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Windsor Castle, W8
W8
W8 7AR
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about Windsor Castle
Another revisited pub I first went in almost two decades ago, thankfully little has changed in the appearance stakes well documented below, now more food led but no wait to be seated signs that Graham encountered a year ago.
Beers on were Landlord, selling at £6.50 a pint, Wainwright and of course Doom Bar, on keg craft offerings from Thornbridge, Arbor and Beavertown along with some premium lager. Certainly not the most exciting cask beer range but but the pub is worth the visit.
On 24th March 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Windsor Castle
A gorgeous little pub only spoilt by the 'wait to be seated' signs and reserved tables in all directions Well-described in earlier reviews, with multiple rooms separated by partitions, rare to find in London nowadays. The ale range of TT Landlord, Tribute, Wainwright and Doom Bar left some room for improvement but seemed in good nick (It was however very amusing to receive profuse apologies that the keg lines were off due to a technical issue!). Certainly worth visiting for the interior though.
On 9th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Windsor Castle
On a street corner ,there is a good interior here with some interesting features.The front entrance opens into two small sections with traditional furniture and the bar to the left.Through a low partition is a charming Private Bar with three pew benches and it's own front door and servery access,while ducking under the second low partition takes you to the other side of the L shaped bar and more features. Down the corridor is Throne Room ,another charming rear snug,while a final back room links to the other side of the pub and has french doors to the beer garden.Food is served but I didn't inspect the menu.
The ale selection on my trip was St Austell Trubute,TT Landlord,Doom Bar and Laine Breaker Pale(NBSS 1.5,too warm,musty, a poor brew ).For a GBG entry,I thought that was a very dull selection ,my ale was poor and the service indifferent.Go and have a squint at the interior,but I won't be dashing back.
On 18th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Windsor Castle
This is the second pub on my London's Beautiful Pubs route, and to some extent it suffers a little in comparison to the first, the Victoria near Paddington station. But this is a pub from an earlier generation in pub design, and retains a feel of utilitarian plainness compared with a later era's flamboyance and opulence. In addition, of course, this would have been almost a country pub when it was built in the 1820s. According to the pub's Facebook page, it has undergone a recent refurbishment, which must have been done with a lot of restraint and attention to detail.
This is a multi-roomed pub with wooden screens separating what would be a large open space into smaller areas, with interchange effected through small doors with "Mind Your Head" notices above them. Furnishings are settles and other old (or old-looking) wood - quality seems good, and it all looks plain and unspoilt.
My entrance to the pub was unremarked by the manager, who was engrossed in some paperwork on the end of the bar counter, but when I made my presence known he was apologetic, welcoming and friendly. There were five hand pumps on the small bar counter (with some more around the corner, if I recall correctly), all nationally available brands, of which I went for St Austell Tribute (£5.40/pint), which was in pretty good nick despite a problem with the line from the cellar. This would be a lovely pub to have in your neighbourhood, if you were lucky enough to be able to afford local house prices, but is it worth the extra journey out of the centre? As a one-off I enjoyed the visit, but perhaps not for a future trip.
On 4th October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Windsor Castle
I first came here about 30 years ago and pop in occasionally, the last time being three years ago and it hasn’t changed one bit. This is a Grade II-listed pub which dates from the 1820s but is home to a very charming CAMRA Nationally Important Historic Interior, remodelled in 1933, as does probably the rough stucco and fake quoins - the pub was originally bare brick. No prizes for guessing that this was a former Charrington’s pub, as evinced by the ‘Sherry Bar’, ‘Private Bar’ and ‘Campden Bar’ window writing in the brewer’s classic red lettering.
As mentioned, it has a quirky sloping bare boarded or red lino floor and stalls, accessed through narrow doorways, just like the ones in the Prince Alfred (W9) and Angel (SE16). Low ceilings, of course and much charm, there’s plenty of wood and seating in the form of some settles, affording a little privacy in cosy nooks; the glass 'barrel' hanging lamps are very novel.
However, what’s not so attractive is the incredible number of CCTV hemispheres - it’s like having a drink in HMP Belmarsh. There are other problems which seem to dog the pub: it’s frequently very crowded and finding a seat is a lottery. In addition, it seems to take staff an age to clear up when diners leave, with cutlery, plates and used napkins littering tables. The modern tubular steel bar gantries are a bit of an eyesore too.
There’s a fair mix of people in here, often some groups of very exuberant American tourists. A more recent visit noted a group of very jolly Yorkshire men in one corner, of young entitled women in another, moaning about the lack of something or other most would consider a privilege, a combination I'd call Last of the Summer Whine.
There are typically around four ales with TT Landlord as a staple at a blistering £5.30 a pint. I would say that this is a must-visit if in this borough, but the prices are crazy - the Uxbridge Arms next door serves up Landlord for ‘only’ £4.60, but of course it’s not the tourist magnet that is this place.
On 16th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Windsor Castle
Quirky bare boarded interior that's split into about 4 different sections mind your head if moving between them. 2 sets of 5 real ale taps mostly doubles.
On 27th October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Windsor Castle
I like Quinno's comment below a lovely Heritage Pub in Poshville, as that does some it up. The pub has a country pub style theme to it, which I liked. The pub was busy on our Sunday afternoon visit and we found if you just want to pop in for a drink, you're fighting a losing battle. After a long wait, we did manage to get a Windsor and Eton Knight of the Garter. Then we had the problem of finding a seat and there wasn't enough room to stand, so we went out to the beer garden with a covered maquee. There were six ales to choose from and a large vessel of mulled wine on the bar, which smelt nice.
On 8th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Windsor Castle
Somehow never managed to visit this place before so not sure what has changed during the refurbishment, but the rambling interior with its low wooden screens has plenty of charm and interest. Glazed panels in the exterior doorways indicate the Campden, Sherry and Private Bars, and there are various seating areas inside (some of which are set aside for dining). Very pleasant patio beer garden at the back. Excellent choice of beers from two banks of five handpumps, with a pint of Bath Ales Summer's Hare coming in at a pricey (even for the area) £4.10. Overall, well worth seeking out (but one does wonder whether they can sustain the current range of real ales).
On 30th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Windsor Castle
Lovely stylish multi room pub that's just re-opened after a refit.Cosy with 10 handpumps but will they be able to keep that many beers in good order.Great beer garden and def a pub to visit on a sunny day.Went at 2.00pm on the first day of their beer fest but they had omitted to mention that the fest didn't start till 6.00pm.Not a happy bunny.
On 8th June 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Windsor Castle
A fine pub, with plenty of charm and character thanks to a wonderful, well preserved multi-room interior. Some head bashingly low doorways connect each of the dark panelled rooms and it's good value watching folk squeeze their way through them. There is muted lighting that creates just the right atmosphere inside (aided by some nice frosted windows) although I found that it was a bit too dark to read my paper from my seat in the cosy middle room. There were a few pictures scattered throughout the place and a staggering amount of blackboards of all sizes, including a particularly large one in the rear room which detailed the history of the pub.
The beer selection was admirable with five ales (TT Landlord, London Pride, Wadworth Henry IPA, Harvey's Best and Sheps Canterbury Jack), several ciders including a traditional scrumpy, and a diverse tap range which included Hoegaarden, Leffe, Peroni, Paulaner and several mainstream lagers. My pint of Wadworth was served in a mug although a quick look around suggested that this wasn't the norm as I didn't spot another one during my stay. Menus on the tables presented a good range of appetising food which wasn't as excessively expensive as I had expected for a pub in this part of town.
On leaving the pub I realised that there was a sizable beer garden to the rear which, judging by the noise coming from there, was packed on this mild Friday evening.
Worth a look for the lovely interior and worth staying for the beer range and ambience. A must for any Kensington crawl.
On 13th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]