Castle Tavern, Weston Super Mareback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Having changed it�s name from �The Castle Tavern� to �The New Castle�, it has I suspect, also had a makeover that has pretty much removed any semblance of it ever being a pub. True, there was a couple of fonts on the bar, but that aside this is very much more a caf� than a pub. In fact it describes itself as a �Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar� which seems a reasonable description.
It�s an impressive old building, looking very much like a castle, and has full length windows and a patio area to take in the great views across Sand Bay. The main room is light wooden flooring, red Formica topped tables and light wooden chairs. There's a bar counter with a selection of cakes for sale, and a small freezer for ice cream. On the walls is a minimal amount of artwork and a couple of blackboards, one advertising lunchtime specials and the other forthcoming events such as a Curry Night, Mother�s Day, etc.
The food on a recent lunchtime visit was primarily baguettes and jackets, with half a dozen or so specials from the board, such as a Thai Curry, Lasagne, etc. It seems popular and was surprisingly busy on a midweek lunchtime.
There is also a very small lounge area with a couple of leather chairs and some low tables, but overall this seems very much a place for light meals, not drinking. Having said that, the guy running it was very friendly and if a caf� is what you�re after I�d recommend it. Certainly all the punters who were there seemed to be enjoying themselves and the food was receiving positive comments. But I can�t honestly say it�s a pub anymore, so I�m going to refrain from marking it.
There were no beers on tap, just San Miguel lager and Thatcher�s Gold cider (which suited me fine!).
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Now reopened as "The New Castle Coffee Lounge & Wine Bar"
No real ales but Thatchers Gold(�2.90),carlsberg,kronenbourg on draught and tempting looking cakes/snack meals. Very friendly service and magnificent views over sand bay from the beer patio. 6/10
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I have to say I have never been in the Castle personally. I visit the area a couple of times a year. I think the Castle building is very nice, an example of Victorian Gothick rather than Medieval Gothic.
My in-laws have eaten and drunk in the Castle and reported back to us that the food and drink were very nice.
You really have to try things and see. I have tried pubs with some really mixed reviews and found them delightful.
One man's pleasure is another man's poison, and vice versa, so they say.
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ha ha its laughable really! but what a horrible reveiw to put on here (dated 9 june sambotom).
Where do i start lets go to the food, my food is not frozen so lets get that straight its fresh well apart from chips if you want to be picky! the starters that were sent back that night was through no fault of mine the menu stated what you were going to get (brie wedges not battered brie wedges). the soup is not straight from a packet so i resent that comment aswell if accusations are to made then correct information is needed! as was said the wine list was being and has been changed so would explain the limited choice!
As for me storming out of the building and leaving my YOUNG staff (and one of them was in tears by the way she was spoken too)is not true at all i was actually stood by the door waiting for your exit as i didnt want anymore confrontations with you after being swore at shouted at and generally just rude if given the chance i would have apologised properly for any confusion but to my knowledge (and my staffs) i wasn't given the chance!
The comments made about the building are absoloutely disgusting this building has been here for a number of years and is a landmark of kewstoke so offending it is just damn right rude and i think a apology would not go a miss as locals can be quite offended (well partially blind people wouldnt see it would they that was a poor statement to make)
There was a comment made about a long black hair that night but no one in the building apart from customers has long dark hair!!!!!!!!!!!
As the saying goes you cant please everyone all of the time and in this case it is true i apologise for you having a bad time here but no complaints have ever been made like this cos people are generally polite!
I would like to end by saying anyone reading reviews should make your own decisions whether good or bad if you like you like if you dont then i apologise but dont be put off by people until you try.
Nicola the castle
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We had a lovely meal at the castle on a saturday night the staff were very pleasent and the food was really lovely tasty and what we were expecting it was nice to actually dine at a nice busy but quiet place no ear bashing music just mellow music playing in background. The only problem we had was the wine list was very limited but the manageress explained the wine list was being changed and gave us a alternative. we would reccommend that you do visit this place
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well where to start i was disgusted at the latest review posted as this is totally unacceptable to write about anyone's business.
I can honestly say i have been to the castle numerous times since the new owners have been there and have never been dissappointed! yes the wine list could be a little better but then when your in the process of changing the wine list there is going to be bottles that are not there (you just accept that).
I would like to say i wish the new owners all the best as i no its not the easiest business to run (you cant please everyone all the time hence the last review).
The food is not frozen and the quality has always been good, i have been at the castle on a saturday night when it has been packed and yet to hear a complaint yes it does sometimes take a while to get to your table but thats how you no its fresh and not a fast food restaurant. Everyone has standards some more than OTHERS but i would reccomend the castle to anyone visiting kewstoke and can assure you, you will not be dissappointed.
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I can honestly say that I have never been more disappointed with a meal than I have with the food served up here.
Let me start by saying that the mock castle exterior did nothing to impress me, it would not have been out of place at a theme park. From the website and indeed looking at the pub from a distance (if you are partially blind) you could be fooled into thinking that the building was a fine example of a classic gothic castle design and true British workmanship but on arrival it was clear that the building was not the only thing to try and be something it wasn�t.
The inside d�cor was ok, nothing special but certainly didn�t offend me.
I would now class myself as an expert in the world of cider but was very disappointed by the lack of local ciders on tap. Indeed the wine list was embarrassingly limited and the selection they did have behind the bar was limited to 2 bottles. Between myself and my 11 other friends we had literally drunk the place dry in an hour.
The food was atrocious. Plain and simple. The old menu was still being presented on the website so we all arrived at the Castle hungry and excited by the tempting choices we had read previously. That excitement soon turned to confusion when we were faced with a very different menu on offer. The food was reasonably quick to arrive but straight away 2 or 3 starters were sent back for not being up to scratch, the soup was straight from a packet. The main courses were awful. Not one of them was eaten. Everything placed in front of us had come from the freezer; some of the food was still frozen. There were complaints of hairs in the food, food over cooked, food under cooked and the quality was very poor. The menu was seriously over priced. No joke, I actually spat cider over my lap when I saw what was being served.
To be fair the bar staff were very good in dealing with our complaints but I wish the same could be said for the manager who dismissed what we were saying. We left with only agreeing to pay for the alcohol and starters. This was promptly followed by the manageress storming out and leaving her young bar staff to deal with the fall-out.
Over all 1 gave this restaurant a one out of 10. This only managed to even get a 1 due to the nice views over the bay. Other than that I would say to anybody thinking of coming here to think twice.
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I am surprised to note the last 2 reviews.The castle is not brewery owned,and has been independant for sometime.The emphasis is on dining,and relaxed atmosphere.A refreshing change to enter a building that does not reak of stale beer and cigarette smoke.Also no ear shattering music drowning out your conversation.The menu is so designed, that the chef can cope quite comfortably,producing the food,and not the pre-frozen microwave type,that most people seem to rant over.The prices do seem high,till you see what you get on your plate.I have worked in the food industry over 30yrs,and have seen and produced alot of the pub grub,that abounds,and if people saw the quality and the cost of producing these massed fodder.Your typical pub grub would soon take a dive.Meals stored frozen for up to 2yrs,cost pence to make and,sold for a fiver.in life you only get what you pay for.However i shall continue to use this quaint little gastronome,whenever i am in the area.and one can only speak as they find,or from years of experience...
anonymous - 28 Mar 2007 09:26 |
This was one of the most over-rated places I have ever visited. As one of the previous users said, there was only one real ale on tap which was disappointing. I found the staff un-welcoming and the ambience was zilch!! I think the owners are trying too hard to make what could be a fantastic old-fashioned pub,in to a modern Wine Bar-type affair. The menu was very limited and over-priced. I will definitely not be returning to the Castle Tavern.
anonymous - 10 Sep 2006 15:34 |
I have to disagree with the last review.
My friends and I had a meal at the castle after being recommended by people who had been.
I found the food at best average, the service was slow and the prices way to high for the quality of food served.
Considering the place is owned by a local brewer, we were also disapointed that they only had one of their ales on tap...not good marketing if you want your ales to sell.
All in all a bit of a let down and I'll not recommend the Castle at all.
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the castle tavern at kewstoke just at the end of the toll road.Has reopened a few months ago in the managed capable hands of sylvia adams,and her chef chris.We have now tried several dishes from all the present menus,and have yet to be dissapointed.Service is one to one and excellent all staff being polite ,and very helpful throughout.Although bijou,it is comfortable and, relaxing,and as extra space outside front patio area giving the same stunning views across the estuary.Bookings are highley recommended,as the popularity of the CASTLE is gaining rapid strides.I have no qualms whatsoever of recomending this establishment.The food is keenly priced and,portions well generous to say the least.I shall certainly be making return visits,and mine host and staff all the best of success
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