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Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Saturday, 11th March 2023
With picture contributions to 5136 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (6 more images)
Detail Pages
The Castle, W11
W11
W11 4UA
Castle Portobello
The winter cocktails are now out! As well as a few new G&T combos which are set to bring you… https://t.co/UbXzitxq7C
8:12 PM Nov 6th 2017 from Instagram
Reviews of The Castle (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Castle
A good exterior, with some nice ceramic work, but inside it is a bit of a shell, with some of the walls stripped back to brick, lots of shabby paintwork (deliberate?) and rather too many windows. Add some modern artworks and dark ceilings to complete the picture. It did however have some interesting ales on, in the shape of Salt Tweed and Birmingham Brewery Pale, plus London Pride clip-reversed. Interaction between the bar staff and customers didn't seem very good and we didn't feel very welcome somehow, but worth checking out their beers.
On 9th March 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Castle
My notes suggest that I haven't popped in here for 12 years, which seems rather implausible given how often I have passed along Holland Park Avenue in the intervening period... Anyway, the fine ex-Charrington exterior remains unchanged, but the interior has been substantially refurbished at some stage. The seating in the smallish 'L'-shaped bar is mostly booth-like tables, and there was quite a relaxed atmosphere on this late evening visit. Four handpumps, but with the Landlord temporarily off, the 'choice' was just Doom Bar (£4.55) unfortunately.
On 4th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Castle
7th August 2015:
I haven't set foot in this pub for over 20 years so thought I'd give it another go. Built in 1827 with additions dated to 1857, the frontage displays some very fine Charrington's glazed tiling.
This is a fairly large corner pub situated opposite the houses of Holland Park where one, around 2007, went on the market for £28m so perhaps local neighbour Richard Branson pops in here for a Black & Tan.
The interior is bare boarded with a central horseshoe-shaped bar. Ornately carved, there are fine pillars which once must have supported a former gantry. The walls are wood panelled to window height. Furniture is conventional and eclectic, with some leather(ette) chairs and a Chesterfield. Walls are either painted a pale colour or covered with baroque wallpaper; much lighting comes from chandeliers. To the rear, and right next to the lavatories (!), is a raised area which seems to be more dining orientated.
The crowd here is very mixed and service was friendly and efficient. Aside from premium lagers, on offer was Sharp's Doom Bar, Timothy Taylor's Landlord and St. Austell's Tribute which was on form and at £3.90 a pint, is remarkable value for the area.
This is a good pub and worth a visit. It also beats The Mitre - up the road - hands down. My main complaint is that the music on the stereo was really too loud.
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Updated:
A return visit the other night and what was this pub's owner thinking of? All the characterful old brown lacquered wood has been painted a distressed ghostly white. There's now a tubular steel shelving rack in front of the bar back which is now illuminated in a purple glow which looks like something you'd find in a cocktail bar; the addition of some pew seating is the only welcome addition.
Ales: an unused pump, Doom Bar, TT's Landlord and St. Austell's Proper Job at £4.80 a pint and fine.
This pub was probably about average before, but the interior alterations leave it now a less welcome prospect.
On 28th November 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
View more reviews of The Castle (4)
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- Randomness Guide to London - Castle entry
- Official site of the Castle, contains menu and beer details - www.castlehollandpark.co.uk
- Facebook - The Castle, Holland Park
- Twitter - Castle Portobello
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Castle - whatpub.com
Kensington (Olympia), 0.82 miles, 15 min walk (show)
West Brompton, 1.84 miles, 35 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 28 November 2018 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 15 December 2015 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 14 August 2018 by Rex Rattus
- Jukebox : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 14 August 2018 by Rex Rattus
- Real Cider : Yes - Addlestone's Cloudy. - last updated 07 August 2015 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - No obvious disabled WC. - last updated 15 December 2015 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 05 August 2015 by Tris C
