The Castle, Swindon

Quinno _ left this review about The Castle Inn

REFURB!! Now has an external look very similar to the nearby Globe - modern grey livery bandwagon-jumping or the same owners? Anyway the recent fit-out must have cost a few bob as it's nicely done, if maybe a bit modern for some tastes – the colours are vivid. The two separate rooms remain, accessed via the back of the servery. The right side is the games room whilst the left is the general toping area. Punters were congregated around the pool table. Two cask ales were on, though only point of sale is in the topers room, so I almost went without (surely not difficult to add a fake pump handle and clip it??). Choices were - just as in April - Wadworth 6X and a decent Adnams Ghostship (NBSS 3). An effort is being made here, should do well. 6.5

April 2023
Old fashioned place from outside and in; beyond a lick of cream paint it probably hasn't changed much since the 70s. Despite some knock through there are two separate rooms and it retains a decent feel. I noticed a stage for live music and WhatPub says there’s pool and darts here but I didn’t spot them, though being a cold, drowned rat that point I didn’t feel inclined to go nosing. The windows are baffled, which is highly unusual these days. Oddly, despite the dusk and pouring rain, the barmaid seemed happy to live like a hobbit with very dim lights and a gloomy interior. Two cask on, Wadworth 6X and a fair (NBSS 2.5) Adnams Ghost Ship, which might have been even better had the barmaid actually served the other bloke two pints of it rather than giving him 6X (he didn't even notice until he saw mine being poured!). Oddity. Rated 5.5

On 20^th September 2023 - rating: 7
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