please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very friendly local with a wide range of beers (mainly golden at this time of year) - immediately offered a taste without prompting - old fashioned decor but very up to date otherwise.
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How did I miss this place? Who knew there was a friendly little pub so close to the the tube, with 8 different ales on? If I worked in the area, this would be my local.
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Considering its proximity to the Fatcat Lawyer Hell that is Chancery Lane this small victorian street corner pub is relatively unpretentious and relaxed. There were 8 ales on, yes 8! I only got through a couple but they were good. Sat at a stool in front of the big clear glass windows and watched office girls scuttle back and forth dressed in their summer clothes (mmmmm)whilst sipping some really decent beer. Well done The Castle, you provided excellent beverages in a pleasant atmosphere.
8/10
Jay28 - 24 Jun 2008 11:35 |
Very nice pub, though if you're stood outside there seems to be some roadworks going on that gives off the smell of an open sewer.
Otherwise great - very good ales indeed.
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Not a lot to add to the last few recent posts really. Only a few minute walk from Chancery Lane tube. Visited early evening on a sunny Friday in May. Not to busy when I arrived, but beginning to heave when I left an hour or so later. Good selection of real ales, though don't recall the specifics. I am impressed that they have the current choice on a blackboard (so you don't have to go peering at the individual taps), along with a 'coming soon' list.
Beer was well kept, and didn't have a complaint about any of my 3 pints. Realtively small inside and, whilst it has the oldy-worldy-woody feel inside, it is, perhaps, a little characterless.
That aside, no complaints, and thoroughly recommend on the visiting list of any passing real ale head.
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Visited on Friday night. First pub in a 10 pub crawl. Excellent choice of beers as usual, 8 Real ales. Had to stop for 3 that were all great. A must visit for any real ale drinkers due to the excellent choice of ales. As already stated elsewhere all the beers are of a low-middle strength. The strongest I saw was 5%. Fairly busy but not packed.
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Nicw traditional pub, great selection of real ales that constantly change, great landlord Alex and staff, nice to see the toilets have been painted, excellent condition the real ales a credit to Alex who obviously is dilligent about cleaning them, this pub is going from strength to strength it a must see pub for its Real Ales
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Darkstar Old, Nethergate Umbel Magna (porter), Salopian Abbey Gates, Bushys Castletown Bitter, Redcar Best (by Nethergate), Stonehenge Sign of Spring (green), Hop Back Back Row, Cotleigh Barn Owl, plus a list of 6 ‘coming soon’ incl Harveys Porter & Tring Great Gully. Single room pub, nice dark wood throughout & old wood floor, burgundy papered ceiling countered by large 2/3rd height windows around which a dozen barstools provide drinking sections from which to watch the world go by. Not cheap at £3.10 but I wasn’t too surprised round here. Had a chat with the barman & only other punter in there at 15:00 yesterday, good place. Combine it with the Edgar Wallace just a few minutes walk away & you’ve got 16 handpumps offering non-mainstream beers – pity neither open at weekends.
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Visited for the first time last week during a two-day crawl of London's finest. Was impressed with both the range and quality of the cask ale, and the friendliness of the staff. Quiet after 9pm but well worth a trip.
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Visited for the first time last night, after a recommendation. Tried three of the beers; all well kept and delicious. Particularly liked the Redcar Best Bitter. The atmosphere was lively enough to drown out the music mentioned earlier. Only downside was the toilets. The cold tap worked but there was no paper to dry my hands afterwards.
kchef - 19 Mar 2008 19:12 |
Recently started drinking again since its been taken over the Manager Alex and the staff make you feel welcome there
Great choice of bitters and lagers and they look after then god as well
Onlt downside could do with better choice on soft drinks £1.70 for fruit juice mixer size could do with having J20s and tomato juice there at a resonable price?
The sandwiches are great could also do with serving chips with burgers rather than the corn chips and salads as well
P/s can we have becks on tap?
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Eight handpumps on yesterday, including Bateman's Mild and Peat Porter. So I rate the pub very good for beer selection. (The beer is the most important thing, but note: tedious pop music was playing in the background - well I thought it was tedious; and the taps on the handbasin in the Gents on the ground floor didn't work.)
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Very busy on a Friday evening, although it's slightly concerning that with 8 interesting beers on there's still a predisposition to strong lagers. Perhaps as knowledge of this place spreads the ale fraternity will gradually allow natural selection to take place!
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As other reviewers note, the recent acquisition of this pub by Redcar makes it a very different proposition from when I added it this time last year. Visited recently and noted seven or eight real ales available - the ones we had were very good. Early on a Monday evening, though, the atmosphere was very lacking - it was very quiet and rather dark and gloomy. Hopefully this will improve as word gets around that its ale selection elevates it among the better pubs in town.
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Vastly improved since the takeover by Redcar. Great selection of beers and very well kept. Could start to take trade from the Mitre if they keep up such a high standard.
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I was in here for about an hour from 2.00 to 3.00 on a wet and windy Monday afternoon. Very quiet – eight customers when I went in (I made nine). Almost as many ales on as customers. I wonder whether they have the custom to support having 8 real ales on? The RCH Tender Loving Care I had was only just OK. No chairs – only stools by the bar; around a single high table; or next to a ledge by the windows. Clearly ancient floorboards – nobody would distress floorboards to the point where there were holes in the floor! I didn’t find the pub very comfortable or welcoming as a solitary drinker – but I suppose it would be a much different place if you were in there with a bunch of chums. But I'll give it another go when I'm next in the area - first impressions aren't always right, and previous reviewers rate it highly.
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Ooops - forgot to rate this pub. A well deserved 8!
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Nice traditional style smaller pub, early Victorian at a guess; interior all bare floorboards and dark wood panelling with stools and shelves plus one tall round table, no tables & chairs as such.
Watch out for the wobbly shelf in the corner to the right of the fireplace - I put my pint down, leaned my elbow on the shelf, it gave an inch or so and my glass slid off and smashed on the floor, much to my embarrassment. The friendly and efficient staff laughed it off and gave me a replacement pint.
Only constructive criticism I'd make is that the range of ales could be a bit more varied in style with eight handpumps - there was nothing on offer above 4.5% ABV
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Very interesting addition to the Holborn circuit, handy for the Mitre and the JT. Very friendly, great choice a beer-hopefully will become a fixture.
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Wow, how good is this pub now? Great atmosphere and range of cask ales is superb. Landlord Alex was very friendly and obviously knows his ales. Never tried it but looks to be a good wine list too. Keep up the good work!
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We visited early Tuesday evening and were welcomed by a friendly and knowledgeable landlord and efficient bar staff. 8 real ales on tap. Tried them all except the Youngs and they were all in top class condition, a credit to the landlord - Keep up the good work.
A simple, no nonsense pub although they did have a tv on mute tuned to sky news and music in the background. Well worth a visit.
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Visited on Friday night. Small bar downstais which was packed when we got in at about 6.45. Realised there was a room and small bar upstairs where there was more space. Seven or eight beers on, Jarrow Rivet Catcher was excellent. I suspect Youngs Ordinary and Nethergate Red Car Bitter (don't know if it's a rebadge or specially brewed) will be the only regulars. All beers less than 4.2% I believe. Erdinger on draught.
A must visit.
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Nice Pub very friendly 8 real ales on - I hope it takes off.
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I'll answer my question - it isn't. The only pub in the Red Car Pub chain to open at weekends is the Wheatsheaf...
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Does anyone know if this place is open on a Saturday?
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A welcome new addition to London's freehouses. If they can keep up the quality of guests (and none too stupidly strong) then all for the good.
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Fantastic. As previously advised now part of the Red Car Pub Company. Popped in here on Wednesday night for a quick pint or five. Eight Real Ales available and all the ones I had were top notch. Beer from Tom Wood’s, Hogs Back and Vale Pale Ale. There was a board up showing you all beers available together with a Coming Soon List. Good service guaranteed when we arrived as we were the only ones in there. Don’t think it will stay this quiet for long once word gets out. Strange toilet set up first toilet I’ve ever seen on two floors. When we were in there they were training a new barmaid who was gorgeous so that’s two good reasons to visit in my book. Get in quick before this place starts getting packed.
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Iwas in on friday for the re opening and the place was jumping! Excellent nite was had, great range of beers including loads of cask. I sampled numerous and all were fab. Keep it up
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Understand it was due to be bought by Red Car pubs. Who are the leaseholders at the Wheatsheaf (Borough Market), The Swan (leadenhall Market) and the Bell (Cannon Street) which are all top pubs. I understand this is to be their first freehouse. Give it a couple of weeks I reckon this could be a top pub.
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I was in here the other day and was chatting to the Aussie girl working behind the bar. She mentioned that the pub has indeed been sold effective October 19th, so we can expect to see a few changes to this place from that point on.
She didn't know who it had been sold to, but anyone would be better than the current owner, who obviously doesn't care a jot about the place.
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Once upon a time this was my regular lunchtime haunt, also evenings after rehearsals. In those days it was run properly, firstly by Maurice [later at the Punch Tavern] then Colin [later at the Mitre, Barnet]. At this time they lost a superb Friary Meux window during a refurb. It then acquired a manager who was more interested in chatting to her pals than maintaining the ales and thus went down hill. I've not been there of late as all the regulars I used to chat to have long gone. But all is not lost, I heard a rumour yesterday that the Castle has been acquired by a notable Borough Market area personality. If true this will be a GOOD THING.
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Admittedly it's not great at the moment but I've heard there are big plans afoot. Watch this space!
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I hadn’t been in here for years but am now back in the area and I seldom take the time to write on this forum, however:
It is extremely sad to see what I have known to be a fine Victorian pub in such disrepair! It is obvious that the owners and the manager, the latter was present when I visited, care little about the place and have no idea what makes a ‘good boozer’.
Besides the dire interior; the unkempt staff are extremely slovenly, the ale borders dire and the selection of Lagers enough to make you laugh. As was previously stated the prices make you baulk, even in this part of the City; particularly given the extremely poor quality of both it, the glass in which it is served and the manner in which it is delivered. I am know fan of soulless JDWs or Slug &s, but and the ‘programmed’ ways of their staff, but these people could learn much from visiting one!
I strongly suggest the owners file for bankruptcy early to avoid disappointment or just sell it to someone who actually knows what he/she is doing! Now I am back, I am certainly looking for another ‘local’ for my after work pint.
Shame on all involved in this venture.
PS. Get a proper Pump Clip for that Blacksheep, I'm informed Theakston the Younger gives them away! Sums up the place really, they can't even be bothered getting freebies to show they are trying!!
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Slightly surprised to notice this was omitted. On the plus side, two real ales on tap, notably Black Sheep. Against that, it wasn't particularly well served and at £3 a pint was expensive even for London. The interior is unremarkable - mostly standing room and often quite quiet in my experience.
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