The Windmill, Southwark, SE1

An early 19th century pub, this would appear to have been rebuilt, either in the 1930s or ‘50s, now run by Fuller’s. The exterior green tiles are fine, but much of the interior is good too, with attractive wood panelling and courgette soup coloured paintwork and Analglypta, all best appreciated on the pub’s website’s gallery; a further gallery of sorts, comes in the form a great number of framed photos of celebrities on the walls. Mid-evening on a Saturday, business was very brisk, making for quite a din, emanating from a mainly young crowd, but with some older customers, possibly theatregoers from the nearby Old Vic. Despite the large number of pump clip faces glued to the ceiling, ale was limited with just the inevitable Pride, then Jack Frost, Southwark’s Mayflower Session IPA, sadly ‘gone fishing’ then Hophead at £5.10 a pint and on good form. This isn’t a bad pub, certainly one of the best in the immediate vicinity, but no match for the King’s Arms up the road.

As described by JAQPTIO and Steve, below, this traditional London pub is friendly, pleasant and welcoming.  The outside terrace at the front was crowded and a bit intimidating, but inside there was a good atmosphere, most of the clientele being quite young and just out for a good time.  It was, if anything, a bit too noisy.    Some of them seemed to be drinking peanut-butter flavoured beer from cans, which, like farting in a lift, is wrong on every level.  It is still a Fuller’s pub yet has still escaped the branding.  Ales on were London Pride, Fuller’s Swing Low and, Castle Rock Crafty Flanker, all in very good condition.  Craft beers were Brixton Reliance, Star City Double IPA, Siren Suspended in Rakau and Bristol Beer Factory’s Milk Stout.  A really good bet if in the area.

Official site of The Windmill - www.windmillwaterloo.co.uk

Official site of The Windmill - www.windmillwaterloo.co.uk

Official site of The Windmill - www.windmillwaterloo.co.uk

Official site of The Windmill - www.windmillwaterloo.co.uk

The Windmill was very busy when I visited on the Thursday evening before Christmas. Thankfully I was able to fight my way through the crowds in the front bar to the back bar where it was a little quieter. I was served almost immediately by one of the attentive barmaids before making my escape to one of the picnic tables that are located under an awning at the front of the pub. It was busy out here too, but I managed to get some perching space at the end of a table. Available from the bar was a selection of standard and premium keg products alongside a lone hand pump that was drawing Sharp’s Doom bar. The background music was hardly audible over the din of conversation. I’m sure that the live music every Saturday evening is a bit louder. Sky and BT Sports are advertised. I thought this pub was OK and I would have no problem returning.

There was just Doom Bar available in here, at a fairly hefty £2.20 for a short measure half. Thai food seems to be served here with stir fries, curries, noodles, etc, all at £7.50. There are a few seats outside the pub, where there was also a stand also doing food, and with a sign saying that no outside food is to be brought inside. Being a stone's throw from the Old Vic this would have to be regarded as a Theatre pub. The ceiling of the front bar is plastered with posters for hundreds of productions, and all the walls have (mainly black and white) photographs of actors, who presumably performed at the Old Vic. There is another room at the back, with the two rooms separated by the servery. Both rooms are bare-boarded and are furnished with some fairly standard tables combined with some banquettes and small round stools. TVs were on showing some cricket (but muted) with some low volume music being played. I quite liked this pub. It felt like I was in a pub rather than a bar. With even a half decent ale selection I would probably visit again - but with only Doom Bar at an expensive £2.20 a half? Probably not.

Large corner pub with not a lot of character about it, only Doom Bar on so had a half of Sierra Nevada keg, setting me back £2.70. Didn't do a lot for me here.