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The Castle, W11

100 Holland Park Avenue
W11
W11 4UA

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Pub Type

Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Castle

A good exterior, with some nice ceramic work, but inside it is a bit of a shell, with some of the walls stripped back to brick, lots of shabby paintwork (deliberate?) and rather too many windows. Add some modern artworks and dark ceilings to complete the picture. It did however have some interesting ales on, in the shape of Salt Tweed and Birmingham Brewery Pale, plus London Pride clip-reversed. Interaction between the bar staff and customers didn't seem very good and we didn't feel very welcome somehow, but worth checking out their beers.

On 9th March 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Castle

My notes suggest that I haven't popped in here for 12 years, which seems rather implausible given how often I have passed along Holland Park Avenue in the intervening period... Anyway, the fine ex-Charrington exterior remains unchanged, but the interior has been substantially refurbished at some stage. The seating in the smallish 'L'-shaped bar is mostly booth-like tables, and there was quite a relaxed atmosphere on this late evening visit. Four handpumps, but with the Landlord temporarily off, the 'choice' was just Doom Bar (£4.55) unfortunately.

On 4th May 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Castle

7th August 2015:

I haven't set foot in this pub for over 20 years so thought I'd give it another go. Built in 1827 with additions dated to 1857, the frontage displays some very fine Charrington's glazed tiling.

This is a fairly large corner pub situated opposite the houses of Holland Park where one, around 2007, went on the market for £28m so perhaps local neighbour Richard Branson pops in here for a Black & Tan.

The interior is bare boarded with a central horseshoe-shaped bar. Ornately carved, there are fine pillars which once must have supported a former gantry. The walls are wood panelled to window height. Furniture is conventional and eclectic, with some leather(ette) chairs and a Chesterfield. Walls are either painted a pale colour or covered with baroque wallpaper; much lighting comes from chandeliers. To the rear, and right next to the lavatories (!), is a raised area which seems to be more dining orientated.

The crowd here is very mixed and service was friendly and efficient. Aside from premium lagers, on offer was Sharp's Doom Bar, Timothy Taylor's Landlord and St. Austell's Tribute which was on form and at £3.90 a pint, is remarkable value for the area.

This is a good pub and worth a visit. It also beats The Mitre - up the road - hands down. My main complaint is that the music on the stereo was really too loud.

---------------------------

Updated:

A return visit the other night and what was this pub's owner thinking of? All the characterful old brown lacquered wood has been painted a distressed ghostly white. There's now a tubular steel shelving rack in front of the bar back which is now illuminated in a purple glow which looks like something you'd find in a cocktail bar; the addition of some pew seating is the only welcome addition.
Ales: an unused pump, Doom Bar, TT's Landlord and St. Austell's Proper Job at £4.80 a pint and fine.
This pub was probably about average before, but the interior alterations leave it now a less welcome prospect.

On 28th November 2018 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Castle

There's some superb Charrington tiling and signage on the exterior of this pub, but the quality of the interior doesn't really match it. however the bar counter looks old, as does the rear of the bar back, although painting it all white doesn't really help. Also, the copper piping and modern shelving adds nothing worth adding in my view. The ornate pillars are still on the counter, but now they support only candles, rather than a gantry. Seating seems to be mainly bench/settles in the main bar area, but a room at the back has normal tables and chairs. There are sprigs of flowers on all the tables - harmless enough I guess, and some people like that sort of thing.

On the ale front Doom Bar, St Austell Proper Job, and Vocation California Steam Beer (£2.50 a half) were available. The Proper Job wasn't in particularly good shape, but the Vocation California was OK. There were single sheep clipboard menus on the tables; main courses range from £11.50 for ham, egg & chips, to £16.50 for the "herb crusted rack of lamb served with sugar snaps, caponata and heritage potatoes. I know what lamb and potatoes are, but not sure about the rest. These sort of prices are par for the area, and not the remarkable value encountered by a previous reviewer.

This is clearly an old pub that looks mightily impressive as you approach it, but flatters to deceive as you enter. The best thing for me is the very rarely seen Vocation ale.

On 14th August 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]