please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A disappointment to find out the rumours about this place appear to be true after a recent visit after a few years break. The pub is advertised as a family/sports pub and boasts about its real ales. Apparently other nearby pubs and ex locals refer to it as The Pink Palace. What I think is meant by this is that it now appears to be a Drag/Cabaret bar. Obviously that's not everyone's cup of tea and I did witness around half a dozen people leave on the Sunday evening I visited. Also the London Pride can at best be described as average, did not enjoy my pint or experience so shall not be rushing back.
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I wrote my previous entry in anger and would like to add the following:
It is a shame that this has let down the pub as it is generally a good pub, and the manager works hard to keep everyone happy and make it a (usually) pleasant place to be. I've given the pub a ten rating here to negate the unfair zero in my previous review, as I have had pleasant experiences here before now. The two ratings average out at 5.
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Went today, as usual, to watch the qualifying session for the Grand Prix. The only other people watching this were an elderly gentleman and his middle-aged son. Throughout much of the surprisingly exciting first qualifying session they read the Torygraph, the elder occasionally calling abusively to the TV. After the first qualifying session, the manageress called past me to ask the old guy what time he would like her to switch over to the tennis. Two o'clock came the reply, though the first ten minutes of the tennis would be just them knocking the ball about. I pointed out that I would like to leave the coverage of the qualifying on, especially for ten minutes if they were just knocking the ball about. The manageress just sniggered at me. After Lewis Hamilton screwed up his final lap I was eager to hear the ensuing interview. The manageress asked Victor Meldrew's uncle if it was OK to turn over to the tennis "Please do" he begged selfishly, in disgust at Hamilton's cock-up. "Please don't" I begged "I want to hear what Hamilton has to say for himself" (he was actually interviewed just six minutes later, for one minute). Clearly as the manageress wasn't asking me she didn't care what I wanted, and the old man's timid son didn't seem to know what he thought. As I left in disgust I called in to the nearby New Inn, a much bigger pub with more TV screens (and wheat beer which the Castle lacks), who confirmed that they will be showing the British Grand Prix the next day, and I will not be going in the Castle for a very long time.
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The ale quality seems to have taken a bit of a dive here.
anonymous - 3 Jan 2014 19:35 |
Pretty safe, civil sort of place I thought.
Nice pints of Chiswick for a session: pleasantly ordinary pub.
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Went in here the other night, and was greeted by a perticularly grumpy barmaid of the australian verity, i thought these people were known for their friendly ways, not this one, was served without a smile, told the amount I had to pay, and was not even thanked, beer was ok though, but because of the barmaid would be reluctant to come back
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decent enough boozer. worth going for the weekday thai lunch deals. need to frequent there a wee bit more to have any more of an opinion about the atmosphere. i work across the road and am looking forward to watching the footy here. beer ok.
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Fullers pub on the outskirts of Ealing. Chiswick & HSB were on 2 handpumps, whilst London Pride was on the other 3. A selection of bottled ciders was being promoted. But most were fairly bog standard. I plumped for the Thatcher's Katy. Thai food was being served. The interior is pleasant enough, but nothing special. Going to the toilets means stepping outside and into another building.
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Old established Fuller's house that has been refurbed and although the refurb looks okay they have taken out the small front bar to make it open plan just like anywhere else. Character loses out to corporate uniformity once again.
anonymous - 30 Aug 2010 09:52 |
These days the loos are probably the best thing about the Castle! Five cubicles in the ladies means there's never a queue, they're usually pretty clean and stocked with loo roll. Last world cup they had one of those goal aiming things in the Gents urinals.
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Can recommend the excellent Thai noodles. They're great value too. Beers are the standard Fullers selection. Sky Sports available on three screens around the pub.
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Nice Fullers pub - the beers are turned out well enough and the pub has a nice traditional feel to it. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and I would be happy to go back any time. Some of the lounge chairs are wonderful and great with a god pint of real ale.... Sod it!I'm off there right now!!
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I thought that this was a good pub with a polite barman who served me a nice pint of ESB. Pride and Chiswick were also available along with a fairly typical selection of lagers.
There is a sign up advertising the 3 plasma screens (although I only spotted one) and the ability to show Sky and Setanta.
There is a covered alleyway to the side of the pub with some seating and a beer garden out the back that I did not see.
Decent enough pub � much more traditional than the New Inn next door!
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I visited this pub again over christmas, and it was wonderful. nice to walk into a pub with the fires going, the atmosphere was nice and welcoming.
I did eat this time and the Thai food was very tasty. once again i was very impressed.
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Hmm anyone else get the sneaking suspicion that maybe SarahTas works in the Castle ? -
IE Thai green curry = 'wonderful'
little sun traps = 'wonderful'
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This pub is great, The Fosters is cold and is served in glasses from the fridge which is a nice little extra. The Thai food (try the thai curry!) is wonderful as well as the regular bar food. For smokers there is plenty of outside space plus the outside areas in the summer are wonderful little sun traps for topping up the tan in summer - when it comes out that is! It shows all sports but if it's rugby or cricket you want this is the best place in Ealing to watch it. I hope Fullers don't try and change it to much like the Drayton Court (West Ealing) and The Duke of Kent (Pittshanger Lane).
As for the comments about the Bar Staff they could be a lot worse, They are always cheery and welcoming unlike some of the other pubs in the area.
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I had a lovely time in this pub. I hadn't been in for a long time as it had been very smokey, but i was delighted to see what has been done with the place. All the staff were extreamly friendly and polite. I certainly didn't see anyone behind the bar showing pictures on their phone. The price seemed fair for a fullers pub and beer was to a good standard. All in all it was an enjoyable visit
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Relaxing boozer, decent staff. Some of the locals seem to have issues with their Polish neighbours which they voiced aloud. Pity. Otherwise an agreeable pub.
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Cask Marqued which I hoped was a good sign. The beer was served in good condition and very cold. I assume to somehow justifying carrying 5 or 6 bitters from their own brewery this serving cold trick is to not have throw away full barrels of what is not Pride. Or something.
The Pride was OK albeit nothing special. The India Pale Ale had no hoppy character till near the bottom of the glass - that is the down side if a really well kept pint is served that cold, it may as well be a bad 'un as what can you taste.
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not for the young, thought i was going to nodd off one friday night. Great food, nice beer.
anonymous - 29 Mar 2007 18:54 |
I like the look of this place and the Thai food is pretty good (and reasonably priced). Nice real ales. Young people behind the bar. I was somewhat bothered by the smell in the main bar area. (Seemed like over use of cheap air freshener.)
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I tend not to eat in pubs that often as the quality of food is extremely variable. This place does very good Thai food. The only downside is that is rather smoky. Overall a good pub.
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Quality boozer with frosted glasses-old school
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I cannot comment on the food, though on my several visits over the years to this place has given me a favourable impression generally. The Beers always seem good and i have never had any complaints re the staff. Certainly would recommend over the expensive and dull experience that is the New Inn.
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i've been drinking in the castle on and off for about 7 years, and what always amazes me is the rudeness of the staff- and they're not even regular staff - it's like they have a rudeness test at the interview stage or something,
Anyway, the thai food is pretty good, but you're better off at Butlers just up the road. The English food is woeful, fat, dry chips, crispy burgers under padded white buns straight from the freezer, salads on the side more by way of an afterthought.
The place is never busy though (perhaps no surprise), so it's good if you are 'just drinking'.
Worth a look in on the way out of or into the broadway - but i would never make it my local - as a good rule of thumb, when the new inn was closed for two months during refurbishment a few years back, all the locals moved up, temporarily (some permantently!) to the red lion rather than go here - just five doors away.
Make of that what you will...
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great pub to drink in on a sunday evening,good quality quiz which is pretty difficult.Food is a bit crap though and overpriced but the beer is sterling quality whatever you are drinking.
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I've never really taken to this pub in the past - always felt slightly uneasy and not overly welcome - however, based on last Saturdays visit, this no longer seems to be the case. I'm told the Thai food is recommended, but Her Indoors doesn't really like Thai food, which is a pity. I will definitely go here again when next in Ealing, which is not something I would have envisaged writing about this pub.
( Slightly surprised to see a guest beer - Everards - in here ).
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Great pub, great food, great time had by all
anonymous - 29 Apr 2005 16:57 |
Great pub, lovely staff - and they don't kick you out quite as swiftly as at the Rose and Crown.
Ellie - 15 Jul 2004 15:10 |
An excellent pub with good management, and good staff. It's certainly changed over the last few years and has become one of the best pubs in the area.
As others have mentioned, the Thai food is excellent and at a very reasonable price.
Customer base is extremely wide. Lots of students from the local college, middle-class couples, a few OAPs etc. It's basically a top notch local pub which has also attracted a newer cliental from the other Fuller's pubs in the area (which have gone slightly downhill, apart from the Red Lion).
As Kat mentioned, everytime the door opens most of the customers look towards it. Haven't a clue why they do that - probably habit.
anthony2 - 13 Apr 2004 00:07 |
I go in there most Tuesdays, its good, not to loud and as with most local pubs ... everyone stares at you when you walk through the door. It is a bit cheaper than the New Inn and good for an all dayer ...
kat - 10 Mar 2004 13:01 |
Good little pub, nice atmosphere and a good place to catch the latest football match. Much better than the New Inn down the road. Thai food is good as well.
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Nice pub, good selection of beers. Not so much of and old-man pub as it used to be.
Andrew - 8 Oct 2003 16:37 |
Having worked across the road from The Castle Inn I often went in there for lunch or just a drink. The service was remarkably quick and the food excellent. I would recommend the red thai curry. A great casual place to meet friends and co-workers.
Angela - 28 May 2003 11:11 |
