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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Alan Winfield
Submitted on Monday, 27th January 2014
With picture contributions to 6053 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (5 more images)
Detail Pages
The Castle, East Dulwich, SE22
SE22
SE22 9JJ
Served areas
Reviews of The Castle (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Castle
First up it is totally not a surprise that Alan and Rex were the last (and only) two reviewers of this pub more than 10 and nearly 15 years ago respectively. Also other than different beers (more of which next) not a single thing looks to have changed here over that time. Nothing fancy as a result, but very refreshing to see a place like this still in business, serving locals and being in a time warp. During my visit, the dart board was in use but the pool table disappearance probably the biggest change here. There are a small number of traditional pub all in one table / bench seat arrangements outside one side of the pub. There is a small paved beer garden out the back of the pub. The far end of the saloon bar as described below had a large TV on the wall but switched off and so had to do with the smaller TV at the front of the saloon bar showing the evening racing.
Beer wise there was a single hand pump dispensing Courage Best, appropriately served in a John Smiths branded glass! Craft could be described as Neck Oil and BrewDog Planet Pale and Pale Ale here. Plenty for lager lovers with Madri, Carling extra cold (not obviously the quaff of choice tonight), Fosters, Moretti and Stella. Obviously Guinness and the cider predictably Blackthorn. I had the Courage Best and it was well kept for a non-wallet busting price of £3.20 a pint!
Really enjoyed my stay here way better than the previous venue this evening. The venue is authentic and feels like a proper London pub with an old school landlady and banter with the regulars at the bar (who added to the London feel by being black cabbies)! Wouldn’t trek here to be here but would absolutely pop in if in the area and wanted somewhere to watch the racing especially.
On 28th May 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Castle
The Castle looks very distinctive from the outside with its name in large letters.
Once inside there is a small basic bar to the right,this room had a pool table in the middle and some basic seating,the left side is a bit smarter,there is some bench seating to the front,the room then narrows going to the rear where it opens out again,the seating to the rear looked like it was set up for diners but none in on my visit.
There was one real ale on the bar,this was Old Speckled Hen which was a decent enough drink.
There was a TV on showing the Bournmouth v Liverpool FA cup match,the bar was empty but there were a few locals in the lounge side.
This is a very basic pub,not the sort of pub you see in London that often.
Pub visited 25/1/2014
On 25th January 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Castle
Despite the rather extravagant outside signage, and black painted side of the building, this remains a pretty basic pub. I don’t generally go for black painted pubs, but I have to say that it has got to be an improvement over the pink paintwork shown in earlier photographs. There are still two separate bars. The bar on the right looks as if it is the public bar, with the floor space dominated by a pool table, and the saloon bar on the left leading to what appeared to be a dining area at the back. Seating in the saloon bar is a couple of banquettes by the window with two or three very basic standard tables, and a few stools by the bar. There was no real ale on, although there were a couple of handpumps on the bar. One pump had what looked like a London Pride clip reversed, and the other appeared to be unused. One rather nostalgic feature was the tray of clingfilm covered rolls behind the bar; looked like a choice between ham or cheese & pickle to me. Classic. It was obviously an Ind Coope pub in a previous life, as evidenced by the Skol Lager and Double Diamond signs above the bar back. It’s a long time since I’ve seen those two crimes against brewing being drunk.
This is clearly a locals’ pub, despite someone trying to give the exterior a sort of half-hearted attempt at an upmarket facelift. I’ve nothing at all against the pub, but I doubt whether I would bother returning in the hope, rather than expectation, of getting a pint of London Pride.
On 13th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
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- Official site of The Castle - thecastlepublondon.com
- Facebook - The Castle
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Castle - whatpub.com
East Dulwich, 0.98 miles, 19 min walk (show)
West Dulwich, 1.5 miles, 29 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 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 16 February 2019 by Tris C
- Darts : Yes last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes - According to Facebook page - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : No last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Sky Sports/BT Sport. - last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 12 November 2024 by Tris C
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 13 August 2010 by hondo .
- Quiz Night : Yes - Thursdays. - last updated 16 February 2019 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 February 2019 by Tris C
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