a cracking little pub, the pint of Adnam’s I had was excellent, and I would be happy to visit again.

On 8th August 2009 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


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john mcgraw left this review about Windsor Castle

From the outside this pub looks like an antique shop.Inside it is a very cosy two bar pub with an unbelievable collection of memorabilia and bric a brac including hundreds of photographs all over the walls and ceilings.The Handlebar club meets once a month.Three real ales on tap.Thai food sold.10 mins from Marble Arch/Edgware Road tube.

On 7th December 2008 - rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]