The Windsor Castle, E5

First time to visit this one for me because Hackney Downs was an area of nightmares back in my youth and despite the general improvement of recent years it’s still not the first area I would consider to come for a beer. Will agree with Tris below that this current guise certainly appears to be an improvement from Steve C’s visit in 2009 and you are more likely to find a bearded hipster with his Whippet generating a cloud from his eCigaret than a yob and his Staffie spliffing up in the pleasant beer garden area out back. Internally the Windsor Castle doesn't really do anything a 100 other distressed modern pub makeovers of this type don’t do, but it stops from being truly shabby like some of the Antic outlets. The front section of the fairy light garlanded, horseshoe-shaped bar with the stuffed boars head above the central section has large tables for groups and plenty of floor space for vertical drinking, whereas the back of the pub is more given over for diners. Doombar, Truman Zephyr and Five Points's Brickfields the three ales available for our visit as reported below and I went for what would be the first of many Five Point options on this crawl and the Brickfields was perfectly fine. And I spotted Craft offerings from Camden and Meantime as well as the ones mentioned below.

Interesting features, included the ornate timber fireplace with over mantle mirror, stained glass windows over the both entrances and the herring bone patterned oak parquet floor. Four ales on handpump, so I went for the Trumans Zephyr, which was passable, but am not a great fan of their beer anyway. A large open plan kitchen and large dining area with patio garden, I imagine would pull in the punters.

This pub dates from at least the early 19th century, though I expect that the current imposing building was rebuilt in the mid/late-19th century and clearly still displays its projecting Watney Combe Reid roundel, for which the pub deserves a pat on the back. Due to Clapton's ogoing gentrification, this is certainly not the stuff of nightmares described by Steve C back in 2009. Quite a large opened out pub with central/island bar, largely as described below. I opted for a half of the Truman's Zephyr which wasn't great, being a little lifeless and less Zephyr-ish than usual. This pub is worth a visit if you find yourself in the vicinity, but a journey a little further afield, perhaps over the border into E9 and The Chesham Arms will pay dividends.

The interior is well described by various respondents, below, and I am largely in agreement. I particularly liked Aqualung's (14 Jul 13) 'squalid chic', a good description of many Antic pubs and one which extends to the small outside terrace behind. I thought the presence of the rather effete tea lights was intended to be ironic but somehow didn't do anything for the 22 ale drinkers who had just walked in. My biggest criticism was the music which was unnecessarily loud and consisted largely of annoying easy listening Songs. From the Wood was Truman Zephyr, Five Points's Brickfields and Doombar, while Roller IPA and Truman's Top Lager were the 'craft' offerings. I actually had quite a good time here and found both the beer and the company to be most acceptable.

Bit of a dull looking interior but nice outside space to the rear.Some nice potted plants that will add colour in summer. Only 2 beers on cask Crate -bitter and my Crate -porter which was in good nick.

The Windsor Castle is a pretty ordinary looking pub. Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room with the bar in the middle of it,for seating there are normal tables and chairs to the front and down the right side which is raised,the left side is narrower with more normal tables and chairs. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Courage Best which was a decent enough drink,the other beers were Doom Bar and one from Five Points. The pub was quite busy on my late Saturday afternoon visit. I was happy enough having a drink in this pub. Pub visited 4/10/2014