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The Castle, Oxford
Oxford
OX1 1LD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Castle
Eye-catching Brewers Tudor building, slightly elevated following a lowering of the road outside, and really standing out from its mostly modern neighbours. Opened out within to leave a L-shaped bar, although this has been given a sadly bland semi-modern refurbishment. Small patio beer garden to the rear. As a Hook Norton pub, we found Hooky, Off the Hook and Hooky Mild available from the two banks of six handpumps, with the Old Hooky having run out earlier. Overall, though, something of a disappointment.
On 28th February 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Castle
I’ve been in a couple of times since my last review and I have to say that it isn’t really that great as a pub tbh, gloomy and poorly decorated with a smell of warm damp. Popped in because Double Stout was on, though mine was lacking a bit of freshness but was ostensibly fine, though criminally served-up in a glass seconds out of the dishwasher (NBSS 2.5). I think the management of the place isn’t really as good as it should be for a Hooky house and it feels like a missed opportunity here. Gut the inside, sort the damp, and get better cellaring.
February 2018
Taken over and re-opened by Hook Norton in 2017, this is a much better incarnation now than previous. There has been a fair bit of work inside and it feels quite new and needs time to bed in a bit. As noted elsewhere it’s a mixture of traditional and modern. I forgot to note the full range of beers on as I was pressed for time but I do recall seeing XT and at least one cider alongside the Hook Norton brews. I inevitably headed towards the rarely-spotted-in-cask Hooky Double Stout which, whilst being a little on the flat side, was still an excellent brew and easily the best in their range. Hopefully this one will bed down and get a loyal following which will be enough to keep the beer ticking over – Oxford is awash with pubs and bars and the position of this one is not obvious to tourists and the like and is also well-above street level. Rated 7
December 2013
Popped in here for a swift one after realising the next train to Didcot was a good 30mins. Picked mainly because of the impressive mock-Tudor exterior, we didn’t expect much what with the Greene King branding but even by their standards this one was crushingly poor. A large, dark, drab room with one GK ale (IPA) that was utterly vile which eventually got replaced by a Guinness by the fairly clueless barman. For 10 long minutes it was just us and the server before we scarpered. Mentioned elsewhere that this (or was?) a gay pub (I didn’t notice anything rainbow-coloured myself); pity them if this is the best one in Oxford. Rated 3
On 11th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Castle
An old half-timbered effect building but the interior is fairly bland. Being on a hill it is split level, with the bar on the upper floor and another room below, but all pretty featureless with just a few boxed games for entertainment. Beers are from Hook Norton, with Hooky, Old Hooky and Hooky Gold on at time of visit.
On 1st June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Castle
Originally the Paradise House and rebuilt in 1892 to the designs of H. G. Drinkwater, this was known as the Oxford Ale House in the 1980s prior to being renamed as the Castle Tavern in the 1990s, after nearby Oxford castle. Acquired by Hook Norton in 2016, the name now abbreviated to that of the Castle. I seem to recall that some 25 years ago this was the meeting place for members of the Oxford University Beer Appreciation Society.
Another first in this former gay pub the other night, shortly after a renovation which saw the pub reopen on 22nd September 2017. It’s a mix of the modern and traditional; the beamed ceiling is low and the walls, partly bare brick, are painted the all-pervasive contemporary grey/blue tones; lighting comes from modest chandeliers. The floor is modern untreated bare boarded so should wear well. Furniture is fairly conventional along with some blue and beige velour and leatherette peripheral seats. There’s also a basement bar which I suppose doubles as a function venue. Muted mood music played over the gramophone and clients were very thin on the ground, comprising mainly American academics. The absence of punters in here may be explained by the pub being a bit off the beaten track – not in a good way – and adrift from the city centre, comfortably under the tourists’ radar.
Ales: the bar displayed an inviting eight pumps, all in use and dispensing a wide variety of beverages. Regrettably I failed to read the pump clips’ descriptions and ended up ordering a pint of Weston’s cherry cider. It was the colour of Campari, though as my roots lie in Herefordshire and I was brought up on Weston’s (at that time I doubt anyone had heard of the company outside the county), it went down satisfactorily though I’d not have plumped for a second pint.
This is a decent place though may be less ghostly during university term time. I’d have no problem returning as this makes for a pleasant one-two with the Jolly Farmers next door, but there’s better to be had throughout the rest of the city.
On 15th March 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1991 recommendations about 1957 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Castle
A corner pub with a mock Tudor frontage, Hook Nortons first foray into Oxford, the internal room is raised above street level with the bar to your right as you enter with a smallish room beyond, smart but not particularly remarkable with plenty of sensible height seating but also some high, presumably to lend a little trendiness to the setting. Eight handpumps lined the bar, four beers from Hook Norton including an excellent Double Stout, a couple of guest beers, 360 degrees Pale Ale and Gun Dog Jack Spaniels,on the last two handles were a couple of Ciders, the two guys working the bar seemed to know their stuff and were quick and efficient, always reassuring.
This is now a half decent pub with a well balanced beer selection,a little off the main drag but certainly worth a look.
On 25th February 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Castle
Former gay pub now taken over by Hook Norton as noted by Hondo below. The interior isn't too dissimilar to its previous incarnation with bar facing on entry and seating far left, although the background muzak is a little less camp. The draw is now the bar, with its 8 handpumps, not just dispensing Hook Norton beers, although these were in the majority. Three were reversed with one dispensing a cider and another XT4. One of the reversed clips was for Tiny Rebel Cwtch which I missed out on. The new Westgate centre has now been completed opposite, so this is a good alternative to the nearby Wetherspoons, if its clientele starts getting to you.
On 21st November 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Castle Tavern
has been taken over by Hook Norton Brewery
On 2nd December 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]