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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Castle, Tooting, SW17
SW17
SW17 0RG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Castle
As the Castle Inn, this pub dates back to at least 1740 but I suspect that it was rebuilt in the early 20th century.
As mentioned, this pub pretty much redefines industrial, savaged to a greater extent only by BrewDog’s maulings. Enormous in depth, there’s a modern floor, then walls are bare brick, a little grey paint or much applied wooden planking, especially to the bar which has a top and front plated with the stuff, along with a tubular steel shelf rack and similar gantry. There’s a huge clock over a disused bare brick fireplace, whilst on high, there’s very extensive, industrial and ugly galvanized ductwork along with huge oversized metal lampshades; furniture is mixed though accessorised. There’s a freestanding cantilevered staircase to the first floor, with glass panels in place of bannisters; in all, it looks like an explosion in a branch of Travis Perkins. Customers were young professional types and trade was brisk, but the overall experience was somewhat overwhelming due to the poor acoustics.
I didn’t spot the brewing paraphernalia mentioned by Rex, so perhaps it’s gone. Thereafter, ales amounted to Original, Special and Proper Job at a very expensive £2.80 a half, though good, served by an automated barman.
This really isn’t a great pub, me preferring something considerably more traditional. However, it’s better all round than the Long Room and provides a better pub experience than the King’s Head; the obvious choice if in this locality is the Antelope though.
On 7th April 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Castle
Another big old boozer that has seen better times.Busy enough with Wimbledon -pitbull (good) and Proper Job as guests on cask.
On 9th November 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Castle
Any former charisma this pub may have had has long since been knocked out of it, now bland and gastrosised lacking in any ambiance whatsoever.
Six pumps on the bar but only two on, strangely both Sambrooks in this youngs pub, though the barman was pulling something new through the pipes,I didn't hang around to find out what.
On 11th February 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Castle
This was my first visit since the latest of this pub's refurbishments, and it has to be said that it's unrecognisable from the last time I was here. It's had a standard Young's refurbishment, which are usually pretty dramatic events and tend to remove any traditional pub character that the pub might have, and this one's no different. We now have a bare-boarded floor of course, massive tall tables with backless benches, and some with tall stools (one enormous specimen had no less than 17 stools accompanying it), armchars and sofas, and banquettes complete with cushions. Normal tables and chairs were very much in the minority here, with only two or three available other than those in the area at the back where all the tables were laid for diners. It's big pub, stretching a long way to the rear. There's stainless steel ducting on the ceiling; and on much of the walls, some surfaces, and the bar counter front are new (or possibly reclaimed) bare scrubbed boards. Everything's ultra modern in here now. I could bang on about the decorative style, but it's nothing we haven't seen before. There's a sizeable garden to one side of the pub, much of it covered. I say "garden", although I couldn't see anything growing in it. I don't suppose that matters to anyone though.
One very unusual thing in this pub is the pair of copper brewing tanks behind the servery, labelled "Meantime", thus indicating some sort of arrangement with that brewery. According to the barmaid, it's not possible to but a Meantime beer direct from the tank, as a sign in the pub proclaims, but they did have at least a couple of Meantime beers on tap. Being a Young's pub the usual range is on including something called Wooden Spoon, which apparently had a charity connection with some of the cost going to the Wooden Spoon charity. There were no guest ales on when I visited, but they did have an Aspall's cider on handpump. I didn't see a menu, but they obviously do food as, as well as the aforementioned dining area, there was an open to view kitchen beyond the drinks servery.
This one is fair enough if you like pubs that have been modernised to death. Perhaps mid-afternoon on a Monday is not the best time to judge a pub, but when I was in there were a couple of mummies in with babes in arms, enjoying a no doubt well deserved libation - coffee probably. It's not really my sort of pub now, but at least it's still a going concern.
On 6th October 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Castle
This is a long deep pub with the bar along one side, stretching along to become a food servery. Carpeted, warm on a bitter day with the real fires lit, and comfortable with mostly standard style seating although with a few alternatives. Reading earlier reviews there may have been a refurbishment as the wood panelling for certain isn't of any age. There is a small raised area to the centre side opposite the bar, plus another at the very rear. There is a nice big Bass mirror on the back wall here.
TVs had a choice, 6 Nations rugby through the pub but with Man C v Fulham on muted in the rear area.
A Young's house, no guest beers but Ordinary Bitter, Special and Winter Warmer repeated across all three banks of pumps.
A nostalgia trip in some ways for me, the pub I went in after I had a job interview which resulted in me moving to London in 1986. Sadly, I couldn't recognise it at all but it may just be me, I reckon it had separate rooms and the bar sidewise on then.
Still a decent pub though and the beer was well kept.
On 5th February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Castle
As Young’s pubs go, this one is reasonably comfortable. Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, with a few sofas at the far end, as well as a couple of tall benches with tall tables. It’s carpeted throughout. The wood panelling on the walls and front of the bar counter looks to be the result of an inter-war fitting. A function room is advertised behind the main pub area, and there are a handful of tables and chairs outside at the side.
Young’s Bitter and Special were available, along with Waggledance, but no guest ales. The Bitter is now £3.10 a pint, which is a reasonable price these days. I didn’t look closely at the menu, but they advertised daily specials for £5. I had the beef sandwich, which for £5 was no better than barely adequate. But nonetheless I still like this pub as it remains essentially unspoilt.
On 7th June 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Castle
Comfortable Youngs pub a stone's throw from Tooting Broadway tube. Has not yet been subjected to the upmarket Young's refurbishment and has a mixture of light wood and cream for decor - wall benches, sofas and traditional tables. Decepetively spacious with sky sports and ESPN being shown during our Saturday afternoon visit. Only the regulation beers available (obviously) but at £3.05 a throw Youngs Bitter was not prohibitively expensive. A fairly ageing crowd on my visit but no reason to put me off.
On 2nd February 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]