The Castle, Notting Hill, W11

Despite a few traditional pub bits the music and clientele revealed this is very much aimed at the younger set, however it did feel slightly more pubby than some and I wouldn't object to returning. However just Doom Bar was available (London Pride clip-reversed) but in fairness it was in reasonable condition.

Corner pub at the Ladbroke Grove end of Portobello Market,it's open plan but with the hipsterish industrial ducting behind the bar and related to the food cooking.There are standard tables and chairs ,all with menus ,while on the pavement there are a few tables for external drinking and eating.It's quite featureless.The food offering did look good,a short menu of bar food tapas dishes,median mains of £14 being properly cooked with vegan options it all smelt good but I wasn't eating. At the bar two handpumps serving Doom Bar and Laines Breaker Pale Ale( NBSS 2,apple tang and I did check I hadn't ordered a cider.)There is a better keg selection With 2 from Wild Beer,Thornbridge Jaipur IPA,Brew Good etc and this maybe your salvation. Not enough to warrant a revisit,unless you are hungry.

This 'market' pub must have been gentrified substantially over recent years because the tables now have menus on clipboards, small plants in miniature galvanised buckets and tea-lights... Apart from that, the 'U'-shaped bar under its high ceiling retains a little character, but it certainly no longer a basic boozer. Disappointingly, just Old Rosie cider available from the four handpumps, with a reversed Doom Bar clip also noted. In consolation, I went for the Truman's x Yokohama Brewery JPA (good enough, but so it should be at £5.95).