The Windmill Inn, Portishead — Restaurant in England

This review comes with a caveat, it was Mother's Day when we visited (although I've been before) and was therefore busy. However, most places will be busy and will plan accordingly. Having said that I'm not going to slate the place! It's a decent enough place, it has fantastic views especially in summer and has plenty of parking. If you have mobility issues you would need to park as close as you can as it's on a steep hill. When it's busy there's a slow moving queue to order food. It's a big restaurant with lots of tables so it does get busy. This queue isn't helped by the drinks orders being placed at the same time with the server going off to get the drinks. It would be quicker if food was ordered then drinks ordered at the bar and put on the tab. The staff at the food till on our visit was as helpful as anyone could be, he was a star and helped me down with my drinks but it made for a slow moving queue. If you have young kids waiting for their tea and getting narky this is frustrating! The menu has the usual pub classics but also some options which are a bit more varied and a touch more appealing than the classics. They also have a well populated specials board. I couldn't decide and went for the default in that situation- scampi and chips! Never fails! However, it did. It was undercooked, pale, soft and not very hot. My partner had the Sunday roast beef and it too wasn't very hot. My mum had the beef also with my step dad having a roasted red pepper lasagne dish. They're too nice to make a fuss (this was my treat!) but I can assume my mum's roast was luke warm too. The lasagne dish looked like it had enjoyed substantial time in the oven so that should have been hot, it looked a bit nuclear! My little lad had kid's fish and chips but left most of it as the "crunchy bit was soft"! The food isn't pretty, no garnishes or anything and nothing in the way of imagination. To be fair, that sounds pretty scathing but it's not meant to be overly harsh. It's a decent pub with a decent menu with the main draw being the setting but if I'm honest, even if the food is hot, it doesn't quite live up to expectations delivered by the...

The pub itself has just had a complete overhaul, with everything from the bar to the furniture having been replaced. Booths have even been moved, to make the most of the views across the Severn Estuary. And what views they are 🤩 We were lucky enough to be sat next to one of the windows as the sun was starting to set and it really was a beautiful spot.

We went for:

🩵 British 'Cobble Lane' charcuterie for 2 🩵 Avocado & red chilli salsa bruschetta 🩵 White pork belly croquettes 🩵 Chaleroft Farm beef burger with extra Mrs Owton’s streaky bacon 🩵 Beer battered haddock triple cooked chips 🩵 Rocket & Grana Padano salad 🩵 Brownie and Ice Cream 🩵 Sticky Toffee Pudding with Salted Caramel 👧🏻 Garlic Flat Bread 👧🏻 Kids Sausage, Mash & Peas 👧🏻 Kids Brownie and Ice Cream

We had a really lovely welcome (B massively appreciated the lady serving us volunteering to print off colouring sheets and bringing a pot of coloured pencils) and enjoyed our food. Highlights for me included the sharing board (love that it had cornichons, I’m obsessed!) and the brownie was one of the best I’ve eaten in ages 🤤

Kid’s mains are £7.95 and don’t include a drink or pudding but do include one side. I liked the fact that if she’d gone for the mac & cheese (sadly they’d run out) she could have had pepper or carrot sticks on the side, as it was she enjoyed her sausage and mash with peas.

On my last visit to The Windmill we sat outside to make the most of the panoramic perspective, and I’m pleased to report it’s still a fabulous spot to do so. I did also hear a rumour of pods of some description being fitted at some point in the future, a host of events being planned (Shakespeare in the garden anyone?) and cocktail offers on the horizon too!

Took a point off the food as chips with the burger were underdone and found the croquettes a bit dry. We visited for their soft opening and passed the feedback on though, so will be interested to go back and see how that’s...

Not all pubs are born equal. Some emerge from the pub primordial ooze, sprout four walls, a roof, and offer the same dreary experience as the next boozer down the road. But once in a blue moon, a pub is blessed with a location so spectacular, so staggeringly picturesque, that it transcends the realm of mere watering hole and becomes a destination. The Windmill in Portishead is one such pub.

Perched on a hillside with sweeping vistas over the Severn Estuary, flanked by lush fields, The Windmill makes an entrance worthy of a Hollywood starlet. On a sunny day, it’s less of a pub and more of a slice of heaven served with a pint.

The recently refurbished interior strikes that delicate balance between the charm of a traditional pub and the allure of modern comforts. Downstairs, it’s all cozy corners and inviting nooks. But ascend the staircase and you're greeted by an extraordinary floor-to-ceiling window that offers panoramic views so breathtaking, you might forget to order your pint.

The outside seating is arranged as if the architect had but one directive: maximise the view. And maximise it they did. Tables are strategically positioned to ensure that every patron, from the seasoned regular to the casual drop-in, gets an eyeful of the magnificent scenery.

Then there's the food, a triumph of traditional pub fare done right. Whether it’s a hearty pie, a succulent bacon chop, or the fresh sea bass, the kitchen at The Windmill knows how to deliver excellence on a plate.

So, if you find yourself in Portishead, take a detour to The Windmill. Because there, you’re not just going for a drink; you’re going for an experience that reminds you that some pubs are indeed...