Windsor Castle

Elevated on an incline in the appropriately named Notting Hill, the rustic old Windsor Castle pub was so-called because in its early days the pub’s upper windows afforded clear views all the way to royal residence, Windsor Castle, 20 miles distant. While the view has changed significantly since 1835, little else about this cosy inn has altered. Inside it is creaking wooden wonderland, full of cosy alcoves, wooden settles and panelling, and hidden rooms. Divided into three areas, customers have to navigate through a series of partitions, small, hidden doors and original oak screens in order to make their way from one section to the next. It’s not large inside so you may need to share a candlelit booth with strangers, or to drag a couple of spare chairs in front of an open fire in a bid to get space, but this is all in keeping with the snug, intimate feel of the tavern. In the summer drinkers tend to migrate to the large, shady ivy-clad beer garden which, adorned with delicate fairy lights, creates a peaceful idyll on long, warm evenings. The refreshments here are decidedly traditional – good, solid, high quality British fare. Famous for their sausages (served with mash and gravy), they also serve up fresh Loch Fyne oysters, mussels and a substantial roast on a Sunday. Mulled wine and Pimms appear, according to the season, to provide seasonal flavour to the drinks menu. In 1835 the pub would have been filled with farmers heading towards Hyde Park to show livestock at the market, nowadays the clientele is more “upmarket” than “at the market” but, even so, there’s still an appealing earthy tone embedded in the fabric here. From clambering through tiny secret doors whilst simultaneously attempting not to spill your pint to snuggling up in front of a roaring fire, time spent at the Windsor Castle is time well spent.

Best for:
Secret doors and sausages, wooden panelling, wooden settles and wooden walls, open fires and oysters, mulled wine and Pimms.

Did you know?
According to legend the pub's cellar contains the bones of author and activist Thomas Paine ('The Rights of Man') handed over by Paine's son as payment for a drinking debt.