Castle Inn, Pevensey

Official site of Castle Inn - www.castleinnpevenseybay.co.uk

Official site of Castle Inn - www.castleinnpevenseybay.co.uk

This long established 16th century inn has recently been tastefully renovated and taken over by the new mine hosts, Andy and Linda Skinner. This is a very friendly and welcoming local inn that serves both fine ales and superb, mainly English, food. Well behaved children and dogs are also welcome! Harvey's Best Bitter and Abbot Ale are the two well kept real ales, also available on tap are Guinness, lager beers and cider. Andy is the amiable mine host, normally serving behind the bar, while Linda runs the kitchen, producing the same high standard of food that this pub has been renowned for for several years now, hardly surprising as Linda has worked and cooked in the kitchen for several years now. One of the delights of the menu is that one never knows what is available until a blackboard is brought out just before serving time, the reason for this being that the fish and meat are usually bought daily from local sources and are subject to availability. The menu will have one or two "catch of the day" fish dishes plus, if you are lucky, a superb home made steak and kidney pie served with fresh vegetables. Other dishes are always available. On Sunday lunch time a meat roast is always available. The pub opening hours are from 1100 to 2200 Monday to Thursday, 1100 to 2300 Friday and Saturday and 1200 to 2200 Sunday. Food is served from 1200 to 1400 Monday to Saturday and 1800 to 2000 Tuesday to Saturday while Sunday lunchtime is 1200 to 1430 (no food is served on Sunday and Monday evenings). Booking is recommended for both lunch and dinner on 01323 764970 (please note that there are steps down into the bar and dining area from all entrances, therefore it is not wheel chair accessible). A seperate room, just off the main bar, is available for parties of up to 30 people. Credit/Debit cards are accepted. The Castle Inn has a large car park and garden. Free WIFI is available. When TV is on, normally during sporting events, it is never too loud. Background music is also played and occasionally entertainers appear.

The Castle in is set back from the main road and has some picnic tables outside the front. I think that I saw a beer garden advertised at the rear of this pub that looks as though it has been converted from a row of cottages, but I didn’t have a nose as the pub dog sounded a bit lively out the back. There is a sign in the door asking dog owners to speak to the staff before bringing their canine companions in so maybe the pub dog is a little temperamental. The interior is L shaped with two bar areas under a low beamed ceiling. There is a log burning fireplace in each bar and to the right of the entrance there is a large inglenook that has some knick-knacks in it. There are also some old pistols up on the wall and in the back bar there is a plasma screen that was showing an FA Cup game via ITV, I didn’t spot any signs for Sky Sports. The governor was polite without being overly friendly and the Guinness was well served. There are four hand pumps split between the two bars and these were drawing Abbot and Harveys Best. Food is served and a board under the hanging pub sign out the front proudly boasts that they specialise in fresh fish dishes. This place was very much a local’s pub during my visit, but it did have a homely feel and I would have no problem returning.