please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A multi-roomed old fashioned looking pub only saved because of it's listing and being in a conservation area - otherwise Fullers would have knocked it in to one big trough swilling piggery like it does with most of it's establishments. They do try to deter drinkers though with reserved cards on most tables and charging a cool £5 a pint for average lager.
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Nice interior but there were too many tables with cutlery on and menu cards lying flat on the table. It looked like they had been set up to await scoffers and to deter the beer only customer. I asked a member of staff if there were any tables I could sit at and was told I could sit anywhere or there were other tables outside. I still felt I would be taking up scoffer space if I sat in the pub, my preferred choice, so I went outside. I drank a seasonal beer, Fuller's Southern Star. It was reasonable but at £4.30 for a pint, not good value.
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Payed another visit to the Castle 2 weeks ago as our Ramblers Association meeting was cancelled. I thought I had walked on set at a Most Haunted filming. Where oh where has everyone gone. Even the barstaff have changed, thankfully the beer hasnt it remains woeful. I asked to speak to John the Guvnor but apparently he has been replaced by a hologram.
Is this pub being run down for redevelopment I ask.
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I have an idea for a picture round question on quiz night next Tuesday, Guess who is the Guvnor of the pub since John left.
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Have to say I havent been to the Castle for nigh on 2 years. I used to frequent this lovely pub with my Ramblers Association comrades. Dropped in Sunday, No sign of the regulars, where have they gone . No Celeste Mumford and his wee son Wilf. I for one wont be back in a hurry. For information us Ramblers now meet at La Colitis on the Hill every third Wednesday in the month.
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After a local football game a few Saturday’s ago I took the opportunity to tick this Fullers pub in the rather quaint Harrow village.
The Castle has featured in the Camra GBG but has eluded me on my 2 recent visits to the area.
Arrived here around 18.15 and the pub was pretty busy. Full fullers range on the taps and my choice of Seafarers was on good form.
The interior has many original features including old gas lights & coving, there is also a collection of clocks that adorn the walls. The stained glass windows are also very nice.
As the time got nearer 7pm the pub took on a more foodie edge with a fair number of couples arriving to eat.
I only stayed for 1 pint before moving on, a decent pub in a very nice part of Harrow…I may return.
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The Castle has now become the pub with the invisible manager. A new manager took over at the beginning of the year, yet neither the regulars nor the staff know who he is, as he's never here.....he seems to leave the staff to run the place while he does whatever.
Fullers really needs to get a grip on The Castle, but as it makes money without any effort, I'm sure that they couldn't care less about a manager who is never around.
Perry - 25 Apr 2015 16:14 |
Mmmmm...the last few reviews are disturbing to me, with regard to prices & the whole gastro-pub rubbish! I'm going there tonight, so will report back! If ESB is £4.50 a pint, screw Fullers! :-)
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I took the family for a slap up meal at the Castle on Sunday lunchtime. We had the chefs Special, a jar of peanuts and a pint of Frontier. It was perfect, and we got change from a tenner. We will back as soon as Wonga.com approve my loan.
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Used to be the best pub for miles around....now become a ridiculously overpriced restaurant.
Prices are outrageous.....even makes the West End look cheap. Such a shame that Fullers seem happy to make their money via beer from supermarket sales, and couldn't give a damn about their pubs, unless they're making money from food sales.
A great pub, ruined.
Perry - 22 Mar 2014 02:34 |
Pub prices
Salad
The belief that a pub lunch is the cheaper option for eating out may soon be a thing of the past, according to research reported in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph.
The cost has jumped on average by 11% in the last year while restaurants dropped their menu prices, catering consultants Horizon say.
Some of this can be attributed to the trend for landlords to be serving increasingly pricey fare in gastropubs.
The average main course dish in a pub is now said to cost £9.39 compared to a restaurant price of £10.95.
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I have to agree with Perry, the Castle has turned into an overpriced gastro pub with little thought for the beer drinkers. Not to mention the ridiculous artifacts hanging on the walls and ceiling. Its like a set from Harry Potter meets Steptoe and Son. I for one cant wait for the Half Moon to reopen. On a more positive note I have to say Don the new Landlord is a breath of fresh air.
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Castle web site advises the following for the Festive Season opening hours: Boxing Day 12:00 - 23:00
The last bell was rung at 22:00, even though the pub was full of people.
I'm getting a bit annoyed with the pubs on the Hill taking the piss out of pub goers. The Castle is meant to be a pub, not a bloody restaurant, but if it's not selling food, it just shuts, without a care for beer drinkers.
Perry - 27 Dec 2013 12:27 |
Beer prices reduced in the budget, but increased by 15p a pint at The Castle. Always loved this pub, but seriously getting annoyed by the ridiculous prices for both beer and food.
Perry - 28 May 2013 01:10 |
This is my favourite pub in the whole borough. I would qualify that by saying i) it's not a great area for drinkers (large south east Asian and Jewish communities probably partly explain this), and ii) pubs seem to be closing down left, right and centre here these days (like everywhere...).
Setting all that aside, the ale is always immaculately kept (if eye-wateringly priced - getting on for �4 a pint now), the decor is warm and welcoming (actually really good for a Fuller's pub, which can often be faux-real-boozer-soulless) and there's a decent, recently refurbished beer garden up some steps.
I can't comment on the food as I haven't eaten in there for ages. Looks like they may have changed the menu/ cook though, possibly for the better (the last time I had some lunch it was dispiritingly bland and over-priced but, like I say, that was about three years ago...)
Overall, a good pit stop for a quiet, relaxing pint or five. The chavs tend to avoid the top of the hill (probably too lazy to walk it. Plus, there are no pubs with massive TVs playing wall-to-wall Sky Sports...)
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Like tonyblack, I can also recommend the coffee here. It really is top notch. They also do a great selection of fizzy waters.....and the grilled barn owl is something to write home about. Great little pub.
Perry - 26 Jul 2012 17:57 |
Not quite as impressed with the Castle on my second visit. I still like the interior. But I felt the service left a little to be desired. Please and thank you's don't cost anything. The guy that served us seemed to have left his manners at home. I agree with the previous comment about the smell of the toilets too. The gents wasn't particularly pleasant, despite having all of the windows open. It was still reasonably busy and there even seemed to be people drinking in the pub's garden behind and up a flight of stairs. A quiz was planned for later in the evening. Overall, disappointing this time.
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Nice Fullers pub hidden up the Hill away from the awfulness of the centre of Harrow-on-the-Hill. Seems set up for dining but there is a bar area where people were sat drinking and a few tables outside. Smelly toilets though. HSB was �3.55 a pint. Better than your average pub in Harrow so worth the trek upwards if you want a change.
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I was in the Castle in the week meeting with my rambling fraternity. What a pleasure to chat with Grayson the barman about what a great pub the Castle is. I dont normally eat in pubs but I do recommend a Lambshank and a cup of coffee at this hostelry.
Keep up up the good work Fullers
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Good selection of Fuller's ales in a pleasant old pub but service was a bit slow on this occasion.
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I had a Fuller's London Pride, a Fuller's/Gale's HSB and a Fuller's (seasonal) Red Fox. All were in pretty good form. I did not have any food, but many of the guests were dining. (I made a note that the basic burger was �8.75.) The pub has an attractive interior with pretty good service.
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Disappointingly the only truly decent pub in Harrow, this is a reasonably welcoming place with a comely raised beer garden; down the hill from the famous school. It could make a very enjoyable base from which to ransack the institution next door come the revolution - the Fullers Ales and superior but unpretetentious pub grub hit the spot
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Pleasant pub located in an upmarket area. The area comprises 4 rooms with an impressive wood and glass dividing screen separating the 2 main drinking areas. The other 2 rooms seem to be set aside for diners. Although few were evident on my early Tuesday evening visit. Being a Fullers pub, it stocked ESB, London Pride, Discovery, HSB and Frosty Jack. Handpumps had different beers in each bar. Aspalls is the cider. The floors are bare boards, apart from large rugs in the dining rooms. The larger bar featured a collection of walking sticks, hats above the fireplace and a deer's head. Regulars crowd around the bar, making your choice of beer difficult. However, you can't blame them, as most tables are made out for diners. I'm not sure I could settle here for more than one, unless eating. But a nice pub, all the same.
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The Castle is an excellent pub serving quality beer. The food is good but not what it once was. The credit crunch has seen them change from Gastro pub fair to a more traditional basic meal at a keener price. The food is however very good and the staff are helpful. The beer garden is hidden up the stairs and away from any noise, it is lovely during summer. The beer and food are priced on the high side but still reasonable in the nice traditional surroundings. This pub can get very busy so book or choose your times.
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Vsited this establishment on a busy Saturday afternoon recently.A very nice interior but my initial positive impression was ruined by the inordinate wait for service at the bar.Only one young woman was serving although there were plenty of other(young) staff mooning around the place aimlessly.The place has gastro-pub aspirations methinks & the food I sampled was ok but nowt to shout about.Fullers ales were in very good nick though.
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Vsited this establishment on a busy Saturday afternoon recently.A very nice interior but my initial positive impression was ruined by the inordinate wait for service at the bar.Only one young woman was serving although there were plenty of other(young) staff mooning around the place aimlessly.The place has gastro-pub aspirations methinks & the food I sampled was ok but nowt to shout about.Fullers ales were in very good nick though.
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As anticipated, we revisited this pub yesterday, and were rather disappointed. We had greatly looked forward to lunching there, but that was impossible � bizarrely, a children�s birthday party was taking place on a Saturday afternoon, and the penetrating shrillness of their screams made this a marginally less pleasant experience than drinking and doing crosswords next to someone operating a pneumatic drill. I am not condemning out of hand the child-friendly pub, but if an adult were to make such astonishingly intrusive noise, s/he would be barred!
Having lunched nearby, in an inferior but peaceful pub, we returned. The child-shrieks were no longer in evidence, thougn older children still seemed to have permission to run around wherever they wanted to. Early in the evening, as the natural light waned, they operated the apparent London-wide (and very irritating) policy of dimming the lights. When we queried this, the barman very sweetly and quickly brought candles to our table, for which many brownie points.
Beer and cider both excellent.
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We (a group of about 8) visited this pub earlier in the summer and found it all but faultless � efficient, friendly service; excellent food, providing both for those who want more sophisticated, gastro-pub fare and those (like us) who prefer something more basic; great choice of beer as well as Aspall cider; lovely loos; a beautiful beer garden.
I simply do not recognise the place featured in some of these rather disparaging comments.
We plan a return visit soon, and look forward to it.
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Not a great place to go for a drink if you're on roller-skates and have no sense of direction.
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Just an afterthought - please don't leave manky J cloths lying around on the counter at lunch time - or ever really.
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Revisiting after some years absence. NOT IMPRESSED.
The beer - Fullers Honeydew - was excellent but at �3.30 per pint not the best value for money in the area!
Food not especially wonderful . The ploughmans was a poor effort (try the cheese platter instead) and the staff on duty on the day were just so bored by it all that they were a tad short of insolent. It was my' hard earned' guys. Get a grip. I'm not sure I'll give them another chance. Too many other places to try.
Which is a shame in a way as the setting is good and the garden great - if you can manage the climb!
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You can talk about giraffes and bluebottles as much as you like, but what relevance does this have to the beer in The Castle ?
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Easy mistake to make Tony. After a hard day of roaming the hill, I'm sure that the only thing on the minds of your rambling buddies, was a welcoming sausage at the pub. The thought of that will probably have confused them as to what beer they were drinking.
Perry - 14 Feb 2010 22:29 |
My apologies Mal. One of my pals from the Rambling fraternity told me it was Youngs ESB I was drinking in the Castle.
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err, tonyblack,
...I don't think this pub serves Young's!
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Bratwurst. The last time I had an exotic sausage was in the Olde Crippling Stick in Gotwood Herts. with hash browns and american jack cheese, mmmmm. Perfect way to spend lunch when rambling in the shires.
Not been to the Castle this winter yet , but may get up there soon as I am gagging for a pint of Youngs and a stiff one , brrrrrrrrrrr. .
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Due to an altercation last week gherkins have now been replaced on the menu with sweet pickled cucumbers. Mmmmmm....not for the faint hearted!
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I've not been to The Castle for a couple of months now, but my female friends tell me that the bratwurst is well worth a look. Very interesting colour and shape, they say, but they haven't sampled it yet.
Give it a good covering of onions and slap some good old English mustard on it, and it could well be the most interesting thing in Harrow in 2010.
Perry - 19 Dec 2009 01:43 |
Prices are due to Fullers rather than being in Harrow.....try The Basketmakers in Brighton...was Gales now Fullers....prices will make your jaw hit the floor. I'm sure it was the prices rather than my being drunk that caused that !
But if the beer is good, you don't mind paying a reasonable premium, and the beer has most definitely improved at The Castle over the last 2 or 3 years. In the 6 or 7 previous years, the beer was very poor (and that's being generous), and still expensive.
I hear that the risotto is recommended...and the governor has a penchant for red and white checked trousers. What more could any sane person want ?
Perry - 22 Jul 2009 21:42 |
Lovely-looking pub which has been very well kept and is deservedly on CAMRA's National Inventory list. Fuller's ales kept reasonably well. Pricey but hey, this is Harrow.
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And not before time....lederhosen are the spawn of the devil !
I've seen many a good man take the lederhosen route, and end up in trouble.....or Sudbury.
To drink proper beer, you must wear a decent pair of tartan troos. These "girls" who keep turning up in their lederhosen are a disgrace.
I can't take them seriously.
Oh for the days of the Raj.
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Due to an altercation last friday night, lederhosen in all forms has been banned.And if I see any antimacassars lying around on chairs they'll be out too.The consumption of onions that have been soaked in vinegar for years is.of course, perfectly normal
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Thank you Toe-knee, but it hardly seems fair, when the man who walks around in a daze, pointing his finger at nothing, has moved his entire home into a corner of the pub....even placing his own antimacassars on the chairs (to keep teddy boys from dirtying them, I'll warrant).
Surely bringing in the odd pickled onion, and perhaps the occasional cabbage sandwich, won't harm too many people ! This is a clear case of prejudice !
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Well Stanley . You know the rules , eating your own fare in pubs is not allowed. Dont think you can get away with sneaking them in , Mason the barman is watching on cctv.
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I agree with Stanley....why doesn't the governor allow pickled onions into the pub? I'm another person who always takes his own onions into pubs, and likes to wear lederhosen, and this is a very upsetting change.
Lovely pub, with very civilised locals and good staff....but why the pickled onion ban ?
Next thing, they'll ban people wearing lederhosen.
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Just been in and it was as good as ever. Food wasn't, for some reason, as good as normal but the London Pride made up for it. Nice pub away from the station and is a bit of a stroll but it seems to keep a reasonable clientele so I am not going to complain.
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This is a solid pub with a choice of bars to eat and drink ....
The beer has always been up to scratch and the food is excellent - I can thoroughly recommend the meatballs in flatbread .. and the accompanying chips are the real thing rather than stringy fries.
This place is full of atmosphere and away from the beer halls of Harrow town centre so is perfect for a civilised pint
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Best pub in Harrow by some distance. Not great, but a decent venue in what is otherwise a dire area for pubs. Decent range of Fullers beer, up(ish)market food, and a variety of small rooms with classic decor.
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I love pickled onions, but for some reason, the bar staff refuse to let me bring some in to eat while I have a beer.
In the old days this wasn't a problem, so why now ?
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Visited this pub on a recent Sunday lunchtime. The HSB and Pride were good and at reasonable prices. However the accompanying lunch was expensive. Would I go back? Well probably as there is no choice on the hill
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This is my local pub and I've got to say it's quite possibly the best local any sociable person could wish for. Yes, sometimes people complain about the beer and yes, the food could be construed as expensive but all in all I very much enjoy the time I spend here. The staff make an effort and know what you drink, they are friendly and efficient (90% of the time) but everyone has an off day.
The Guv is brilliant and supported by an exceptional assistant manager in Ashley and I thoroughly disagree with the malicious comments some people have made on this site.
As for the "mince" comments, I am enough in the know to understand what this is in reference to and although I wasn't there at the time, I have heard about the "altercation" and believe the management to be in the right in this situation. FYI - the person calling themselves "Jason the Guvnor" is not actually Jason the Guvnor.
Jason runs a good pub, with good management and has turned the food around to something which I would never have believed possible.
There has been a generation of my family drinking in this pub since 1952 and long may it continue. This is the best pub. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.
PS - I'm not a member of the rambling organisation. Plus, does anyone else get annoyed about people ordering coffee late at night in a busy pub when it takes 3- 4 mins to make and you could have bought 5 rounds in this time? Hmmmmm..... Maybe Costa's is better for them?
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oooh I,m going down the white horse then!
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oooh I've got a tommy hooper hat! I like to mince around at home with it on. I usually end up making a bit of a mess as well!
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Ok guys,give the guys a break here!! Being a previous employee for the pub I know how hard it can be working here. Yes sometimes it can be hectic and you will find flaws with the staff, food and beer that doesn't make everyone happy, but then again which pub in London has an 100% record on that??? Some of the complaints and whinging on here is understandable and some of it is completely bloody pointless!! I enjoyed my time working at this pub and kick myself at times that I transferred elsewhere but the regulars and the staff at the time were the most welcoming in my time that I was there. Who now runs the pub? Is it still Tom? And boys that drink ther like ESB Steve and co still go there?
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We ramblers know a a thing or two I can tell you. Last night my buddie went to the Castle for a drink and heavens above the chef is wandering around the bar in a ' Tommy Hooper ' hat. Is he responsible for the Harrow mess on the menu. Whatever next. hand picked Fruits of the Hill with Harrow mess on it.Oh why do we continue to meet here when the orange juice is at best warm and the coffee is tasteless. Before you ask I have had the original Eton mess and its gorgeous
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I think this is a great pub, i love the beer garden, the menu is really good i the staff are all lovely especially Ashleigh she is one of the happiest people iv met.
Keep up the good work guys.
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I wouldn't go as far as your "best pub in the whole world" Jason, but as a regular, I do admit it is the best on the Hill. Keep the mince on the menu, better than mincing amongst the blokes at the bar!
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I don't know what's up with some of the people posting here. This is the best pub in the whole world.
What do the Ramblers Association know about anything...well,except for rambling obviously,anyway did I mention this is the best pub in the world?
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Came here last weekend with partner and baby; good pint of Gale's, nice sarnie.
Very sadly, this is the only decent pub in Harrow/South Harrow nowadays...
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ooooh! mince, I love mince.The uphill garden sounds nice as well
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I notice mince has got back on the menu again recently. Makes me gag.remove it.
I dont have a problem with the barmaid from East Kilbride, its her husband Jason that I cant abide. As for BJ the barman , he's a lovely man.
I only drink in the Castle on Thursdays when I have a drink with my Ramblers Association buddies.I would highly recommend the Castle to anyone who doesnt drink or eat out.
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I had enough of the buses so I bought a house round the corner. For a while everything was fine-up the pub every night with my mates beardie and scunner. Now my mortgage has rocketed I can't afford to go up there anymore. I must be bonkers!
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look beardie behind the bar - you're in charge arent you? then why do you let that ignorant prat try and herd us in from the garden? first rule of customer service - ask the customer dont tell them. what a scunner! she is the pits man. smiley face or bulldog chewing a wasp - guess which she is?
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cant keep the pride up to standard all night long can they? Now they have a new threat - the customer friendly asst. manager who uses her verbal Glaswegian charm to evict loyal drinkers from the pub. we're all off to elsewhere on the Hill. Hopefully she's going back to East Kilbride, Cambuslang or similar. Another over officious employee who doesnt understand what constitutes a good manager and believe it or not there have been a few....
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Nice pub, good staff and management, but beer is just not up to scratch. This is a Fullers house, so I expect a decent pint. Is the brewery at fault or is it the pub.
The problem with the beer has been ongoing now for several years, so the theory about the pub being built above an old Indian (native American) graveyard, could be true.
Why couldn't they stick with Poltergeist and leave our beer alone ??? Bloody native American ghosts !!
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This was my favourite pub when I lived in Harrow and one of my favourite in all of London thanks to its gem of a garden. I lived a 10 minute walk away and made it my local despite the bitch of a walk up the hill. True to say that compared to the all crap pubs in Harrow town centre any pub in the area would look good but The Castle is miles ahead of the rest. Thank God it doesn't suit "the more sophisticated younger drinker" (Harrowboy 08 Aug 2005). Reading through all the comments below it is noticable that most of them are generally favourable from the first one in Dec 2002 up to a period around March 2004. Then with one or two exceptions it seems to attract more harsh critisism until June 2006 whereupon the more positive comments begin to dominate once again and I'm glad to say, they have continued to do since. It's 5 years since I lived in Harrow so I cannot explain the reason for the apperent 2 year lull in the Castle's reputation. But, having visited the pub last month with some friends for the first time since I moved, I was glad to discover it was just as good as ever and we had a great night. One final word about the clientele. I remember enjoying a pint of pride with the same friends in the garden here about 10 years ago when one of them nodded towards an adjacent table and asked me if I recognised anyone. I did. It was the late Richard Harris albeit drinkng what looked like orange juice. But given his illustrious past surely he knew a good pub when he saw one and The Castle was then, and still is, a good pub.
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Visited recently with a young lady in tow was very impressed by the standard of service and array of fine Fullers beers
We also enjoyed an excellent meal, the Steak and ESB pie went down a treat
All in all a very enjoyable evening spent in good company and ambient surroundings
I will visit again for more of the same
Maybe take the wife next time !
anonymous - 5 Nov 2007 15:10 |
I shall visit the castle on sunday - jeans and tshirt? No. I can now wear some decent strides and a shirt knowing that I wont come home smelling like a carnival of carcinogens. Hopefully we can enjoy an extra smooth pint of pride as we gaze thru the window to watch the rain soaked punters outside suck on anuvver gasper, on the street where they belong.
Liberal Larry
anonymous - 26 Jun 2007 19:36 |
Best pub in Harrow...by miles. Does get very busy though.
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Decent pub but the beer is not always as good as a Fuller's tied house should be.
Often get prats who seem hell bent in getting in the way of anybody that wants serving.
To the long skinny bloke with the long skinny pipe (mentioned by 'asanewt' below). Do you have to light that hideous thing just before you go to the bar? Roll on 1st July!
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Wow, what a grate time. Mothers day food was spot on and the service was pulled off without a hitch. Really enjoyed this one, definetly recomend it for anyone looking for a bite to eat in a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
Had a peek at the beer garden too, looks like it will be a spot in the summer.
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The best of the bunch in Harrow, although that really isn�t saying very much is it.
Good Fuller�s beer and great beer garden in the summer although arrive early because it packs out very quickly on a warm evening or weekend afternoon.
The food is OK, if a good bit over priced for what you get. The chips however are outstanding and beat a bag of crisps as an accompaniment to a few pints by a long stretch.
Service at The Castle can be a bit hit and miss. With the manager on duty it�s quick and courteous but I have know it to be slow and indifferent. How hard can it be to keep an eye on the customers waiting when serving a round and have some idea of who is next and been waiting the longest? All to often the closest waiting customer, not the customer on the other side of the bar that has been waiting 5 minutes, will get served. Annoying.
Other than that, I like The Castle. Free newspapers, warm fireplaces in the winter and the spectacle of watching the Harrow masters getting slowly pickled after a days effort teaching are all part of its appeal.
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the pride is variable and the measures often short - probably due to lack of training for the foreign bar staff? However the location and ambience is superb with a great beer garden for the summer. NB. Gas masks required some nights when the guy with the meerschaum puts his stink on the place! Roll on Summer 07.
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Been coming in here on and off for 25 years. Last visit was Christmas last year. Great pub, same manager who knows what he's doing. Parking was a bit of a nightmare as can be expected in a residential area. Only let down was the american barman who clearly has not heard of customer service. We were kept waiting at the bar for over five minutes whilst he finished off a conversation on his mobile phone! Just dont visit when he is on or you'll be waiting til next year, especially if it is quiet for a drink. However, a very good visit overall.
anonymous - 6 Dec 2006 21:30 |
Quote from anonymous: "u cajnt excpect them to just throw the old one [ale barrel] away"
Yes you damn well can, it's off. Like lumpy milk, sweaty cheese and stale bread.
Or do they serve that up as well?
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Went there the other evening and wondered why I didn't make the effort to get there more often. Why does the best pub in Harrow get such a low rating?
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Pub, manager and staff are all excellent, but Pride and ESB are hit or miss, although improved lately. To be honest, the beer has been hit or miss for many years here, so not a recent problem. A cursed cellar ?
Perry - 16 Oct 2006 13:12 |
This is without a shadow of a doubt the best pub in Harrow, and well worth the steep but scenic walk up the hill. It must be the only one that provides a good selection of real ales (most in Harrow seem to be lager n' shots), plus personally I like Fullers beers. Big sofas and open fires make this very cosy in winter!
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As one visitor remarked, "It is such a great feeling to wander into a real pub where the staff enjoy their work, and not only know many customers by first name, but also what they drink." The same visitor also thanked us regulars for entertaining him. Yes, it IS one of those pubs where complete strangers are welcome and do not have to sit outside!!
Drop in for a pintertwo!
mikem - 16 Sep 2006 10:08 |
What a great pub.
Having been used to the dregs that is Harrow town centre, and being used to the fact I feel as if i've going out partying in central Bagdad, I wonder where the previous comments are coming from?
Having run pubs myself I can see what a great job the manager here is doing, with the very loyal and dedicated staff.
There's a real friendly atmosphere here. One that is lacking in many of the tastless offering in the centre.
The Food: It's pricy - but the quality is superb. If people want a tastless, warm, microwaved alternative which is priced at �1.99 then I suggest your preferred establishment is McDonalds or - if you're taking the lady out - Burger King.
The Drink: What fantastic beer! It's tasty, and just how Fuller's wants it served. I got around the problem of being short measured by simply asking for it to be topped up. I was'nt that hard - honestly. Although my wife had to have her wine in a weird non-wine glass (ie a 1/2 pinter) I did understand the position they were in. BUSY - surely this is testiment to what a great pub this is.
To you who have'nt been here before - go, now! It's great - please do not be put off by the comments on this page as most are unjustified. It sounds to me as if when Fuller's "repositoned" the pub - a group of locals/regulars decided to completly slag the pub. Lovinit has a fresh(!) attitude, which is a great one. If you don't like it - why not either:
1. Complain to their faces - you never know, it might actully get sorted
2. Vote with your feet - Stanley said he was "off to pastures new" in 2005 - so why nearly 6 months later come back? It can't be that bad then! Hell - there might be somewhere better?! I doubt it though.
It does'nt take a rocket scientist to work out what has gone on in these pages. I think there are some p***ed off people who feel as if their local has been "tampered" with and will do their utmost to destroy the reputation of a great pub, with some fantastic staff, atmosphere and brilliant food and drink. Not against the Manager - but against the brewery. I will say this before I get off my high horse:
Pubs are changing - just look at the high street in your local town. Remember the 50's/60's/70's? It's nothing like that. The industry has changed, and therefore pubs have to. Would you still like to go to this pub in 5 years and enjoy a drink - or would you like to visit a block of flats? If this sort of slander continues, and nobody visits the pub - what do you think will happen? No customers = No money = no pub.
Leave these poor guys alone - and actually praise their good work.
They are busy - there must be a reason why.....
anonymous - 1 Sep 2006 19:11 |
i love this place. the food is fantastice (great new menu) and the drinks are resonably priced.
the location is wonderful and he beer garden is one of the best in London!
The new manager has done a great job with this place. from the weather brick inthe garden, to table magic and poetry evenings!
Long live the castle!
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This is a locals pub. One where we can moan about the place and its ok, because we all go there and suffer the same.
Its beer garden is a hidden little gem (like most of the hill itself) and like somebody wisely mentioned previously, its location stops the scum of Harrow venturing in.
Somewhere I used to avoid, but since the change in staff recently, I now favour the Castle's quirky atmosphere for Cafe Cafe's tastier drinks and food.
This isnt a place that boasts about anything....it just exists. For that reason alone you can understand 'why' the guy below catches 2 buses and walks up the hill.
A place to relax and unwind in.
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Will the beer up the Castle ever improve?
Will the buses ever run on time?
Will it ever stop raining?
Something tells me the answer to all these questions is NO!
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every friday and saturday I catch 2(TWO)buses which are ALWAYS LATE!and walk up harrow hill in the freezing rain and cold. I arrive soaking wet at the Castle pub in a very bad mood just to order a pint of London Pride which is always cloudy and insipid. I then stand in the corner muttering to myself.
I must be absolutely Bonkers!
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Saturday 10th December, the beer was drinkable. Why can't this be the case every day ? Last week-end, the Pride was undrinkable, and the bottled beer went very quickly as a result.
It is so frustrating that a decent pub can not get the draught beer to a good standard on a regular basis. Are the lines cleaned regularly ? Is there a trained cellarman ? Does the pub sanitize taps, beer lines, etc. every 7 days or so, never longer than 10 days.
Something tells me that the answer to these questions is " No!"
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This is one of the best pubs in Harrow. In the Summer, the beer garden is excellent and in the winter the real fire gives off a magical glow. I like this pub. Only down side is it is so far from the station and up a big hill, but at least this stops the Yates' scum of Harrow climbing up to investigate.
mikez - 13 Dec 2005 16:07 |
I think The Castle is a great pub. The decor is a nice mix of old-fashioned and modern, they have a decent range of beers, and they do good food. Went there for a lovely relaxed Sunday roast the other weekend. Definitely one of the best pubs in Harrow.
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I know someone who works at the Castle Inn, working hard to make it pleasant for the customers, who was mildly upset by some of the comments. Having read the comments for myself, it's obvious that many of the worst can be totally ignored. Some make the pub out to be so bad that they must have written by people who are unjustly trying to damage the pubs reputation. It may not be perfect (what is?) but it isn�t wrong side of the gates of hell. Sensible, balanced, criticism is interesting, but over the top ranting like calling the staff �INBREDS� will always identify the writer�s true character. On the flip side, I wouldn�t be surprised if some of the totally positive comments have been written by Fuller�s management!
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This is the best pub in Harrow I think - certainly has a great selection of Fuller beers. Great terrace out the back too. Only real pub left on the Hill since the King's Head got turned into flats.
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The bar staff systematically pour short measures of beer. Fullers should put a stop to this, as it is giving their otherwise excellent beer a bad reputation.
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This pub has nothing to offer the more sophiticated younger drinker. The beer isnt worth drinking and their is no atmosphere.
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I was on a nostalgic tour of the public hostelries i knew from my young days living in Harrow. I couldnever have imagined how bad such a pub could become. I was with a young lady and was so embarrased at taking her into such a run down establishment. Beer --ugh
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I went to the CAstle after a long climb up Harrow #hill. It was a complete wste of time apart from getting some excercise. The London pride tasted as if it had died , but there was worse to come. ESB
I would recommend that you go elsewhere.
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i agree with many of the comments already made. the beer is in asful condition, it is very eexpensive and lacks atmosphere. It is very much anold mans pub
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I actually like this pub, the staff are friendly (especially the young glass collector guy) and everything Ive ever eaten here has been good. Its a nice place to bring mates for a quiet pint. I do agree that Fuller's dont seem to be putting money into this pub, they dont seem to understand that they have an excellent building and that they could really pull in the punters if they wanted to. I always see locals in the pub, which is a good thing and the interior is a fantastic restored example.
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I was about to go into one, about the appalling London Pride that is being served up here, but I seem to have been beaten by several people.
This last week-end was the final straw, and despite drinking here for years, I'm taking lovinit's advice (even though he seems delusional, if he thinks that the beer has improved recently) and finding another pub where they can at least serve up decent beer.
It's a shame as I like this pub, but if they can't be bothered to look after the beer, then I'm off to fresh pastures.
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I totally agree with the last comment. I was also in The Castle last night, and waited for over 20 minutes to be served, before giving up and going to another pub.
I also agree that the beer in The Castle is a disgrace, considering that this is a Fuller's pub. Don't they have any idea how to look after ale ??? Clearly not.
What puzzles me, is that Fullers do nothing about the poor beer here, as I am aware of customers complaining to them about The Castle beer, yet not a thing has improved.
As the last comment questioned....do Fullers care more about profit than their reputation for good beer ? It makes you wonder.
Perry - 16 Jul 2005 19:25 |
I went to The Castle last saturday (9th July), and they had no glasses for beer. If you wanted beer, then it was a case of "come back in 30 minutes". If the beer was drinkable, then perhaps I would have been prepared to wait, but this pub is known for it's crap beer. This is a pub that I've been drinking in for over 30 years, and to see it become the joke that it's become, is sad. All Fullers care about, is the money that the pub generates. The simple fact is that this pub is now very, very, trendy, and even though only 1 in 10 pints drunk is a Fuller's ale, rather than tasteless lager, doesn't seem to bother Fullers.
Obviously profit is better than reputation.
Tonight (15th July), I went to The Castle, and not only were there no glasses, but there was a slight lack of staff. There were two people working, and they were working there arses off, but it was nowhere near enough. I, like many other people, ended up at The White Horse, just down the road, as at least we could get served there.
It really seems that Fullers have abandoned The Castle, as it is simply a cash cow, so FST don't need to make any effort, as the money rolls in, whatever.
The poor staff who are left to take the abuse, are the ones we should feel sorry for......but all I, and most drinkers want, is a decent pub that serves decent beer.
Is that too hard for you, Fullers ??
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What the hell is the problem with you guys poting crap comments like this?
I think the castle is a top pub. Yeah, ok they make mistakes sometimes, and yeah the food is expensive....but..come on!
WOuld you really want the old management back? I think the new manager has made great improvements. The garden looks great, the beer is 100% better than it was, and the food is actually tasty and hot now! I think the person below who's going on about "bread and butter trade" is actually still in victorian times! Welcome to the 21st century! Pubs have changed, them have to. Look at the competetion out there! Even supermarkets are competetion now!
Give these guys a break...after all... if it's that bad, why not go somewhere else??
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To anybody who is looking for good food, good service and good beer this is not the place for you. I whole heartly agree with the comments made by Mr Aspr1n (below).
Fullers (and the previous managers) have quite simply managed to ruin what was a really good pub with overpriced and extremely bad food, awful service from which ever poor unsuspecting traveller happens to apply for a job and then leave 6 weeks later. And for the boys - terrible beer. No I'm not joking it really is that bad.
What Fullers have forgotten is their bread and butter trade - Regulars!! They have no concept of pub grub - you know Sandwiches, Crisps, Ploughmans etc, and their market research when pricing this "gastro" food was taken with the Bill Gates/Richard Branson wallet size in mind a fact that is compounded by the food being really C***!
Don't visit unless you want an afternoon whinging about how bad this pub really is!
Somebody should forward these comments to Fullers - who knows pigs might fly and they might take some notice!
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This pub has become my local - because well I am, so this is from that perspective.
The two best things about this pub are it's location - particularly in the summer, and the other customers that drink there. That however is where the compliments stop, this pub needs good management or good competition - preferably both.
The staff are very friendly, though obviously poorly paid and equally poorly trained. The drink selection is poor, probably because the staff just don't have the bar skills.
Don't be surprised when you get white wine served in warm glasses, or flat beer in dirty ones.
The food they have tried to make "trendy" and charge premium restaurant prices. In this they fail miserably, the food is awful and offensively priced.
There are 3 rules to eating in the Castle:
Rule 1: Just don't. Treat yourself and go somewhere else.
Rule 2: If you must break Rule 1, do it with their bar snacks only.
Rule 3: If you must break Rule 2 and eat from their main menu, never never do it on a Sunday. The food is cold, overcooked and service slow.
Rule 3a: If you feel the need to complain about your food/service, don't be shy, you will neither be the first nor the last.
The "Specials" menu should be avoided at all costs, as "Special" denotes how much you'll probably feel fleeced by the end of it.
This pub could and should be fantastic, it's let down by a sloppy attitude to service and quality, Fullers should be ashamed.
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What a shame - have been visiting this pub for 30 years, I was introduced to it at the age of 4 by my father, I used to love the place and in my teens enticed my friends away from the attractions of Harrow town nightlife to a more gentile weekend watering hole with the promise of reasonably priced food and drink a 'secret garden' for the summer and a shabby chic relaxing pub for drinking beer, smoking fags and reading the paper on a Sunday. Good conversation and friendly mixed company ideal for expanding ones social skills and interests. WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED. HAS THE CIRCUS BEEN TO TOWN AND LEFT A BUNCH OF INBREDS IN THE CASTLE. What a bunch on toffee nosed, rude, poorly-educated bigots, if that�s not bad enough you need to pawn your grandmother for half a pint and sell your soul to the devil to afford a sandwich at the extortionate prices. The refit was overdue and quite nicely done apart from the majority of seating being non-smoking, but even on 'the Hill' there is such a thing as �the wrong crowd� and I wouldn�t take my own children there to learn some of the wonders of social interaction and stories of life, they would be likely to run off and join the �odd man with the big top tent� In fact if I have to go there ever again I may well take a GCSE in Lion taming and be off too.
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Great pub, beer improving, but the last 2 occasions I've been there for food, I've found it taken over by screaming kids whose parents who let them run riot.
It's a pub with the beer and atmosphere that could be a classic, unfortunately, the 'food room' is a disgrace. Kids should be allowed, but the management should at least insist they are under control, as it ruins it for all the regulars.
I'm now dreading the summers there in the garden, it never used to be this bad re kids.
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The best pub in Harrow, although I have had to return the London Pride as too cloudy. If the invested more in the beer aas the food the it would be unbeatable. However, still the best in Harrow.
john - 27 Aug 2004 19:26 |
I used to love this pub, what, 10 years ago? But did anyone see Changing Rooms tonight? At the beginning Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen is standing in the middle of a road. I said "That looks like Harrow outside the Castle". It soon turned out to be just that - at the very end of the programme, in the Out-takes section, he's taking a swig of what is obviously a proper beer in a pub and going "Bleeeeuuuurrrghgghhh".
We don't know for certain it was in The Castle, but we don't know for sure it wasn't - from the previous comments it looks likely - are they going to sort out their beer in such a lovely location????
Vikki - 9 Aug 2004 21:09 |
I love this pub!
EG - 9 Aug 2004 09:23 |
I went to The Castle for the first time in 5 years today (it used to be my local), and was very very disappointed by the state of the beer. I had a pint of ESB, and left most of it, due to the crappy taste, and then tried the Pride...it was equally bad. What has happened to this pub ? Speaking to locals, the bad beer is the norm now. What a waste of a once great pub !
Paul - 30 May 2004 01:13 |
Nice pub & very pleasant staff, but the beer was a disgrace on the three occasions that I've visited. If London Pride was a guest beer, I could understand, but this is a Fuller's pub, so there is no excuse for such bad beer.
Stan - 8 Apr 2004 12:09 |
Was a lovely pub...I've been drinking there for years...but the pub seems to have forgotten that it's a pub, and believes that it's a restaurant. Fine if all things are equal, but the beer has gone steadily downhill, as the food receives praise from the blossom brigade.
If you go to sample two of God's finest ales, ESB and Pride, then be prepared to be disappointed. Although the manager and manageress are lovely people, beer is not their thing...they are food people. So, if you believe that a pub should be a place to eat food, and nothing more, then The Castle is your place, but if you go in the belief that you will be served a pint of damn fine ale, then think again.
I love this pub, and to watch it be turned into a money making gastro pub is heartbreaking.
Grant - 20 Mar 2004 01:48 |
Best pub in the world. Lovely staff, good food 10/10
anonymous - 8 Mar 2004 20:39 |
A very nice chilled pub with good beer and wine. The food is very good and very reasonably priced. Worth walking up the hill.
Ashish - 21 Jan 2004 12:10 |
Yes, there's the treck up the hill, but it really is worth it!
Cassie Merfoy - 30 Oct 2003 23:00 |
Hard to find, but worth the effort.
An unspoiled old-fashioned local with friendly efficient bar staff, well-kept beer and good lunchtime food.
A bit of a schlep up Harrow Hill, but so much better than the soulless plastic palaces in the town centre.
Intershopper - 15 Aug 2003 15:46 |
it was better when maurice ran it
g. - 15 Aug 2003 10:19 |
The Sunday roast is fantastic. The beer is good and it at least has a traditional pub feel, as opposed to the theme pub hell that is the rest of Harrow. Cafe cafe is your only other rational choice for a drink.
Meister - 4 Aug 2003 17:38 |
Atmosphere is great, locals are of all sorts from vastly wealthy to poor, geriatrics like me. It is a training pub for Fullers, which sometimes makes for an odd effect or two, like cleaning the damn pipes with customers present!!
Mike - 30 Jul 2003 10:22 |
Great quiz on a monday night
anonymous - 1 Jul 2003 13:33 |
There's a really nice beer garden out the back, up some very steep stone steps - great place to just chill in the summer and have never had a problem getting a table even on the hottest of days. A great find!
Philippa - 26 Jun 2003 14:57 |
Nice people, friendly and comfortable. Food is great. The pub is great for cosy winter nights and the garden is great for sunny lazy days, all round great pub.
anonymous - 1 May 2003 15:04 |
Really nice pub. Well worth the walk up the hill on a sunny evening. The food is good too.
David O'Keeffe - 22 Apr 2003 10:38 |
This pub isnt lively, but its in a nice area and the roof garden in the summer is seriously cool.
Mr.KGB - 19 Mar 2003 17:18 |
don't go to the trinity...its shite! go to the castle instead...only thing its a killer walk up the hill....but worth it
anonymous - 20 Dec 2002 12:17 |
this is the best pub ever...good beer good food...lots of space
anonymous - 20 Dec 2002 11:36 |
