The Castle & Falcon, Newark

A fairly ordinary pub with a sporting theme, featuring more dartboards than you could shake a stick at, pool, table football and skittles (I don't count dominoes as a sport but they were evident as well!). There are various connected rooms stretching back with tables in the courtyard to the rear and it perhaps feels a bit in the 'shades of former glory' camp and could do with a bit of a spruce up but it is fit for purpose. Sadly the only ale on offer (from two banks of two pumps) was Hobgoblin Session IPA but it was in quite drinkable form. Has potential.

The Castle & Falcon has a front bar that houses a dartboard and some copper topped tables with a mix of chairs that sit on a threadbare carpet. The public bar at the rear houses a pool table and another dartboard. The front and rear bar counters support standard keg and two hand pumps that were doubled up with Lilley’s Mango Cider and Sharp’s Doom Bar, the latter being well past its best. Down the left of the pub are some picnic tables with a skittle game at the rear. There is a separate function room further to the left, some instruments were being removed so I expect this is where the advertised live entertainment is held. The pub opening times are listed as 19:00 during the week, so I was surprised to find it open at 16:00, which would explain why I was the only customer. I didn’t find it to be very welcoming and the beer was crap, so I’ll give it swerve next time.

Official site of The Castle & Falcon - castleandfalconnewark.co.uk

Official site of The Castle & Falcon - castleandfalconnewark.co.uk

Pleasantly old-fashioned local located in the shadow of the former Castle Brewery (and once the tap for same?). Retains two separate bars, the the larger rear room having enough room for a darts oche. With a pair of handpumps on each counter, I found two real ales from Timothy Taylor available: Landlord and Boltmaker (£3.80).

Still closes in the afternoon. I missed the real ale pump in the rear bar until I visited the toilet but couldn't tell what it was. Two weakish beers in the front bar did not attract me.