please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This place closed in January 2012 - now being converted to a cafe. Fortunately there are plenty of superior alternatives in the vicinity.
|
Ganger - Well done with your history input. Shame about the pubs nowadays.
Cheers,
Joe65
USA
|
Apparently this used to be the Windsor Castle.
Is anyone aware that there were 4 pubs in Camden, all named as castles representing the nations of the British Isles. They were the Windsor Castle, the Dublin castle, the Edinburgh castle and the Pembroke castle. The reason for this was because the Victorian railway builders (Navvies) came from the four nations, and to prevent fighting between the workers they built four pubs and named them accordingly. Irish navvies would drink at the Dublin castle, English at the Windsor etc. Thankfully three of the original names still exist, but the Windsor WAS re-named the NW1 a couple of years ago, presumably to attract the trendies who I would hazard a guess come into Camden rather than live there.
This is social/cultural vandalism of the highest order in my opinion and anyone who may consider drinking there should think twice.
Yes I did pop in a year ago for a quick beer and it was rubbish!
|
Not entirely sure what this place is supposed to be. Shows most sport and doesn't get as busy as the Sheep or the Mixer, so acceptable if you want to watch a game and everywhere else is packed.
Has a pool table right in the middle of the bar, which makes the bar area a bit cramped and makes it hard to play pool shots. They also do Thai food, although on the half dozen occasions I've been in I haven't seen anyone eating.
Odd mix of people as well. When I was in for the rugby it was full of loud supporters but there were couples sitting in the corner having a "quiet" drink (If I'd turned up with my girlfriend I would definitely take one look and go somewhere else).
Other than the fact it doesn't get too busy, there's no reason to come in here as there are several better pubs on Parkway
|
I had one of the most surprising nights of recent memory in this place.
I was having a bit of girl trouble, feeling a bit down, and met a mate at the bar to watch the football. We sank a couple of beers, watched Liverpool lose, then had another beer and spent an hour minding our own business and discussing life.
Then the manager fronts up, puffs out his chest, and says, 'Have you got a problem with me?' I didn't know the guy. I'd had nothing to do with him all night. I said I didn't have a problem with him. 'Have you got a problem with this pub?' he said. I had no idea what he was talking about. 'Umm, what?' Then he proceeded to let rip with the insults. He said I'd been 'walking around with my nose in the air, being rude to staff.' Then he said I'd been 'failing to acknowledge' - which is a little catchphrase I still don't understand.
For some reason I told him I was 'a bit depressed' and was 'just having a quiet drink.' Then he let rip again, telling me I was banned, I should finish my drink and get out. Pressed for an explanation he said I didn't 'fit the profile' of the pub, and I should 'go and be depressed somewhere else.'
It was like when the wrong player gets red carded for something nobody except the referee comprehends, and he just stares at the ref saying 'Me? Umm... Why? You sure? Me??'
The Thai food they sell is decent.
|
Even though there is a plasma screen and a couple of projector screens on the back wall that show Sky Sports and Setanta I still think this is a Thai restaurant and I will not be returning to sample there expensive lagers, unless I happen to pass whilst hankering after some Eastern food, which is highly unlikely.
|
Very unpleasant staff, but food was OK.
anonymous - 9 Feb 2009 18:12 |
Truly awful in every conceivable sense of the word. Frequented exclusively by tourists who are obviously unaware there are any number of superior drinking establishments close by.
|
This place is just bizzare looks like a bland bar with lots of sofas dotted around with one or two people taking up prime drinking space. Tellys playing different programmes at the same time while the soundsystem plays something else. Has a strange little betting slip area in the entrance and also serves by all accounts really good Thai food. Im just confused what are you it shoud be called BookieThaiBarSportspub
|
The food here is pretty bloody good, plenty of screens but the curse of sofas means there's often nowhere to sit despite the fact there's only six people in the pub.
|
a vastly improved pub the old parkway bar was a dive, you now have youngs bitter at �2.40 a pint in much better condition than the spreadeagle, wonderful afordable thai food lunch ,starter and main course for just 5 pounds. i saw the local camra guy in there, thats a good sign.
|
The last and only time I was here the place was playing loud banging music and the bar area was full of teenage girls giving each other faux lesbian lap dances for the benefit of their spotty boyfriends. Which is probably all well and good if you like that kind of stuff with your overpriced pint.
|
The last time i went in here it was really bad. There was loud pumping trance and a few chavs hanging around. Needless to say i didn't stay long. Can't remember what the beer was like but i don't think it really matters with an atmosphere like this.
Avoid - 2/10
wocca - 24 Aug 2006 16:08 |
all I can say about this shame of a bar is it gave me beer poisoning, if that is at all posible.
2 pints of beer and I was spewing like a new born baby, for the next 24 hours.
It takes a few more beers than that anywhere else
|
New manager turned out to be all right, alas he's been given the boot too. think the company behind it are a bit shifty, some of the staff are alright and they sell magners cider in a bottle quite cheap, alas like others I feel the place is a bit souless.
Dazza - 29 Oct 2004 01:14 |
Soulless place with a soulless name, but incredibly it's not the worst pub on the street (the Rat and Parrot gets that award).
The name change from the Windsor Castle 3 or 4 years ago is incredibly ugly. There's proper stories and history that revolve around the four Castles in the area (Dublin/Edinboro/Pembroke being the others) and this sort of pointless name change says so much about how pubs are being ruined for little effect in business.
|
normally opens until 1pm on a friday, but this friday the landlord decided it would close at 12! this pub needs to sort out whats going on with closing time and have the beer on tap able to drink and not out of use, like it normally does
anonymous - 26 Jul 2004 12:07 |
Nice bar, the beers aren't bad but can't believe Brett's gone.
Worth a visit though.
Brendan - 15 Feb 2004 15:04 |
nice boozer,shame that bretts gone,now hes gone so has most of its customers,new manager is weird,
|
not bad but used to be a lot better when the taffy was running it .But all in all not a bad bozer, new manager needs to get a personality though.
anonymous - 2 Jan 2004 16:09 |
top boozer it a good laugh when watching the footie and rugby and the resident dj is class on a friday. bar staff are always friendly and food is first class
topboy - 28 Jul 2003 17:14 |
Soulless. Was much better when it used to be the Windsor Castle - an honest-to-god Old Drunk Irishman Pub bang in the middle of Camden. Ah, we used to live in a more innocent age.
Joe - 6 Jul 2003 18:52 |
Watched the fa cup semi's in here and i have to say that it was great, the staff let u do what ever u like, sing songs supporting your team, dance around, spit at the screen... And they let u get as hammered as u like.....
Joe Smith - 1 Jul 2003 13:28 |
This pub lacks any character and was much better before they put the identikit wooden flooring and poncy lagers in.
Paddy - 26 Jun 2003 14:20 |
the nw1 has been about for just over a year.music and 3 large screens for all major sporting events.resident Dj every thursday,friday,saturday and also has a late licence,and available for private hire.
|
