please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now advertising on Social Media that there's Disco and Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights.
|
A very unusual pub, looking exactly like a black castle as it’s name suggests. I believe that it was built originally as a folly by the local Lord of the manor when this was still part of the countryside outside of Bristol. Unfortunately despite it’s interesting appearance from the outside, it is now located in the middle of a supermarket car park and inside it’s a very bland, corporate affair with no interesting features whatsoever other than a couple of arched doorways and windows.
It’s a large, U-shape building, and the courtyard in the centre of the “U” is still pleasant enough, although not quite as attractive as I remember it from my youth when there was a pond and fountains illuminated by coloured underwater lighting. Once you’re inside though, you might as well be in a Brewer’s Fayre, Premier Inn or any of the other bland chain pubs that blight our landscape. The left hand leg of the “U” is more the bar area and this had rather cheap looking laminate flooring, whilst most of the rest of the pub was carpeted and taken up by diners.
The bar area has a couple of (orange?) pool tables at one end as well as a pinball machine. Paintwork was a mixture of khaki green, cream and mustard which actually looked better than it sounds. A number of old black and white prints of Bristol were on the walls, as well as some arty black and white close-up photo’s of golf, darts and pool. There were also a couple of plasma’s dotted about which I think may have been showing sports of some sort.
Service at the bar was somewhat slow with only one person serving initially and a number of people ordering food and paying by card. A pile of at least a hundred empty glasses at the end of the bar indicated that they are either understaffed or disorganised. I didn’t inspect the menu, but it appeared to be very much the cheap and cheerful sizzling variety, and there were a number of meal deals on every single day of the week such a steak nights, burger night, great big combo nights and even pudding nights.
As might be expected, beer choice was not extensive with Bombardier being the sole offering. Ciders were Blackthorn and Strongbow.
|
After the refreshment, they re-named it to "The Castle". It's now reverted to Black Castle, but no improvement in the speed of service or indeed the number of staff actually serving.
We waited for nearly ten minutes until eventually getting served, during which time the two bar staff disappeared, two more passed through without stopping until the two original returned.
it was only when someone waiting threatened to start singing "Go Compare" that the bar queue started moving!
|
Went in for a drink and meal last night and was well pleased. The Wells Bombardier was OK and the steak option we chose was cooked as we ordered.
|
It's now open and had a fairly good workover. there is now REAL ALE, albeit the Wells Bombardier had just run out when I arrived. Food smells good, even over the smell of fresh paint! Well worth a visit.
|
Steel Containers outside and a Refurbishment about to start.
Rumour is the Pool Tables are going onto what is currently the Dance Floor on the Bar side of the building, Dart Board in that area too. On the Kitchen side, it'll be dining with the area currently occupied by the Pool Tables being for diners?
|
Still lacking in any sort of real ale. We opted for sbow & guinness(�6.14). Food was very reasonable though(2 7oz steak meals for �7.00!!)The building itself is superb looking from outside. 7/10
|
The Black Castle appears to be picking up since the closure last year. Meals are reasonable for the price and there's a good selection of drinks. The old repetation for this pub hasn't been dropped but needs to be.
|
Still no real ale! I would even suffer Keg Courage Best instead of the horrible John Smith's Smooth!
|
Fish and chips for �3.49, nice pint of cider and san watch te fotie without to uch bother- good value for what it is.
|
Just had a nice meal for two with the "BOGOF" offer.
Mixed Grill was well worth it and the steak that my wife had.
The Merlot is worth a mention too!
|
Nice here now, apart from no real ale.
|
Better here now and apart from the lack of real ale, it's really good for food. The prices are a bit cheaper than the other local pubs and considerably cheaper that the posh places like Bocabar and the Thunderbolt. Not my sort of place in years gone by, but well worth a visit, certainly if you want a good meal.
|
I tried the other two pubs nearby, Bloomfield and Sandringham which were a bit naff and this aint much better. Fizzy beer, can't wear a hat, lary tatooed bouncers on a weekend and bar staff that are asleep.
|
Just heard that the Black Castle is going to re-open on 19th May with kids allowed in during the daytime and food on offer. Signs on the main road have been changed in the last week advertising the food and Sky sports etc. Just hope the Pilgrim lot don�t go in here and spoil it?
|
Re-Opening in April 2009 now that the lorries brought back the furniture that the Bailiffs took away in January.
If this place carries on as it did before, just catering for the younger element, then it'll be bad news. Why not, when there's the chance, get this pub back to a family-friendly food-oriented establishment?
|
*** CLOSED ***
Called in for a pint and a chat with my mate earlier on today and found out the pub is closed! Not sure for how long, but there were rumours floating about over Christmas that it was going to close in January.
|
Now re-opened after a two-week refurbishment, the Black Castle has a few new lights, DJ desk and an enlarged dance floor, area resulting in less seating in the near-bar area.
One pool table has been removed on the other side of the building leaving two to play on. No change on the beer front � All fizzy stuff and not all that cheap either!
|
It is black because it was built from brass slag, in the 1760' as a folly.
|
Visit here on a Saturday night and you will, without doubt, have to deal with the licensed door-entry operative with the two-way radio. Yes � This is a Pub for the under 21�s, even though there is a supposed restriction on under-aged patrons. The other reviews are not far wrong; this WAS a pub where you could take your wife for Sunday lunch, but no more. Sad days!
If you don't like smoking, stay away from the central courtyard - You have to walk through it to get to the entrance!
|
Sits at the end of the Sainsbury's car park.
When it was originally refurbished, there was a decent food menu and families were welcome. Kitchen is now occupied by a "Microwave Technician". The old dining area now has three pool tables.
No more proper beer - All keg stuff. The only bitter I could see was John Smiths smooth. Not a cheap night out drinking here.
You now have a bouncer-controlled football orientated over 18's pub with VERY loud disco music on a Friday/Saturday night. CCTV everywhere.
If dad wants a pint while mum is shopping in Sainsbury's, don't take the kids - they're not allowed in. Good job, cos' the toilets are disgusting!
anonymous - 14 Nov 2007 11:52 |
For 'colamine', read 'coalmine'. Ahem.
|
Amazing site - it really is a black castle.
Well, large Victorian building styled as a castle - turrets, courtyard.
Black because the stone it is built from was quarried from alongside the colamines that gave the original owner his fortune, apparently.
And inside - chrome, plastic, neon, plasma tv, pool tables, pints of 'wife beater'.
Chav central.
So, so, sad
|
