please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Deceptively big but snug pub, bar staff efficient, good beer garden, 6 ales on. I had Windsor & Eton ''Knight of the Garter [pleasant pint] & Watermans Arms Premium Ale [dark tasty ale].
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More a haunt for your tourists - a bland selection of ales and the Cornish brew I had was insipid (and at 4 quid a pint) expensive. If you like your ale there are far better options in the area.
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The Waterman’s Arms just over the bridge from Windsor & Eton station was our first pub of our day of ticking in Windsor on Bank holiday Monday.
8 hand pumps offering 8 different ales, I opted for the pubs own brew which was brewed by Caledonian & aptly named Waterman's Arms @ 4.1%...a very drinkable pint as well.
The pub is large inside with little nooks and cranny areas.
Friendly barmaids, the landlord is also worth a mention as he was very welcoming to us.
To the side of the pub there is a beer garden with plenty of benches and tables, this is a decent little suntrap.
Food was available from noon, however I cannot comment on what it looked or tasted like.
A decent pub to start the day in.
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went there for Sunday lunch which was very good the log fire was on and many dogs warming them selves, Good range of beers I think there were eight, really liked hobgoblin would recommend it highly.
Dave
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A great pub with many real ales very good food and dog friendly close to the river 5* would highly recommend it
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Definitely the worst pub in Eton/Windsor. Very poor range of wine, food is awful and it seems to attract really rough people - it's a scary place to spend an evening. Avoid! The Henry VI, The Prince George and the Crown and Cushion are far better pubs.
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Been a few times on weekend evenings in recent years. The cask beer has always been excellent and the service fantastic. Hard to fault the pub. Bar snacks were good too.
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Visited on a quiet weekday lunchtime (handful of customers only) and had to wait nearly 40mins for a simple scampi and chips, and a ham and cheese omelette with chips. Chips tasted old and reheated, and salad was dry and tasteless and forgotten completely until reminded. Also was told they had run out of simple basics like Tartare sauce too.
This could just be put down to a an unlucky or just a poor dining experience. Unfortunately, things got worse three hours later when my mother who had been unable to finish the whole omelette meal as it tasted unappetising, developed stomach pains half an hour after leaving the pub, which developed into feeling unwell and nauseous, and eventually having to be sick repeatedly on a public London train.
She took a full 24hrs to make full recovery which is not great when you are 75yrs of age. Safe to say we will not be returning, and are grateful it was not any worse with eggs being involved in the incident.
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Visited recently and how nice to see a turnaround! The last time I visited it looked like it was curtains for the pub. On a Saturday afternoon my pal and I were the only customers in there and that usually spells bad news - in honesty, the experience then was not impressive.
However, most recent visit there's a vibrancy there, customers and everything looking good. Good to see. Whoever turned it around, well done you and long may it continue!!
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Only found this Pub recently, but what a find. I don't go to a Pub to Eat so lack of food doesn't worry me.
The selection and quality of the Ales, the the pleasant welcome, the real fire and the general ambiance make this my first choice if I can talk Mrs Ghost into driving home after my regular 3/4 of a Gallon.
Perhaps it's a good job I live some distance away as I could easily come to haunt this place on a regular basis.
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Nice to see this pub busy against! But I was pleasantly surprised to see Brakspears Bitter back on, and in fine fettle. Biggest shock was the price of Peroni! �4:75 a Pint! Needless to say I was glad I am a Real Ale Drinker.
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Great atmosphere in a great pub with lots of character. Although it was fairly quiet it was just what we needed after walking from Maidenhead. We had several pints of their wonderful ales and toasted sandwiches, one of my mates had a chilli and said its the best he's ever tasted. We carried on to a couple of other pubs on the high street, but went back to the Watermans arms as we really loved it there.
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After a 6 mile walk around Datchet and Eton Wick we arrived along the Thames Path at Eton, and the first pub you come to is The Watermans Arms. They clearly have focused on this as there is a sign outside welcoming walkers and cyclists. The Watermans also has ambitions of being a public library - one of the alcoves is absolutely stuffed full of books, although other parts of the pub feel a bit sparse.
We didn't expect it to be packed on a Friday lunchtime in February but we didn't expect to be the only customers. The good news is though that 6 real ales were on offer;- Skinner's Cornish Knocker, Harveys Sussex Bitter, Bingham Twyford Tipple, Landlord plus two from the Windsor and Eton brewery, Windsor Knot and Conqueror. We had visions of spending a wonderful lunchtime working our way through that lot andf falling back to the train.
We started with Cornish Knocker - very good. Then onto Conqueror - even better. At this point we decided to eat.
Now the bad news - no food ! "Not today" said the barlady, thus explaining the pub emptiness in just two words. Try as we might, elderly man cannot live by beer alone, so we wandered into Windsor looking for food and ale in combination.
A Sunday lunch is advertised at the Watermans, so clearly they do food at some times, but we can only judge from what we find.
So a great mark for beer, reduced points for no food. Still, if you're in Eton and have already eaten but want many pints of fine ale, then the Waterman's is the place for you.
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Nice selection of cask ales, friendly service and a pleasant if small drinking area. My issue was with the restaurant area and food. The eating area was partly reserved by a large christening party when we went there - fair enough. The rest of the area was very plainly furnished - almost workman's cafe style. I ordered liver and bacon for Sunday lunch - apparently this was the last portion available. Trouble was, it wasn't a portion, more like about one-third of a portion. Had it been served up in the above-mentioned workman's cafe it would have been given back over the counter no doubt accompanied by some choice words. When I complained I was asked "do you want some extra chips then? Being very hungry and with friends I decided just to grin and bear it - an offer of an alternative meal might have been more appropriate. I appreciate they were under pressure because of the large party, but if you know you've gfot a big party booked - get some more staff/food in!
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Didn't see any dogs and the barmaid was pleasant enough!! Six real ales on - and a very good selection as well (we had Thrappledouser from my home town of Perth in Scotland). The restaurant/function room bit was closed-off but the bar was fine and although there weren't many customers for a Saturday evening (7.30pm) we enjoyed the pub and would go back again - if only for the beer range. The pub is just over the pedestrian bridge from Windsor and you turn left before the George.
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We couldn't fault the place! Being from the West Country I arranged everything via email so was taking a chance. Anyway it certainly paid off - we had a group of 20 who enjoyed a magnificent buffet and then a comedy evening. We had a fantastic evening at fantastic value - thanks to them.
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Visited this pub at the weekend and won't be going back. Staff seem to be permanently drunk and there were mangy looking dogs barking continuously which became a real pain.
There are far better pubs in Eton and Windsor.
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Had a Company night out here, we had colleagues from all over the world. It was fantastic, we had a superb buffet then a comedy night. Thoroughly enjoyed by all whom I spoke to.
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Unpretentious pub, all of 50 metres from the High Street and therefore apparently invisible to tourists. Nice pint of Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter - normally I'm not a fan of golden ales but this one I like. Beer garden out at the back. Unfortunately the garden is on a small but surprisingly busy road, and what with this and the aircraft overhead going to/from Heathrow, it's not the quietest place to sit.
The place does give the impression that the hosts care about it. In my opinion definitely one of the better pubs in the area.
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Now (Gillian) is working the Pub full time is is heading back towards being a decent pub again (like it was in the late 80's, & 90's). Regretably it will never completely get back to those great days because of the Recession and the fact that many people have either passed away or moved on. Redecoration is a plus Factor. Not been to a Comedy Night but here they are in general a Sucess, but have been cut back to one Night (Friday) a week.. Agree with Beersponge this pub is now back on the Radar and worh visiting again after some years in the also ran bracket.
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Landlady concentrating on the job. New beers from the Windsor and Eton Brewery in good condition. Pub has had a good tidy and repaint. Comedy evenings in the dark months. Now worth a visit again.
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Went past pub last Night (Saturday) and it was closed? Who in their right mind closes on a Saturday Night? cannot guarentee this Pub will be open and if it is that it has any Beer to sell you.
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Went in on the Tuesday (Eve) before Christmas. No Food on - Limited Beer/Lager available (Bottle Fridge was empty). One staff member on who was cleaning Brass as there were no cusomers until I went in. Landlady was there and said could heat a chili up if i wanted, whan asked about the lack of beer available I was told that it was busy Lunchtime and most of the stock had been drunk! Simple it was Christmas which equals a busty time of year, more customers who drink more = Buy more in and fill cellar up. Needless to say I did not stay!
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If more pubs were like this, the world would be a happier place.
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A nice alternative to Eton High St, where you don't get ripped off. You're just out of the tourist trap here. There is a decent range of beers, but I've found that they're rarely well presented. There is a barman that works there that is ultra enthusiastic / helpful and, in my opinion, wasted on this pub.
Always running out of glasses, even when they're not busy and one barmaid seemed to think it was ok to pour a London Pride into a glass which had just come out of the glass washer and was piping hot.
Need to up their game a little, but lot's of potential. Like the olde-worlde feel to it.
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Obviously been redecorated since a previous comment! Warm, welcoming, friendly and good beer. Best burgers in Windsor too.
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Brilliant when your cousin's front door is less than 10 steps away from the place. Would recommend to anybody to go out of their way to visit and just stick to the high street in Eton.
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Have been back to the pub 3 times since June. All I can say is what a difference 2 months make. It's getting worse !
The Landlady (Scottish ?)seems more than content to be drunk and on each of my returns she has been unpleasant, vile and rude to customers. If the jobs too difficult....move on !!
Last weekend with only 2 people at the bar the barmaid took 10 minutes to serve then totally forgot to top up a Guinness ! She took great exception when asked to top it up. All service was greeted with her sucking her snot through her nose, coughing onto her hand without a hint of using a tissue or washing her hands. Disgusting !
The only saving grace was the barman. When the pub was busy last Sunday (great band btw - Million Dollar Bash). His attention to detail was great. He was not once flustered, remembered the rounds and who was drinking what and was extremeley polite under pressure.
The landlady could learn a great deal from this man.
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Very tatty and run down. Used to be quite a vibrant and busy pub but is sadly a shadow of its former self. On my last visit I had to return my fish and chips as fish was off and tasted vile, despite claim on pub front that they serve fresh fish daily. Definitely a pub in need of a major overhaul.
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Surprisingly quiet early evening although this seems to be a theme reading earlier reviews. Reasonable pub close to the bridge and river, nice interior with lots of nooks and crannies. Mariners charts, river maps etc abound. A rear open unfenced garden looks out onto 1970's townhouses, I'd grow a hedge or something.
London Pride, Brakspears Best and Wychwood Hobgoblin. The Hogs Back TEA was sadly off.
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Went there Friday night, great beer, friendly staff, not very busy but great for a quiet pint or 2.
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Not sure when and what time Alenut went, but Landlady is always missing, She has a full time day job and is always upstairs or absent during the evening shift (no customers). She will only be seen when really busy, that is when a private party is on or it is a Bank Holiday Sunday when a Band is playing. All other times the pub is run by Mark or other staff. There is no "Landlord" now, he left some time ago. Agreed he was (is) misrable but that is due too to much of what he sold, usually Red Wine! Must go back there sometime soon, it has been six months since my last review.
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Once a great pub. Landlady is hospitible and hardworking. The landlord is a miserable so and so. Not bad beer but not good either.
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Unfortunately this pub has gone down hill rapidly over the last few years. Although I believe the food to be good, it is now suffering from lack of Customers, particulary locals. Christmas Eve used to be Heaving in both the Pub and the Back Room, sadly not this year.Will give New Years Eve a miss this year. Anne works her socks off behind the bar, often on her own. Where's the Management? This place lacks atmosphere, and has a paper cutout of the River Thames, Shipping Charts and pictures stuck to the ceiling. Do not attempt to look up with a pint in your hand. On the plus side has Good Beer and a Roaring Real Log Fire
anonymous - 31 Dec 2006 20:48 |
Been my "local" for over 20 years - still go there occasionally even though I moved out of the area. Good food, frienly staff one of the best Traditional Pubs in Eton. Ideal stopover for those cruising the Thames. Can get very busy when a Private function is on or when the Fair is in town (Late July). Great selection of Beers kept well especially the Brakspears. Always has a Guest beer on handpump.
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A good traditional Pub. Great care is taken over the keeping of their ales, the Hobgoblin (has been on for the past year and a half that i've been drinking at this pub, but still labelled as a "guest"!) is of particularly high quality. The only pub in Eton that is featured in this years "Good Beer Guide".
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Wonderful value Sunday lunch. Very friendly staff and recommended for its great selection of draught beers.
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Good food and good beer. Went there a few times during last year and always had excellent service.
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Seemed very nice inside, and had a good ale selection (inc Hogsback, which always gets a thumbs-up) and an attentive barstaff.
Has a map of the Thames on the ceiling which I fear has caused many people to fall off their chairs when drunk; it doesn't have Staines marked on though, so minus points there...
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I visited this pub recently on a shopping trip to Windsor for a pub lunch and found it very friendly, comfortable and enjoyed the food. I was made very welcome.
Angela Jobbins - 9 Jul 2004 23:06 |
