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The Castle, Notting Hill, W11
W11
W11 1LU
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Castle
Despite a few traditional pub bits the music and clientele revealed this is very much aimed at the younger set, however it did feel slightly more pubby than some and I wouldn't object to returning. However just Doom Bar was available (London Pride clip-reversed) but in fairness it was in reasonable condition.
On 9th March 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Castle
Corner pub at the Ladbroke Grove end of Portobello Market,it's open plan but with the hipsterish industrial ducting behind the bar and related to the food cooking.There are standard tables and chairs ,all with menus ,while on the pavement there are a few tables for external drinking and eating.It's quite featureless.The food offering did look good,a short menu of bar food tapas dishes,median mains of £14 being properly cooked with vegan options it all smelt good but I wasn't eating.
At the bar two handpumps serving Doom Bar and Laines Breaker Pale Ale( NBSS 2,apple tang and I did check I hadn't ordered a cider.)There is a better keg selection With 2 from Wild Beer,Thornbridge Jaipur IPA,Brew Good etc and this maybe your salvation.
Not enough to warrant a revisit,unless you are hungry.
On 18th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Castle
This 'market' pub must have been gentrified substantially over recent years because the tables now have menus on clipboards, small plants in miniature galvanised buckets and tea-lights... Apart from that, the 'U'-shaped bar under its high ceiling retains a little character, but it certainly no longer a basic boozer. Disappointingly, just Old Rosie cider available from the four handpumps, with a reversed Doom Bar clip also noted. In consolation, I went for the Truman's x Yokohama Brewery JPA (good enough, but so it should be at £5.95).
On 8th November 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Castle
Seems to be a little less stark and industrial since my last visit around 2011, but otherwise I agree with BobOs that this place isn't worth the effort, like the rest of the poseurs' and tourists' Mecca that is the awfulness of Portobello Road.
More than one ale on offer with my choice of Purity's Pure Ubu which was fine and undoubtedly expensive though I didn't buy the round.
I doubt that I'd make a return visit except under sufferance.
On 13th October 2018
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Castle
Very busy on Saturday with the market in full swing but the two barstaff seemed to be coping, I was served fairly promptly. I even managed to bag a small table as I spotted a couple preparing to leave and hovered accordingly. Central bar with a semi-open kitchen behind, a stained glass castle mural behind the bar, various events listed on a large chalkboard, quiz night, mothers' day roasts, burger night etc. Lots of high tables in the front area, some partial screen dividers between in the window, various old B&W photos, many market themed, varnished boarded floor, dark red ceiling, posies of flowers on the tables. Plenty of people eating, I didn't see a menu, four handpumps, Ilkley Brewery Mary Jane (4.10), Doom Bar, Purity Pure Ubu and one without a clip. Beer menus on the tables, they do a few of the more eclectic bottles such as Negro Modelo, Tripel Karmeliat and Delirium Tremens.
I quite liked the pub despite it being heaving and naturally noisy but if I tried to revisit I might pick a non market day.
On 23rd March 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Castle
This is a classic market pub, being right on Portobello Rd. There was a very strong smell of josticks burning when I was in – I’m assuming that’s what it was, although I could be wrong. There are some basic tall tables/tall stools at the front of the pub, along with a few standard tables and chairs here and at the back. A few potted plants are scattered around the place, and there’s also an unusual and interesting bit of artwork behind the bar. A large chalkboard on the back wall also caught my eye because it had a sketch depiction of the brewing process, surmounted by sketches of four pump clips labelled “some of London’s finest”. These four were of Portobello VPA, Meantime London Pale Ale, Camden Hells Lager, and Sharp’s Doom Bar. Doom Bar one of London’s finest!? I don’t think so!
So, ignoring for a moment the Doom Bar calumny, they did have four ales on, in Purity UBU, Doom Bar, Woodford Wherry, and Mole Brewery Mole Catcher (£2 a half). There were single sheet menus on all the tables, with sarnies at £6.75 to £7.50. The cheapest main meal was my old favourite “Gloucester Old Spot sausages, beer mustard mash and gravy” at £9.75. This is not cheap for a very ordinary pub, but maybe there’s a Portobello Market premium.
I quite like this pub although it’s nothing very special. But with four ales on, including the less commonly seen Mole Brewery offering, it’s most certainly worth a punt if you’re around the market area. But it might be a very different place with the market in full swing.
On 9th November 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Castle
Defo a bit scruffy but 3 interesting cask beers and good keg selection.Typical touristy pub but always plenty of local characters.Owned by Mitchell and Butler so the food will be predictable.Situated on a steet corner of Portobello market so ideal to watch the world going by.
On 20th February 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Castle
Another of the grubby Portobello Road tourist traps with disinterested staff, mediocre beer and poor food - avoid. Well below average.
On 11th July 2011
- rating: 3
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]