The Winning Post, Windsor

Situated just off the main road in an area known as Maiden's Green, this pub has a sign above the door stating "Village Pub". Any establishment that has to clarify that it is the village pub immediately rings a few alarm bells. Indeed, the rambling interior all felt a little twee and pretentious, including the open-plan toilets with a shared space between gents and ladies. In fact, signage was quite confusing and I had to do a double take to work out which was the gents area and which was the ladies, especially when you arrive into the gents area to find just a couple of cubicles each named after obscure jockeys. Each cubicle each came with its own washbasin, which was at odds to the ladies area, which had a communal one. I had to do a third take on the way out to check that I had really been to the gents! The clientele here were certainly upper class, from the gentleman sat having a drink at the bar to the couple and the family sat elsewhere dining. The emphasis does seem to be on food. Although, whilst Upham Brewery is no more, the pub is still part of the Upham Group and 3 real ales were offered - Stardust English Bitter & Roast Note & Dark Star Hophead.

Not obvious from the road, it looks like a house. Recently opened by Upham brewery, the interior has a modern faux rustic feel, with flagstone floor, inserted wall beams (check out the woodworm) and equine prints (as expected from a horsey brewery). The toilets were A1, possibly the best in Berkshire. A shame then, that the Upham beer I had (two were on) was middling and Desmond’s lemonade was closer to Perrier than Corona.

Official site of the Winning Post, contains menu and wine list - www.winningpostwinkfield.co.uk

Official site of the Winning Post, contains menu and wine list - www.winningpostwinkfield.co.uk