The Queen Victoria, Windsor

Corner pub serving 3 real ales

The Criterion is a small basic locals pub on a street corner just outside the main tourist area of town. It's an L shaped bar with an additional room at the side, which features, notably, a large framed newspaper page - "Mersey Beat Issue" - dated June 1962 with the headline "Beatles top poll". The Criterion is still badged as a Courage pub. Frosted windows bearing the inscription - "Charles Ashby & Co India Pale Ales" - indicate an earlier ownership by a former Staines brewery. There's 3 handpumps, but on my recent visit, only Courage Best was on at a price of £ 3.20p, which seems quite pricey for a pub like this. Some of the locals here seemed to be quite characters, but the welcome was nothing other than warm and friendly. If you like old fashioned rather basic pubs like this, I'd be inclined to poke your head round the door and see if there's any decent beer on.