Castle Eden Inn, Hartlepool

The Castle Eden Inn is now entered from the side of the building on the roadside. The main front door facing the car park has been blocked off. Entering from the road, the bar is off to the left, with a light and airy room to the right. Both rooms had both drinkers and diners. Although the room to the right appeared to be favoured by the diners. It did also contain TVs showing sport, which seemed a little odd. Even further off to the left is a more formal dining room, which I didn't explore. The real ale range was a little disappointing, with just Black Sheep Best Bitter & Morland Old Speckled Hen available.

A three roomed old coaching inn although not quite as olde worlde inside or out as that suggests. Entering from the car park you arrive at a comfortable lounge with sofas, bench seating and chairs and tables, broken a little with stained glass and wood dividers, there's a big screen telly on one wall. Passing through into the next room is the counter with five hand pumps, 3 in use with a well kept Sonnet 43 beer on each. The national keg favourites are catered for on a couple of T-bars and some single founts. There are more sofas, tables and chairs in here too. Decor is trendy grey and a vaguely art nouveau wall paper. There are some photos and prints of Durham cathedral and other subjects which appear to be for sale. Beyond is a more formal dining room with fake ceiling beams and more stained glass dividers. Default glass for cask beers seems to be the dreaded mug but mine was changed for a tulip without any histrionics. I wouldn't call this a gastro-pub as previous reviewers or ranters have indicated, including what looks suspiciously like a previous landlord attempting to big the place up. The food is fine, the beer is very good (GBG2016 listed) but it still attracts local drinkers rather than just foodies.

visited 25th feb v poor service ,aggressive woman in charge of restaurant ,couldnt deliver all veg had run out of roasted potatoes ,offered chips .limited menu overpriced wouldnt go back

I visited this restaurant with my wife and daughter as the chef was a recent runner up on masterchef (we are keen amateur cooks and regularly eat out) and there had been a lot of positive publicity. Unfortunately I did not read the previous review here. Visited Monday 3rd January, the pub/restaurant was not particularly busy. Advised of a 40 minute wait we were happy to be seated and read the menu. After prompting the staff after 40 minutes we were shown to a table. Sadly there was only one one waitress serving and we waited 20+ minutes for our soup starters. We then waited a further hour at which point we asked the waitress about our main course and were told they were on there way. Another 15 minutes and the manager told us they had run out of veg. Food eventually arrived overcooked and looking very sad. Paid for starter and left. If you must visit have fish and chips! I spoke to both the management who were indifferent to feedback. gave me the impression that as they have a masterchef wannabe they can rest on their laurels. Poor communication and staff knowledge (told soup of day was mushroom when in fact tomato). Mushroom paint does not make a gastro pub and customer service should be at the forefront of any business. No disabled toilets or facilities for babies.

Official site of the Castle Eden Inn, contains menus and wine list - castleedeninn.com

Official site of the Castle Eden Inn, contains menus and wine list - castleedeninn.com

An excellent English Gastro/Pub Fantastic food and a fabulous range of Beers and local Ales. A must visit.