The Castle Hotel, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

In a commanding position opposite the railway station this is a well appointed hotel bar in the sharp end of a wedge shaped building. Under the grey paint there are some nice features on the old counter, the etched windows are good and the sandstone fireplace carved with the nearby Old Bridge and Berwick Castle is neat. The fireplace at the other end appears to be carved with Lindisfarne Castle. A limited choice of beers, two unused handpumps plus a couple of T-Bars with a few lagers, Shipyard and Belhaven Best. A third has the Guinness and cider. Furnished mainly with tables and chairs, it has banquette seating under the end windows and a sofa at one end strategically placed to view the large screen, and it’s beside a dart board.

Official site of The Castle Hotel - www.grhotels.co.uk

Official site of The Castle Hotel - www.grhotels.co.uk

A pretty little building that’s the first pub you see as you exit the station. I suspect this was a nice place a few years ago, however this wedged shaped place has had a glooping of snot green paint across the bar and the third length wood panelling so the interior felt pretty devoid of character. Two pumps with no discernible ale on; a Maxim pump clip lingered on the bar nearby but I decided I wasn't going to be the only idiot to try and drink it should it exist, so a keg Maltsmiths IPA had to do. A real waste, this could and should be much better.