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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 5th May 2024) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Castle Inn, Robertsbridge
Bodiam
Postal town: Robertsbridge
TN32 5UB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Castle Inn
I’d say it’s a fair bet that this pub is named after the 1385 ruin over the road, last visited by me in 2001, before that around 1973.
Like Bodiam Castle, the pub is owned by the National Trust and is probably late 19th century in origin; it’s a fair size with a substantial carpark and if you’re a customer – and not a member of the National Trust – you can park here and avoid the parking charges imposed by the rapacious National Trust to use their carpark (opposite) if visiting said bat-infested moated ruin.
With a huge beer meadow, the interior is traditional if unspectacular, with an aged, boarded floor, smoky blue walls with some very floral wallpaper and wainscoting, with burgundy paint and white wainscoting to the dining room, all with traditional and some old-school furniture, décor by way of random prints; an aged fireplace and mantel is the only obvious item of heritage, but overall it’s a perfectly serviceable pub, presided over by a friendly landlady. A 1970s’ and ‘80s’ soundtrack played, featuring the likes of the Bee Gees, Dexy’s, Police, J. Geils Band and KC and the Sunshine Band et al. My dining companion plumped for the risotto without complaint, my repast of choice being the fish ‘n’ chips (with peas), the chips being a bit McCain and overcooked, charged a whopping £18 for the privilege, tourists well and truly grabbed by the short and curlies. I didn’t have anything other than a Coke as I was driving and with beers courtesy of Shepherd Neame, nothing would have changed had I not been in charge of a car.
Worth a visit for those with a fetish for Robin Hood, the food prices making this place the prince of thieves.
On 2nd May 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1997 recommendations about 1963 pubs]
Blackthorn _ left this review about Castle Inn
Located directly opposite Bodiam Castle from which the pub presumably takes it’s name, this is a traditional looking, brick built pub but has clearly been renovated at some point, and now has a fairly generic interior with little in the way of any note.
The bulk of the pub is an L-shaped room, somewhat smaller perhaps than might be expected from looking at the outside, although there was a further room off to one side. There was limited seating available in the main room so we poked our heads in here, only to be told in no uncertain terms that all seats in there were reserved. Clearly that’s not actually the case though, as another group turned up shortly afterwards without a reservation and were shown in. Obviously what they meant was that it’s only for people spending money on food, so with all other tables taken or reserved we had to perch on a couple of stools at the bar. That said, one family seemed to have taken over one whole leg of the L, with coats and other paraphernalia draped over all the tables, even though they were only actually using one. Quite why the bar staff didn’t sort this out I don’t know.
Décor wise it’s fairly unremarkable, although not at all unpleasant, with plain wooden boards on the floor, deep blue paintwork on much of the walls, woodwork and ceiling and some feature walls with very floral wallpaper. An old brick fireplace off to one side was quite an attractive feature, with a black timber mantle and a slate hearth, and there were a few old black and white photographs of the locale dotted around the walls, as well as an old brewery advert or two.
Beers on tap were Spitfire and Whitstable Bay, whilst a third pump had the clip reversed and a fourth appeared unused. The solitary cider meanwhile was Orchard View. Overall, not a bad pub by any means, but the lack of seating and disinterested bar staff mean that I didn’t particularly warm to it either.
On 23rd February 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1953 recommendations about 1866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Castle Inn
Shepherd Neame pub in a small village that must benefit substantially for much of the year from being just across the National Trust's picturesque moated castle. Anyway, it has been partly opened-out to leave the front dining room and sparsely furnished bar area in a L-shaped arrangement, with both sections have been given a dark, semi-traditional look. Given the size of the building, there may well be one of more other rooms in occasional use. Side beer garden. Whitstable Bay Pale (£5.20) and Bishops Finger available from two of the four handpumps.
On 6th March 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Castle Inn
Just over 10 years since my last attempt to visit the Castle Inn in Bodiam and this time it was open to the public. Last time, it had been closed for a private function.
The pub is a Shepherd Neame establishment, which has the National Trust property Bodiam Castle over the road and also overlooks a river and some meadows. A hailstorm had just passed through and it was cold enough for the hail to be sat on the ground, without melting - great weather for Boris' enforced outdoor drinking. A marquee did provide some shelter for diners. Otherwise, you had to dry the benches yourself before attempting to sit down.
Spitfire & Master Brew were the ales offered to us. Although, other people were being told that Spitfire was off. The pub enjoys a nice location and is obviously convenient for the eponymous Castle opposite, but has very little else to recommend it for.
On 3rd May 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2501 recommendations about 2500 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Castle
This Shepherd Neame pub has a near perfect location directly opposite the entrance to Bodian Castle and close to the village's small train station, ensuring a steady flow of tourists, walkers and steam train enthusiasts through the door. The interior is fairly simple, with the bar to the right as you enter and a dining area to the left. The bar section is quite basic and has a few tables as well as a selection of the day's papers. A photo collage hung above the bar counter depicted some rather odd scenes featuring, I presume, the pub's staff and regulars and no small number of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The dining area looked quite smart, but thanks to some glorious April weather, most punters decided to take their food outside onto the patio benches. The garden includes a meadow that runs down to the River Rother and was packed with kids on my Sunday afternoon visit.
Food, as you might expect in a tourist trap, was a little on the pricey side, with main meals around the £9-12 mark, but my burger was very tasty and seemingly homemade, which was something of a relief. Beer was strictly Shep's only, with Master Brew, Spitfire and Early Bird available. I tried the Early Bird, which was pretty good considering I'm not much of a Shep's fan.
I thought this was a good spot for a meal and a quick drink after a morning spent walking around the castle and thankfully they don't seem to suffer from the complacency that certain pubs close to tourist attractions fall into. An enjoyable stop-off, if not a destination pub in its own right.
On 6th May 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]