The Windmill, Upminster

Large GK pub between Hornchurch football ground and Upminster Bridge station and handy for a stop on the way to or from football. Pretty empty when we arrived at 10pm on a Tuesday and for the hour we spent here, the pub is nicely decorated and I like the layout. To make up for the lack of punters, music was playing, not too loud to intrude with our conversation. 4 ales on which were GK IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot and Timothy Taylor Boltmaker. The boltmaker was drinkable but I’ve had better kept ales and the quality was not a patch on the Tap room a few minutes walk away. As I say handy for the station and the food was reasonably priced going by the menu’s but not sure how busy it gets or with what sort of crowd.

Corrected back to the Windmill

Nottingham Brewery Rock Bitter & Rock Mild, Black Sheep, Bass, Davenport’s Cloud9. Open plan, albeit with a dividing wall separating the dartboard area from the rest, one of the local lads on the tour reckoned it was an improvement on the previous layout with smaller individual rooms; surely not?, says I. TV in one corner was screening some drivel that has no right to be on in a pub (no, not the England game!), but otherwise the staff were friendly & found us some darts, & punters nr the board made way & had a nice banter. (review dated Sep08)

renamed`THE WINDMILL` [Admin edit: renamed from the Bridgehouse 17/2/10]

I have been past here a few times on my way to footie at nearby AFC Hornchurch without feeling any great desire to pop in. Arriving particularly early prior to a recent match I thought it was time to test the waters, especially given the recent reports of fairly major changes, not least of all the pub name. Whilst it certainly appears to have had a fairly extensive makeover, it cannot disguise the fact that the interior comes over as bland and soulless. The main bar is knocked through into one with a series of pillars down the spine and drab colour schemes. The furnishings are a mix of the now standard modern loungey areas with tub chairs and a smattering of dining tables. In one corner there is a small conservatory type section but on the whole it is all very safe and sanitized apart from the small paneled room behind the bar which does at least retain a bit of character. At the rear is a neat and tidy, newly fenced in patio garden although it is quite small in relation to the pub. There is more outside seating at the front of the pub although the river that runs by isn't exactly tranquil or picturesque. Being a Greene King pub, don't expect anything earth shattering from the hand pumps; IPA and Abbott being the choices although at £2.35 and £2.60 respectively, they are at least reasonably priced as was the pub grub menu. Whilst the pub appears a friendly enough place, I cannot imagine using it for any more than a pre-match pint and I doubt too many people would be attracted here out of choice unless the local competition is worse.