Date: 17 December 2011 Round the World
Sampled by:
PV, KO, PC, TM, RN, JG, MG, DF, RO, Gem, Satan and TC
Postponed from last year due to severe weather conditions, Windsor & Eton beckoned. With Jem and Satan joining us for the first time, a jolly eleven set out on the 10.30 from Aldershot to Ascot. Our good mood was short lived as the guard reported a broken down train meant there were no trains running between Stains and Windsor & Eton Riverside. However, the guard was optimistic they would be running by the time we got to Staines. It was touch and go but he was proved correct and we were only ten minutes late meeting up with TC in Windsor.
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| George
| Eton
| SL4 6AF
|
Comment | | This old pub is located just a few yards from the footbridge linking Windsor & Eton. The pub is one of the five making up The Windsor Pub Co chain and was quiet and comfortable these early doors. The barmen, Tom and Ben waited patiently while we sorted the rounds - seven would stay true to tradition and sample foreign beers while five broke and remained in the UK.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Amstel
| Holland
| 4.1
| 3.95
| D
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Windsor & Eton
| Guardsman
| 4.2
| 3.70
| 3.0
| Nice starter
|
| Vale Brewery
| Flanders Field
| 4.2
| 3.70
| 2.5
| Neither crisp nor clean
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Watermans Arms
| Eton
| SL4 6BW
|
Comment | | A pub since 1542 it is reputedly the oldest in Eton. Located near the river it is prone to flooding - fortunately however the beer cellar is above ground so customers can still punt for a pint. The map of the Thames on the ceiling was very helpful in placing our location on the river. Surprisingly the map maker had omitted Staines.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Singha
| Thailand
| 5.0
| 3.50
| B
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Windsor & Eton
| Windsor Knot
| 4.2
| 3.40
| 3.0
| Refreshing
|
| Windsor & Eton
| Conqueror
| 5.0
| 3.40
| 3.0
| Black IPA
|
| Binghams
| Twyford Tipple
| 3.7
| 3.30
| -
| Enjoyed by some but not PV
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Windlesora
| Windsor
| SL4 1BB
|
Comment | | As befits a Weatherspoon's house, this was a converted shop in a modern block of buildings. However, there was a change to most 'Spoons - it was only four steps to the toilets. The pub name is derived from the old one for Windsor. A complete lack of ambience but, hey, at these prices who cares? The real ale was served with sparklers and was rather cold.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Efes
| Turkey
| 5.0
| 2.40
| B
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Itchin Valley
| Hampshire Rose
| 4.2
| 2.15
| 3.0
| Hampshire taste
|
| Vale Brewery
| VPA
| 4.2
| 2.15
| 3.0
| Very pale ale
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Criterion
| Windsor
| SL4 1EE
|
Comment | | Located a little on the edge of town, this corner bar pub was well frequented with locals. The Connors (no O for them) from Manchester had only taken over the pub six weeks ago but already had a reputation with the local Camra branch for keeping well kept beers. Although the choice was rather main-stream, the real drinkers agreed the beers were in good condition. An excellent little boozer.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Peroni
| Italy
| 5.1
| 3.50
| B
|
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Timothy Taylor
| Landlord
| 4.2
| 3.30
| 3.5
| Northern and smooth
|
| Fuller's
| London Pride
| 4.1
| 3.30
| 3.0
| London and bitter
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Two Brewers
| Windsor
| SL4 1LB
|
Comment | | Located near the start of the Long Walk you would have thought the place would be packed with tourists. Not so according to the bondage barmaid - it is mainly a local's pub; the tourists just take a photo of the very attractive building and pass on. We of course did not and enjoyed the welcome in this rather quirky establishment.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Staropramen
| Czech Republic
| 5.0
| 4.10
| D
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Sharp's
| Doom Bar
| 4.0
| 3.60
| 2.5
| Standard
|
| St Austell
| Tribute
| 4.2
| 3.70
| 2.5
| A bit above
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Carpenters Arms
| Windsor
| SL4 1PB
|
Comment | | Located near the Castle's main entrance the interior of this old building has been fully modernized by Nicholson's. The pub was very busy with tourists and shoppers and there was no room at the inn for Mengo to rest after their arduous census. We just had to stand at the bar. But it was worth it as this stop provided the most eclectic beer choice of the day for both the foreign and home drinkers.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Vedett Extra Blond
| Belgium
| 5.2
| 3.45
| B
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Moor
| Gold, F & Moor
| 4.8
| 3.40
| 3.0
| F = Frankincense
|
| Cairngorm
| Black Gold
| 4.4
| 3.40
| 3.5
| Black gold indeed
|
| Hop Back
| Taiphoon
| 4.2
| 3.40
| 3.5
| Better than Lightning?
|
| White Horse
| Rudolf
| 4.8
| 3.40
| 3.0
| Glowing
|
Just down the road the Three Tuns was called at but rejected by the foreign buyer.
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| King and Castle
| Windsor
| SL4 1PL
|
Comment | | Very inventive name for our second Weatherspoon's of the day. This one at least had a very attractive exterior. Inside it was back to the usual 'Spoons trick of putting the Gents at the most inaccessible part of the building - this time three floors down. Then the cubical doesn't lock. Then the bog doesn't flush. What moron designs these places?
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Tyskie
| Poland
| 5.6
| 3.45
| B
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Daleside
| Christmas Crac. . .
| 4.5
| 2.50
| 3.0
| Cracker - in full
|
| Rebellion
| Roasted Nuts
| 4.6
| 2.50
| 3.0
| -
|
| Vale
| Good King Sens..
| 5.2
| 2.50
| -
| Senseless - in full
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Royal Oak
| Windsor
| SL4 1QD
|
Comment | | The fake Tudor exterior did not bode well but the interior was bright and comfy. The foreign drinkers had to resort to Heineken. The real drinkers faired a little better.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Heineken
| Holland
| 4.0
| N/K
| D
| -
|
| Brewery
| Beer
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Windsor & Eton
| Knight of the Gar..
| 3.8
| 3.60
| -
| Garter - in full
|