The Virgins & Castle, Kenilworth

Excellent Everard's pub in 15th Century building well described below, though not in the current (2013) GBG as the Old Bakery across the road gets a turn. In the most attractive part of town and well worth seeking out.

Excellent. characterful old rambling pub, or allegedly two pubs joined together many years ago. Lots of small areas and considerable wood panelling. Large range of Everards beers, with a frequently-changing guest ale, and those sampled in fine order. Menu has heavy Filipino content, with a few staples for the less adventurous. Small walled garden at rear. Recommended.

This is a large terraced Georgian styled Everard's pub and eatery in white render and black paintwork, with a projecting front gable at one end. The old coach entrance has been converted into an antrance way to the one end of the pub. There is a rear patio area. In the GBG 2011. The interior is a nesting of rooms. The plan of the pub is a U-shape and comprises of at least 5 rooms. The main bar area (accessed by the coaching door) has a high roof and a stone and carpet floor. The walls are a mix of cream, lots of wood panel and undressed brick and there is a gallery level, which has a large brick fireplace. The main bar is connected to the lounge by a corridor with a serving bar and three snugs with views out to the road. The first small square snug room has a brick and stone floor, a white and beam ceiling, cream walls with red tile and has a settee. The second (middle snug) is similar with bench seating and a brick fireplace. The third has green carpet, cream walls, grey ceiling and a brick fire - they are all nicely done. The lounge, like the bar, forms a wing of the pub. It too is in cream and has a TV, which wasn't on at my visit. There was no music. They do food here, but i didn't eat so can't comment on that. The service was very good and the clientele leaning more to the maturer side, and it was quite busy. Beer; usual tap stuff with Everard's Tiger, Sunchaser, Beacon and Original, with Young's Bitter as a guest. The Beacon and Original were decent. A quality pub, both for beer and ambience. A must if in Kenilworth. I visited a few months back and misplced the notes, so i hope i have read them right!

This is a massive pub, and very busy. But it's divided in to lots of smaller areas, so it actually feels quite cosy. There's a smallish dinig area out the back, so if you're thinking of eating you're better off booking. The menu is predominantly filipino, with all staters and about two thirds of the mains being this genre. If you don't fancy that there's also a few more traditional pub meals such as lasagne, sausage & mash, fish & chips, etc. We had the filipino options though, and enjoyed it. We were both really pleased with all three of our courses which is unusual, and it was quite reasonably priced. We found the service to be quick, friendly and efficient in spite of all the tables being full including a couple of very big parties. They were three real ales on tap, including Sly Fox "with a cunning hint of ginger" which was unusual but not unpleasant! They also had Strongbow and Bulmers cider.

Official site of the Virgins & Castle - www.virginsandcastle.co.uk

Official site of the Virgins & Castle - www.virginsandcastle.co.uk

A rambling old pub with many rooms and stairs giving the place plenty of character. An Everards pub. I sampled a very tasty pint of Sunchaser on my visit