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Windsor is most famously the location of Windsor Castle, home of British monarchs since Henry I (including the current resident, Queen Elizabeth II). Thanks to its royal significance, Windsor is one of the most popular day trips from London. In addition to Windsor Castle, tourists flock to Windsor for day trips to relax on the River Thames, browse shops, visit parks, go to Legoland, and much more. For those looking for craft beer, Windsor has several excellent craft beer options, including one of my favorite beer bars in England. Here are the best places for craft beer in Windsor, including breweries, tap rooms, beer bars, and bottle shops.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Windsor
A Hoppy Place
There’s a certain type of craft beer bar and bottle shop that every town should have. It should serve as the best bottle shop around, with a large enough selection to satisfy most anyone. It should also serve as an intimate neighborhood gathering spot where not only the local beer fans can hang out, but people who are curious about craft beer can also join the fun.
Windsor has this exact hoppy place: A Hoppy Place. It’s not only the best place for craft beer in Windsor, it’s one of the best craft beer bars in England. Don’t just take my word for it, they’ve won numerous awards, including the CAMRA Slough, Windsor, and Maidenhead branch’s Pub of the Year in 2021 & 2022, as well as the SIBA Best UK Craft Beer Retailer 2021 award.
Inside A Hoppy Place, you’ll find 11 kegs & 2 casks of beer & cider, plus hundreds of cans & bottles from the best local breweries & beyond. The selection is available for drinking in or as take away, including online ordering. Out back, there’s a small garden.
As soon as I sat down at the bar, I knew I’d be spending the rest of my day in A Hoppy Place. I left only for a brief visit to Windsor & Eton Brewery below before returning. Between the staff members (it’s a family affair, with married owners Dave & Naomi, along with brother Jason), the regulars, and the dogs, I felt immediately welcomed.
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A Hoppy Place is the sort of beer bar where it’s easy to end up having an unexpectedly lengthy session of splitting beers with new friends. A session that may or may not eventually lead to a “Bohemian Rhapsody” sing-a-long.
They have scheduled bottle shares as well, plus other events including tap takeovers. A Hoppy Place is a wonderful community spot that everyone should be so lucky to have nearby.
There’s good news too, as A Hoppy Place is also expanding to a second location in nearby Maidenhead.
Address: 11 St. Leonards Rd, Windsor SL4 3BN, United Kingdom (map)
The Corner House (The Corner Ale & Cider House Pub)
The Corner Ale & Cider House Pub, AKA The Corner House, is one of the best-loved pubs in Windsor. Located a short distance south of Windsor Castle, The Corner House has a huge selection of real ales & ciders, along with plenty of craft beer. It’s a traditional pub atmosphere with a modern food & drink menu.
The used tap & cask signs on the ceiling show just how often The Corner House rotates through its selection of roughly 10 casks & 5 ciders, and 10 or so taps (plus some cans & bottles). There is also a large wine list, along with over 60 craft gins.
The corner spot means a nice breeze comes in through the windows. There’s also a roof terrace above the upstairs level.
With a full restaurant menu, The Corner House is an excellent option for a Windsor pub lunch, especially when they’re doing Sunday roasts.
The Corner House hosts frequent events, including live music, live sport, & quizzes.
Address: 22 Sheet St, Windsor SL4 1BG, United Kingdom (map)
The Best Craft Breweries in Windsor
Windsor & Eton Brewery & Taproom
Windsor & Eton Brewery opened in 2010, becoming the first brewery in Windsor for almost 80 years. While their beer list does skew more towards cask ales, they also have keg beers, including those brewed through their “Uprising” line.
The Windsor & Eton Brewery & Taproom is located in an industrial area in the western part of Windsor. It’s easily accessed to the west of Alexandra Park. The brewery opened its Unit 4 Brewery Tap in 2021. The taproom has 20 lines of Windsor & Eton’s creations, along with guest taps & ciders, plus cans to go.
There’s also a food menu featuring burgers, loaded fries, jacket potatoes, and more.
The brewery hosts frequent events, including Saturday tours, quizzes, music bingo, and live comedy.
Address: 1-4 Vansittart Estate, Duke St, Windsor SL4 1SE, United Kingdom (map)
There are a couple of other restaurants & pubs in Windsor that also have craft beer. Across the river in Eton, The George Inn features beer from Windsor & Eton Brewery. Patch on the Plaza, a lovely outdoor garden spot, also has Windsor & Eton beer.
Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!
Here are some great Windsor tours & activities & other things to see & do in Windsor.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Windsor, check out these Windsor hotels.
