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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th December 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Friday, 1st November 2024
With picture contributions to 5751 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon), Stoke Newington, N16
N16
N16 0NY
Reviews of The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon) (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon)
A really impressive old pub frontage doesn't really shout "Spoons", but this is certainly interesting (in part) inside as well. Yes, it's been changed over the years, but the main bar area (with some old decorative tiling) and an atrium area beyond that (which isn't recent by the look of things) both retain some character. A newer extension can also be found at the back. Quite an interesting selection of guest cask ales - including my seasonal Otter Claus (£2.66) - on six of the nine handpumps, in addition to the expected Greene King IPA and Abbot, albeit with Sharp's Solar Wave replacing Doom Bar on this occasion.
On 23rd November 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8958 recommendations about 8958 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon)
A very handsome exterior gives way – initially at least – to a fine tiled interior with integrated mirrors. Perhaps inevitably this old salvage gives way to a fairly simple JDW drinking barn farther on with three old rooms whacked-through, not a huge amount of note bar a small number of booths on the left hand side, the ornate mid-section lantern and a glass atrium at the rear. Apparently this is Timbo’s oldest place still on the roster, opened in 1983 – the same as year as Blue Monday came out. Rock-bottom prices, the two guest cask were £1.49 with a Timbo Token, an absolute steal round here; Hook Norton Haymaker and a good pint of Green Jack Gone Fishing (NBSS 3.5) being the options. They're clearly going for drinkers priced out of all the other local pubs and in that respect it works – so long as you don’t mind elderly drunk Irish singing incomprehensible songs then you’ll be fine. I quite enjoyed myself, though getting quality cask at rock-bottom prices tends to do that to a pubman. 6.5
On 6th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5891 recommendations about 5871 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon)
A 'spoons in an old pub building and so quite unusual.The entrance is attractive and on both walls inside there are some good glazed tiled decoration and inlaid mirrors before the inevitable high tables,rank of fruit machines and seating booths.Beyond the long bar on the right is a large skylight then a rear section in much lighter shades before a decent sized beer garden,popular with smokers.
It was 'spoons beer festival time but the three ELB handpumps looked like a permanent feature offering their Jamboree,Foundation Bitter and Cowcatcher (NBSS 3.5).The trio of doom are offset by around 6 guests ,a decent tally for N16.
The cheap drink and food options do attract a strange mix of older customers and a large table of over 70 men did emit an unfortunate reek,a seating booth had three very elderly folk slumped and still nursing their all day coffees at 3pm and at the front some well oiled regulars engaged in volumous islamaphobia and homophobia,while swearing loudly at any passing police vehicles .However it is better to have such customers concentrated within a 'spoons rather than let them loose on the other pubs in the area.
I downed my half and left avoiding eye contact with the foul mouthed celts,after one of them tried to engage me in drunked conversation,I suppose you just have to accept this if you visit 'spoons.
On 10th March 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3076 recommendations about 3076 pubs]
View more reviews of The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon) (14)
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- Official site of The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Rochester Castle (JD Wetherspoon) - whatpub.com
Rectory Road, 0.39 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Clapton, 0.86 miles, 16 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 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes - April & Oct - last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No - Just the usual 50p tokens - last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : No - Guide dogs only. - last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 06 November 2024 by Quinno _
