Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Monday, 9th May 2022
With picture contributions to 4602 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (13 more images)
Detail Pages
The Castle, E1
E1
E1 1LN
Served areas
Reviews of The Castle (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Castle
This has existed in some form since the late 18th century (the Dover Castle), being rebuilt in the late 19th. It's in a rather godforsaken part of the world, full of faceless high-rise developments and student facilities, but is a short walk from the nightlife of Brick Lane. The place has certainly changed quite a bit in recent years. It used to look scruffy and displayed a large Stella banner around the top of the parapet. There were two projecting red and gold illuminated Courage box signs as well as a gold Courage cockerel. As a result of a refurbishment in 2015, sadly they've now gone and all that remains is a late-model Courage sign bracket. The grim colour scheme has also gone, to be replaced by one that's dark grey with the name picked out in gold lettering to the fascia.
Inside, and I was really quite impressed. You enter through one of two opposing entrances, both with semi-circular curtain rails suspending full length teal curtains. It's also here that you really notice the curved end with its banquette seating upholstered in violet leatherette. Furniture is a mixture of larger traditional tables or small marble topped tables, both home to tea lights in tumblers; thereafter seating is in the form of café-style chairs to the front room with more comfy seating to the rear. The floor is parquet, walls are white Anaglypta and the ceiling is unusual white matchboard. There's a very attractive barback with some plain and cut-glass mirrors along with an integrated clock and possibly some inlaid polychromatic tiling; there's also a little bare brick too. Above, there are three rather lovely hanging pineapple-shaped lanterns with etched glass. The walls sport simple shaded sconce lights. There's a rear room which features more bare brick and a fireplace; up top there's a beautiful festoon cornice. Décor is simple with just a few small, framed pop art prints. There are no TVs and music was muted. The lavs though let the place down a bit with some grafitti and just one tiny basin, with a large chunk of porcelain missing from the side. Unsurprisingly, customers were youngish and probably live in the high-rise blocks.
Unfortunately, there's neither real ale nor even any pumps, so I had to plump for a pint of 40 Ft Brewery's Dalston Sunrise at a gloomy £5.50; it wasn’t bad as far a keg stuff goes.
On balance I thought that this was a really nice pub, certainly not something I was expecting. I'd certainly return here if in the vicinity, but only really if the place were to start selling real ale which would get the score up by at least a point; the East End has no shortage of quality breweries.
On 29th September 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Castle
Standard corner pub with bar to the rear. No real ales - just keg rubbish.
On 17th September 2018
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Castle
Refurbished wedge-shaped pub with a rounded end, which certainly looks much more appealing than it used to. The bar benefits from a huge amount of window space on three sides, albeit partly offset by the dark-wood furniture and counter. Attractive bar-back and old clock, behind which there is another room that is more of a lounge. Clientele mostly young professionals. No real ale, unfortunately, with keg offerings including London Pale Ale and Yakima Red (£4.90) from Meantime and 40 Ft pale ale.
On 5th March 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Castle - www.thecastlelondon.com
- Facebook - The Castle
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Castle - whatpub.com
Whitechapel, 0.56 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Shadwell, 0.78 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 29 September 2020 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Beer Garden : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Car Park : No last updated 29 September 2020 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Darts : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Function Room : Yes last updated 29 September 2020 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Jukebox : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Karaoke : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Live Music : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Micropub : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Pinball : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Pool Table : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Quiz Night : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- Real Ale : No last updated 29 September 2020 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 29 September 2020 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
- WiFi : No last updated 20 September 2017 by Komakino .
