Duchess of Cambridge, Windsor

A rare McMullens pub with the typical "are you eating" welcome revealing it is more of a restaurant, although it does have a comfortable drinkers' area at the front. Behind is a big restaurant room, with a garden behind. The whole place clearly had a major refurbishment in a shabby chic sort of style but is nice enough. The air conditioning was especially pleasant. Just their own cask ales on - IPA, Country and Drift.

The Duchess of Cambridge enjoys a prominent position opposite Windsor Castle. I've only had one previous visit here in its current guise, when I attended a works Christmas party. Previous to that, I remember visiting when it was a Slug & Lettuce. These days, it's an upmarket McMullen's pub with a clear focus on dining. The very few tables not reserved for diners were already occupied by drinkers on our busy Friday evening visit. Exposed brick walls feature portraits, mirrors and flock wallpaper in places. The interior is split level with bare boards with the bar on the higher level against the left wall. It contains 2 sets of 3 handpulls. McMullen's Country is a regular cask ale. IPA is also normally on but clips were turned round. The other cask ale available was their seasonal Bootwarmer. The IPA could be ordered on keg. Cider was Aspall's. A festive menu was being promoted in the pub. Music was playing quite loud. My Bootwarmer was nice enough and service was pleasant. I'd consider popping in again just for a drink.

A pleasant and traditional looking pub in a prime spot directly opposite the castle, it’s surprisingly large internally extending some considerable way back from the frontage. It does seem to be very food focused though, with a “Please wait here to be seated” lectern just inside the door. We were eating and had booked so it wasn’t an issue, but I’m not sure how well you’d get on if you were just popping in for a drink. The main bar area is at the front of the pub with the bar counter running down the left-hand side and this extends back to a large dining room at the rear and a beer garden or courtyard beyond this. Flooring was sanded wooden boards with very dark blue wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. Above this was some colourful wallpaper and a maroon strip around the top. There were also some areas of exposed brick walling at the front of the pub. Various old adverts were dotted around, most, if not all, for the brewer McMullens. A couple of TV’s were mounted either side of a large green fireplace which seemed a little out of place with the rest of the surroundings, but fortunately these were not in use. The menu offered a decent enough selection of pub grub dishes such as Fish & Chips, Steak and a number of burgers, although there were also a few random things in there as well such as a Java Curry Wellness Bowl, whatever that is. Prices were mostly around the £14/£15 mark. My Chicken, Ham Hock & Leek Pie was very tasty and went down well. Beers on tap were just IPA and County from McMullens, with other pumps appearing to be unused. The solitary cider meanwhile was a rather disappointing Aspall’s Suffolk. Overall, a decent enough place to grab a bite to eat, but it’s not somewhere I’d bother stopping just for a drink.

A slightly upmarket pub across from Windsor Castle so will attract tourists,knocked through open plan layout but retaing seperate areas. Three McMullens beers on, Duchess, Country Bitter and IPA. Its Ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.