From East Finchley tube, its about a ten minute walk. Turn left out of the tube and walk up the high road. Go straight over the junction (the one with the Stag pub on it) and after a few minutes turn left down Church Lane, (which is the 6th turning on the left). The pub will shortly appear on the left.
The Windsor Castle is a small back-street local's pub that you wouldn't know existed if you didn't live in the surrounding streets. It is however certainly worth the detour off the high road. From the location and exterior it looks a small village pub and the inside its simply laid out with comfortable bench seating and swirly carpets. Expect a good range of McMullen's ales (there's usually a seasonal choice available) and a friendly landlord. Our Saturday night visit found it surprisingly mixed, with all ages enjoying themselves and even as unfamiliar faces we got talking to a fair few regulars. Indeed with all the chatting our planned swift half carried on until closing time nearly four hours later. It may have been a one-off, but its not something we can claim happens to us in many pubs these days. The Windsor Castle is - in the best possible sense - a real, proper pub which serves the local community in a way some other establishments had forgotten even existed.
reviewed: 11/02/2007
pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)
click for directions to Windsor Castle from wherever you are
real ales, including seasonal choices
darts
