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Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Sunday, 5th November 2017
With picture contributions to 26844 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Windsor Castle, Westminster, SW1
SW1
SW1P 1DN
Served areas
Reviews of Windsor Castle (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Windsor Castle
I had completely forgotten coming here previously; this one is a little off the beaten track in the backstreets near Victoria tube, past Westminster Cathedral. The lovely (if recently injected) Sam's interior remains as was with a riot of wood panelling, glazed screens, lamps, etched glass and lincrusta ceiling. Cask OBB available, though I had a raspberry beer on this occasion, served up by a friendly barmaid. I’ve warmed to Sam’s pubs over the last few years and I quite enjoyed this one.
April 2013
A Sam Smiths outlet (previously called the Cardinal) which underwent a large and sympathetic refurbishment in mid-2011 which involved the resurrection of etched glass screens partitioning the drinking areas and the installation of a decent lounge area at the pub’s rear (replete with natty coloured skylight) in place of the dingy restaurant. The interior is now split into around four drinking areas by said partitions, with some banquette seating round the sides. The moulded burgundy ceiling remains and there’s a room (unexplored) upstairs. The downstairs room is certainly quite impressive to look at but the pub itself doesn’t feel very cosy. At the bar, there’s the real ale of OBB (which was in good nick but tasted like dishwater, when will I learn to leave it alone?) along with the usual keg staples but the fridge seemed to be missing some of the bottles like oatmeal stout. I’m pleased I’ve done this one but not being much of a Sam Smiths fan I don’t feel any real compulsion to return here specifically. Rated 6
On 20th December 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Windsor Castle
Quite a large horseshoe-shaped bar, refurbished (and renamed from the Cardinal) in 2011 by Samual Smiths. Reasonable amount of seating on three sides, with glazed screens at points around the perimeter. Decent-sized lounge (previously a dining area) behind a low partition (again with glazed screens added) towards the rear. Some fairly ornate decoration, with dark wooden panelling, an interesting high ceiling and a curious skylight at the back. Also has another room upstairs (never visited). Usual Sam Smiths offerings, with Extra Stout available if you don't fancy OBB on handpump (£3.20). Still a reasonable spot for a pint, though, with the advantage that it can accommodate a couple of large groups without putting everybody else out.
On 16th December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Windsor Castle
Built as the Windsor Castle by at least 1823, renamed the Cardinal in 1963 after Westminster Cathedral's founder, Cardinal Manning, before reverting to the Windsor Castle in 2011.
This is a grand, multi-roomed, late Victorian rebuild dating from 1896 and recently refurbished by Sam Smith's with many a cut and etched glass screen, Lincrusta-style ceiling coverings, flooring being a mix of lino, herringbone parquet and encaustic Minton-style tiles to the downstairs lavs. In all, a very different pub from the previous '63-'011 incarnation as the Cardinal.
All very Sam Smith's by the numbers and nothing particularly wrong with that other than the usual culprit being Old Brewery Bitter, thankfully served on cask and at just £3.20 a pint.
Friendly bar staff and a mix of clients from office workers to students, to earthy locals.
Worth a visit to admire the restored ersatz interior, but thereafter nothing to set the pulse racing.
On 23rd May 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
View more reviews of Windsor Castle (11)
Victoria area by Philip Carter
Victoria to Westminster tube, 11 pubs, 7 of which are in Good Beer Guide 2010 by Danny O'Revey
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Randomness Guide to London - Cardinal entry
- Facebook - The Windsor Castle " The Village Pub "
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Windsor Castle - whatpub.com
London Victoria, 0.46 miles, 8 min walk (show)
Vauxhall, 1.15 miles, 22 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 23 May 2017 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No - WCs downstairs. - last updated 23 May 2017 by Tris C
- WiFi : No last updated 20 December 2019 by Quinno _
