Last week I introduced a new feature, which is to visit a new pub each week and to write about it. This week’s pub is The Windsor Castle located in Kensington, London. We popped in on a weekend and I was immediately taken with its quaintness. It feels like an old pub with much history. The ceiling is quite low and the dark wood inside made me feel at home and ready for a pint. Or in my case, half pints.
There are several rooms inside and I got the biggest kick out of the doorways leading to some of the rooms. The doors are short and I felt like Alice in Wonderland. This feature is fun in today’s world, but back in the 1830s, these rooms were partitioned to keep the classes and men and women separated.
This gentleman is standing by one of the doors, which is under the Seven Deadly Gins sign. His head is above the door frame.
And this door is even smaller as you can see by the man sitting down reading.
I have one warning about this pub, it is hard to walk into and to get a table. We were fortunate to locate a table that wasn’t reserved until 3pm, which gave us two hours to enjoy. If you want to sit down and enjoy a meal I highly recommend making a reservation. There is a large seating area in the back, but I suspect that on warm days it gets pretty crowded. The day we went the weather wasn’t very pleasant so not many people wanted to drink out there.
The staff was nice and made some excellent beer and cider recommendations. They had many different kinds on tap and since they serve half pints in London you can sample more. I was in the cider mood so I tried three different types and my favorite was Weston’s Old Rosie. The better half sampled a few beers and the fave was Timothy Taylor Landlord. The bartender said it was the best that they had and both of us agreed. I love it when the staff can make suggestions and are knowledgeable about what they serve.
For lunch we shared the Norfolk pork loin, homemade Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and veggies. And we indulged and had the sticky toffee pudding. It was one of the better pub meals I’ve had in England.
I give this pub 5 out of 5 stars. Once again, I will state that if you are visiting the area and you want to try your luck and pop in without a reservation you will probably be disappointed. I saw many unhappy people leave the pub. We lucked out completely. Make sure to plan ahead and enjoy this pub as much as we did.
And please follow all of their rules.
50 Year Project 
The traditional pub is a dying art, but lucky there are still some good ones about. 😉
I really enjoy the traditional ones. They have so much character. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Will travel for beer 🙂
If you ever come to Southampton or New Forest I can mention a few for you. Brockenhurst, has a couple…;)
Sounds good…I’ll have to do my best to get there 🙂 Thanks for the offer!
It’s nice to find a place that we enjoy, and as you said that the staff are knowledgeable, that is great. I always admire people who love what they do and be happy about it 🙂
The staff was excellent…always smiling and more than willing to talk about their beers and cider and other aspects of London. I love good company.
😊 there’s nothing like an English pub and this one looks and sounds great. If you’re looking for suggestions, and you get to Borough Market, try The Wheatsheaf. I’d love to know what you think of it. It’s run by my nephew, Danny.
I’m always looking for suggestions. I will have to check your nephew’s pub out. Thanks for the tip!!! I haven’t spent much time at the Borough Market so now I have another reason to go (my favorite reason actually).
Awesome review!!! My son is making a trip in July and I think he is going to be going to London—I will have to ask him exactly where he is going to be. He would love your pub recommendations so I am going to have to hook him up with some!!! Great pics and I love the teeny doors!!!
I will do my best to find a few more winners for him. If he is in the Kensington/ Notting Hill area, I recommend this one. Let me know where he is staying and I can see if I have any suggestions for his area.
Okay—when he knows a little more I will pump him for info!! Thanks!
Those doors are so cool! Their history is interesting – separating the different classes and genders. I will definitely try out this pub if I ever visit England!
Great review and thanks for the reservation tip!
🙂
Don’t forget the reservation! Many unhappy folks left without sampling any of the beer.
This pub reminds me of one that was in Richmond, Virginia years ago … Penny Lane Pub. It was run by a British proprietor and was decorated with articles straight from England. I’m sure if I were go to a real English Pub, I would feel right at home, after having frequented Penny Lane for so many years. I loved the atmosphere there, as I would no doubt love the atmosphere in England. The little pub you have presented here is charming as observed from your photos and your verbal descriptions … they take me back to some happy times of days gone by. 🙂
I think I would feel at home at Penny Lane. I always feel welcome and comfortable in the English pubs here. The atmosphere is fun and warm.
If my mind isn’t tricking me, I’ve been there in 2009. It’s a great pub.
I agree with you 5 out of 5 stars 🙂
Oh I’m glad you’ve been and liked it too. It’s a cute place.
I’m partial to doors – good that you got people to show the comparison – these are great.
I tend to photograph doors all of the time…not sure what it is about them, but I love them.
It seems so beautiful, Thank you dear TBM, have a nice weekend, love, nia
And I wish you a wonderful weekend Nia!
I enjoyed that review. It’s nice to see a good old fashioned pub that hasn’t been converted to a wine bar – yet!
Lynn 😀
I haven’t been to any wine bars yet…will look for some. But I do love the feel of a pub.
Looks like a fun place.
We had a wonderful time.
This looks really nice. Half pints is a good thing, I agree, I’m all for sampling.
I love to try new things and I don’t always want to commit to a pint. Some of the pubs I’ve been to have smaller samples which I really enjoy.
When a place is always so busy it is definitely a good sign of good food and good service.
This seems to be a very popular place…and I can see why.
I’d like to be sitting there right now, having a cider and people watching. Ahhh….
Watching the people go in and out of the doors was quite humorous.
Wow! I would love to go to a pub in London! How great!
I hope you do someday!
I imagine that the more you drink, the harder it is to get through those doorways! 🙂
I bet you are right! And I felt for the staff serving dinner and going through the doors. I could never work there, I’m not graceful.
Those doorways are so cute!! What a unique pub, and the descriptions of the food made me hungry. 🙂
A lot of people told me I wouldn’t like English food, but I strongly disagree. I’m loving it.
Me too! Have you gained any weight since you moved there from all of the tea times and Yorkshire pudding?
I do love Yorkshire pudding…love it. I’ve actually lost weight from all of the walking to see the sights. Hopefully I can keep that up.
Seems to be very inviting. I love the patio photo.
I would like to go back on a nice day and sit outside and enjoy a drink.
Great idea! And an excellent excuse to go have drinks at least once a week 😉
Thanks…and I tried to make it a convincing excuse. I’m glad so many approve 🙂
I enjoyed the English pubs. If I ever go back, I’ll have to refer to your blog for a list of potential pubs to visit. Thanks for the info!
I’ll try to find some winners for you…my job is never done 🙂
What a cool looking place. If I were to visit England. Ireland, etc. the small, interesting pubs are places that I would want to visit. Such a fun idea, glad you are sharing this with us. I need to wait to read these until I have a drink in my hand though so that I can feel more connected to it. 🙂
The pubs are one of my favorite parts of living here and this sounded like a great way to “force” myself to visit more. Okay, I didn’t need a lot of coaxing, but this is a good way to keep track of my favorites. I hope to make it to Ireland soon.
Have a Guinness and Fat Tire for me.
This little pub looks and sounds positively delightful! Would love to go there someday and have a couple of beers. 🙂
I hope you do! Watch your head though.
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takes me back to my 10 years living in Uxbridge –
Uxbridge–I like that name!