The Castle, Walthamstow

Gotta love that last review. "It needs moving to Orford Road". Genius mate. Why not ask the people who own the pub to stick it on wheels and push it over there? Would that help?

Personally, I've got sympathy for the new owners. They've tried hard to make this place work. Looks a lot better than the utter shambles it was before although the inside space doesn't naturally work that well as a pub. Lots of nice touches to try and pull the punters in as well - various nights, kid friendly, wi-fi etc so they're trying hard.

Beer selection isn't anything fantastic - fine, but nothing much exciting though a reasonable range of lagers (if that's your bag). Food when we've had it has been pretty decent, albeit hardly gastro. Well cooked but unimaginative choice. Given that Eat 17 is doing good Sunday lunches just over in the Village, feels to me like they should be upping their game on the food front, either in terms of quality or imagination.

Main problem is that it's incredibly quiet in the week, quiz nights and one-off nights aside. And it doesn't work well when quiet - just too big for it so it has a real lack of atmosphere. Good weekend pub though, and the quiz nights etc. are definitely worth the trip.

29 Jul 2010 12:15

The Grove Tavern, Walthamstow

As the last review said, gorgeous old building but pretty shoddy and badly cared for inside. Bar staff on my last visit were awful. It's got Sky Sports and serves barely passable beer which makes it just about okay as a place to watch the football, but that's about it.

31 Aug 2006 16:36

The Castle, Walthamstow

Pub which has the potential to be pretty good but is still a long way off it.

Female barstaff vary between pleasant and downright surly (mainly the latter). Beer garden is stuck around the back and can only be accessed from the street whilst the outside tables at the front slope so your beer skids off them.

Most of all the place desperately needs more customers to fill the space and give it some atmosphere. Gets busy on nights with live music but can be incredibly barren on other nights. Wide open-plan interior doesn't do anything to improve the atmosphere either.

31 Aug 2006 16:26