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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Castle Hotel, Bishops Castle
Bishops Castle
SY9 5BN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Castle Hotel
The Castle Hotel sits above the main road through the town of Bishop's Castle and it has a reasonable size car park.
The interior is certainly a bit more upmarket than the town's other pubs. I sat in the middle of three rooms. There was a mixture of drinkers, diners and hotel guests across all 3 rooms. Real fires made it feel cosy.
Salopian Oracle is a regular ale. Guests were Three Tuns Solstice & Clun Pale Ale. I ordered the latter, referring to it as "Cloon", when the correct pronunciation rhymes with "done"! It was only after that I realised that I may have missed a real cider. The waitress who served me announced that they did indeed have Long Mynd Cider. But when I subsequently tried to order it from the other waitress, I was told they hadn't had it for a while. So, I made my excuses and departed at this point.
Not a bad start to 4 pubs in the town though.
On 2nd November 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Castle Hotel
Most surprising. A hotel but with a real bar on the side. Quite a collection of ales from the three tuns, Hobsons and a never seen before Pale Ale from Clun Brewery. Sample provided.
Nice feel to the place with leather chesterfields and a log burner.
Pleasant visit.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ySHZxX
On 12th November 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Castle Hotel
Nice old hotel high above the town hall and Market Square in what claims to have been England's smallest borough. Comfortable three-room bar in an overall 'L' shape; traditionally furnished and decorated as you would expect. Hobson's Best, Three Tuns Rantipole, Six Bells Nev's Best and Clun Pale (£3.30). However, if the weather allows, head through the small patio yard and up the steps to the elevated beer garden with its splendid view over the town roofs to the Shropshire Hills AONB beyond. Further uphill again you can find a bowling green atop the former castle mound.
On 21st November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Rowe left this review about Castle Hotel
A fabulous hotel whose bars are more akin to a pub's. Really good ale on tap and a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. With good food on offer, this is a place to seek out.
On 17th October 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 65 recommendations about 57 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Castle Hotel
Enjoyed my stay at this 18th century coaching house. There are three bars and an oak panelled restaurant. Food was excellent all freshly prepared. Beer was good, on handpump Hobsons Twisted Spire, Hobsons Best bitter. Banks Mild, and one from Big Nevs brewery. Will call again.
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Castle Hotel
This very sedate Hotel bar is situated at the top end of town and whilst it does seem more geared towards diners, it does still have a few merits to justify a visit although it is somewhat overshadowed by its 2 brewpub neighbours. The hotel is to the right whilst the squeaky door to the left leads to the first of 3 sections in the pub side, a rather quaint paneled room with a small bar area and open fire but laid out for diners on my visit. The next room is slightly larger and a bit more pubby in décor but this too was laid out for diners. The main bar area is at the rear but you cannot fail to escape from that subdued hotel bar feel and the seemingly large proportion of bare floor space makes it a appear a bit empty and hollow. One corner is dedicated to the local cricket club and among the bits and bobs is an interesting 1833 inventory of the stock. The current stock included 3 ales, Hobson's Twisted Spire, Hobson's Best and Six Bells Big Nev from down the road. Given the number of customers, 3 ales is probably as much as you would want to see in order to retain the quality. One big plus is the presence of a bar billiards table and there are also various traditional board games, dominoes and flat screen TV, albeit quite badly positioned. The old time piped music is probably enough to ensure that the customer base is largely mature and civilised although for a Friday night, the place was alarmingly bereft of people altogether. I gather the garden is something to behold but as it was dark I couldn't see much beyond the initial patio and small pond. The Castle is certainly worth popping into but I wouldn't particularly make an evening of the place although in the summer, it may be amore appealing thanks to its garden.
On 14th December 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]