Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

This pub has been voted by our readers as one of the best in Notting Hill. See the full list of winners here.

Temptingly close to the Churchill for those on a pub crawl, the Windsor Castle is also an exceptional place to drink, or eat. From the outside, it looks more 'stable block' than 'royal castle', a feeling compounded by the whitewashed and heated beer garden, where you'd half expect to see a horse being shod. Two mature plane trees add a touch of green.

The rural charm continues inside, with a main bar more wooden than an am-dram production of Pinocchio. The whole is partitioned into cosy pockets. One screen, built from wood cut in the 1930s, requires adults to crouch right down if they want to make their way into the formerly women-only 'Sherry Bar', where you can now be as male as you like, and drink things other than sherry. Another front cubby has a roaring fire in winter, while the back room is made out as an airy, bright dining space.

The food options are suitably rustic, with juicy slabs of meat and hunks of crusty bread the order of the day, but all artfully arranged for the upmarket area. We tried a succulent pork roast, a little bit more expensive than most Sunday gastropub fare (£17...and the beef was £19), but the quality and portion sizes justify the extra expense. The vegetarian nut roast was also spot-on. Be sure to pre-book. Every table was reserved on our last visit, but we were keen enough to get there at midday before the crowds arrived.

Five beers on draught and a decent wine list complete the picture.

On Twitter as @WindsorCastleW8.

Beer garden. Punters not included.
Beer garden. Punters not included.
And it is.
And it is.
The back dining room, leading out onto the beer garden.
The back dining room, leading out onto the beer garden.
Up to five ales on tap at the multi-partite bar.
Up to five ales on tap at the multi-partite bar.
Dim but inviting.
Dim but inviting.
For anyone wondering where all that wood comes from.
For anyone wondering where all that wood comes from.
The history of the pub. Full of unverified rumours. So here's another: the upstairs toilets feature in the 1986 film Clockwise.
The history of the pub. Full of unverified rumours. So here's another: the upstairs toilets feature in the 1986 film Clockwise.
The vegetarian nut roast (£15) comes complete with Yorkshire pud hat.  Here he is before the greenery was draped round his neck.
The vegetarian nut roast (£15) comes complete with Yorkshire pud hat. Here he is before the greenery was draped round his neck.
A pork roast with crackling and veg trimmings (£17).
A pork roast with crackling and veg trimmings (£17).
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Address: 118 Campden Hill Road W8 7AR

Phone: 020 7243 8797

Website:
http://www.thewindsorcastlekensington.co.uk

Monday: noon-11pm

Tuesday: noon-11pm

Wednesday: noon-11pm

Thursday: noon-11pm

Friday: noon-11pm

Saturday: noon-11pm

Sunday: noon-10.30pm

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