The Windmill Tavern is a great little pub with a chilled out, informal vibe. It offers relatively cheap drinks and the occasional celebrity spot thanks to it being so close to the Old and Young Vic theatres.

The Venue
Situated within walking distance of Waterloo station on The Cut, The Windmill Tavern is in good company. Not only are there two world-class theatres within spitting distance, there are also some other fantastic pubs. Having said that, The Windmill Tavern is definitely fighting its corner against the competition and seems to be doing pretty well for itself.

From the street, the pub looks exactly how it is – unassuming and modern without attempting to be anything it’s not. It has simple grey awnings and charcoal grey walls. It’d be easy to walk past without noticing if it wasn’t for the buzz of people smoking just outside. Luckily for them, there is a good-sized covered and heated area by the doors complete with picnic benches.

Inside you’ll find a small open area with wooden benches and simple wooden chairs and tables lining the windows. The bar is divided by a well-stocked, good sized bar. Behind this there is another seating area with upholstered leather booth seating and chairs. The walls are covered in pictures of famous actors and actresses who have spent an evening in the pub whilst treading the boards nearby – it provides a good topic of conversation if you’re on a really awkward first date. The one downside is there aren’t enough chairs and tables for all the punters, and when it gets crowded it gets incredibly hot in the bar.

The Atmosphere
This is a slightly upmarket but ultimately relaxed pub. The clientele is mainly made up of people who work in the area out for a drink after a long day – this means it gets extremely busy on a Friday evening, but on any night of the week you may struggle to find somewhere to sit. However, the bar staff are professional and calm under pressure, and always happy for a friendly exchange whilst they serve you drinks. The Windmill Tavern obviously has loyal customers who have grown fond of the place. Thankfully, as it is so unassuming, it generally seems to miss being the subject of too many tourists driving the prices up.

The Food
Whilst this isn’t a gastropub, it does well for itself with its selection of tasty Thai food. You can expect Thai dishes such as traditional Phad Thai (noodles fried with prawns, chicken, pak choi and garnished with crushed peanuts) and fragrant green curry (chicken cooked in a mild creamy coconut curry sauce flavoured with lime, green chillies and lemongrass). If you’re feeling peckish after a few beers, you won’t be disappointed.

The Drink
The Windmill Tavern has a lot of real ale on draught, as well as Staropramen, Stella Artois and Becks. These will set you back about £2.80, which is insanely decent for the area. Also on offer is a decent range of red, white and rose wines, as well as cocktails. The house white is decent enough and weighs in at the £3.50 mark. The one drawback? There is a card charge limit of £10. However, it provides an excellent excuse to load up on drinks and settle in for the evening.

The Last Word
This is a popular pub for locals and has enough character and charm to suit its theatrical position. However, whilst it’s not a spit-and-sawdust establishment, it doesn’t come with many frills.

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