The Castle, Walthamstow

Our rating: FAP Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings User rating: Community Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings (15 reviews)
FancyaPint?'s review...
FAP Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
The Castle, a grand Victorian pub on an imposing corner plot, is one of the more out-of-the-way places in Walthamstow. While the previous incarnation looked like it was done on the cheap it has now received a bit more thought with a dark and muted decor including the gastro-grey paint - they've taken a page from the sober tables and wooden floor book of pub renovation. Over to the left it's a bit more lively, with a whole wall dedicated to artwork. However, the overall effect can be a bit depressing when it's empty, rather than sophisticated. If such things concern you, the toilets are fantastic! The menu's gone a bit more upmarket, which it probably needed to to compete on the edge of Walthamstow Village. There's four well-kept ales on the taps to choose from, too. It's also got a nicely converted beer garden at the back which we can look forward to using when the weather improves. Frankly, this was a more pleasant experience than our last visit and we'll have to get back and see what the food's like.
Reviewed by 16 Oct 2010    Helpful? yes/no
User reviews

Reviews (2)
11 Jan 2012
Rating 5 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Firstly, I would like to introduce myself and my sister, Ross and Ria. We are the owners of The Castle in the Village Ltd. (The Castle Gastro Pub). This is the first and last time I will be writing in response to comments regarding The Castle, so I hope what I write will answer any questions.

I love the concept of the review sites. I would love to use constructive criticism from these sites to better my business and give people what they want. If we could use genuine feedback to create and improve our menu and service it would be fantastic. We have received comments in the past and with some I agree, it has helped us grow, thank you. This advice benefits everyone, the community that frequent the pub and us. We have read and heard comments and it has helped us to make the business better and more efficient. The Castle is now a thriving family friendly food pub which is a stark contrast to three years ago, before we took over.

Unfortunately these sites can provide platform for fake, malicious and sometimes ridiculous reviews that are not always the truth. This is a shame. I find it disturbing that anyone would take to a review site to talk about a member of staffs physical appearance, one reviewer mentions ‘the manager with the pretentious awful moustache’. This quite frankly is not acceptable. This reviewer is known to The Castle and was asked to leave due to her drunken behaviour and foul language towards staff.

I am not saying we are always perfect, mistakes happen, but we do strive for excellence and I believe we provide good quality food at a reasonable price. All our meat is free range, our vegetables are delivered daily and our menu is produced by us fresh. Nothing bought in ready made, nothing frozen. Every dish has been designed by our Chefs, from the Burger recipe to the Cheese Sauce on your pasta. We even pipe our own Sausage mix from a recipe our Head Chef James created. How many Gastro pubs could say that?

I would like to advise booking on a Sunday for a roast as it does get extremely busy. We will always try to accommodate anyone that hasn’t pre-booked but we may not always be able to find a table for you immediately. At peak times we can have up to 90 -100 customers in at any one time, so it may take 30-45 minutes from ordering to receive your food. Nothing is precooked the night before and reheated like many other establishments do. We cook our meat to order.

We have recently changed our wet offering, so far these choices seem to have gone down well. Please let us know what you think.

I felt obliged to write this response today out of respect for our staff. The kitchen team especially work extremely long hours and are passionate about getting it right. It’s not on for business rivals and drunken fools to condemn the work they do.


Ross Newham
The Castle

thecastlegastropub.co.uk
Review: 3 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
11 Jan 2012
Rating 5 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Firstly, I would like to introduce myself and my sister, Ross and Ria. We are the owners of The Castle in the Village Ltd. (The Castle Gastro Pub). This is the first and last time I will be writing in response to comments regarding The Castle, so I hope what I write will answer any questions.

I love the concept of the review sites. I would love to use constructive criticism from these sites to better my business and give people what they want. If we could use genuine feedback to create and improve our menu and service it would be fantastic. We have received comments in the past and with some I agree, it has helped us grow, thank you. This advice benefits everyone, the community that frequent the pub and us. We have read and heard comments and it has helped us to make the business better and more efficient. The Castle is now a thriving family friendly food pub which is a stark contrast to three years ago, before we took over.

Unfortunately these sites can provide platform for fake, malicious and sometimes ridiculous reviews that are not always the truth. This is a shame. I find it disturbing that anyone would take to a review site to talk about a member of staffs physical appearance, one reviewer mentions ‘the manager with the pretentious awful moustache’. This quite frankly is not acceptable. This reviewer is known to The Castle and was asked to leave due to her drunken behaviour and foul language towards staff.

I am not saying we are always perfect, mistakes happen, but we do strive for excellence and I believe we provide good quality food at a reasonable price. All our meat is free range, our vegetables are delivered daily and our menu is produced by us fresh. Nothing bought in ready made, nothing frozen. Every dish has been designed by our Chefs, from the Burger recipe to the Cheese Sauce on your pasta. We even pipe our own Sausage mix from a recipe our Head Chef James created. How many Gastro pubs could say that?

I would like to advise booking on a Sunday for a roast as it does get extremely busy. We will always try to accommodate anyone that hasn’t pre-booked but we may not always be able to find a table for you immediately. At peak times we can have up to 90 -100 customers in at any one time, so it may take 30-45 minutes from ordering to receive your food. Nothing is precooked the night before and reheated like many other establishments do. We cook our meat to order.

We have recently changed our wet offering, so far these choices seem to have gone down well. Please let us know what you think.

I felt obliged to write this response today out of respect for our staff. The kitchen team especially work extremely long hours and are passionate about getting it right. It’s not on for business rivals and drunken fools to condemn the work they do.


Ross Newham
The Castle

thecastlegastropub.co.uk
Review: 2 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (2)

Reviews (1)
08 Jan 2012
Rating 5 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
i live in walthamstow and the food and service is great,the manager is usually very lovely and his moustache is hot!
Review: 2 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
08 Jan 2012
Rating 0 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
this place is fine as long as you don't have an opinion or suggestion or complaint. god help you if you don't like their food and tell them. despite the fact I have always been very complimentary about one or two things on their menu they gave me hell tonight when I gave an honest resonable opinion on their roast veg and hoummous pie with mash. I was still hungry after eating it,the portion was pathetic,even a child would still be hungry . I tried to give my comment in the most polite way I possibly could but was met with defensiveness and aggression. My comments were not validated,they just seem to think they are above complaints,that their food is impeccable and 'who are you to complain 'attitude is all you recieve. I couldn't believe that they could honestly believe this shallow small dish with about qaurter of a courgette and pepper,a tiny dollop of hummous and a thin filo pastry with a small spoon of mash would surfice .They charged about £9 for this pathetic attempt at a vegetarian meal .clearly the chef and those in charge are meeat eaters and don't understand basic nutrition. A meal should be balanced with protein,carbs and vitamins- this meal was not substantial and was not filling and the dish was small and shallow and could hardly be called a 'pie'. I was met with hostility and basically abuse and left their fuming. A woman calling herself the owner then at the end of evening came to talk to me. we had a taxi waiting and were about to leave anyhow but as our conversation became heated due to her ridiculing me and continuing to defend the chef and themselves and scoffing at my comments my pulling those 'yeah right' types of faces she ended up telling me to leave and not come back. she could and they could not handle being told the truth or at least my opinion.the customer service is appalling,you would never get this in america. I'm fed up of paying good money for bad food and service. I tried my best trying to explain it was tasty but there just needed to be more of it and/or something more filling,more protein ,to bulk it up but they were quite frankly up their own backsides and she told me(so called owner) as the manager that 'no one EVER complains about their food. its pretentious,over-priced place for the quality and portion sizes and if I can put any of you not going there I will. If you want food there are far more superior places to go in the village than here(the tapas restaurant,amazing food) and if you want a drink the nag's head is a far more down to earth friendlier place. Its a shame as one or two of the bar staff are very nice but this woman who claims to be the owner and the manager with the pretentious awful moustache are quite frankly rude,obnoxious and need retraining in the art of good customer service and making you feeled valued and your opinions validated as a customer.please,do yourself a favour and do not leave the Orford road ..they are not worth the money and they do not deserve to have customers with their condescending attitude .As they say on the Eurovision song contest ..the castle gets 'nil poi'.For them to tell me ' no one complains about the food is a joke..they should start using the internet,there are plenty of complaints about them on the various food/pub guide sites.
Review: 4 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (3)

Reviews (3)
08 Jan 2012
Rating 0 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
this place is fine as long as you don't have an opinion or suggestion or complaint. god help you if you don't like their food and tell them. despite the fact I have always been very complimentary about one or two things on their menu they gave me hell tonight when I gave an honest resonable opinion on their roast veg and hoummous pie with mash. I was still hungry after eating it,the portion was pathetic,even a child would still be hungry . I tried to give my comment in the most polite way I possibly could but was met with defensiveness and aggression. My comments were not validated,they just seem to think they are above complaints,that their food is impeccable and 'who are you to complain 'attitude is all you recieve. I couldn't believe that they could honestly believe this shallow small dish with about qaurter of a courgette and pepper,a tiny dollop of hummous and a thin filo pastry with a small spoon of mash would surfice .They charged about £9 for this pathetic attempt at a vegetarian meal .clearly the chef and those in charge are meeat eaters and don't understand basic nutrition. A meal should be balanced with protein,carbs and vitamins- this meal was not substantial and was not filling and the dish was small and shallow and could hardly be called a 'pie'. I was met with hostility and basically abuse and left their fuming. A woman calling herself the owner then at the end of evening came to talk to me. we had a taxi waiting and were about to leave anyhow but as our conversation became heated due to her ridiculing me and continuing to defend the chef and themselves and scoffing at my comments my pulling those 'yeah right' types of faces she ended up telling me to leave and not come back. she could and they could not handle being told the truth or at least my opinion.the customer service is appalling,you would never get this in america. I'm fed up of paying good money for bad food and service. I tried my best trying to explain it was tasty but there just needed to be more of it and/or something more filling,more protein ,to bulk it up but they were quite frankly up their own backsides and she told me(so called owner) as the manager that 'no one EVER complains about their food. its pretentious,over-priced place for the quality and portion sizes and if I can put any of you not going there I will. If you want food there are far more superior places to go in the village than here(the tapas restaurant,amazing food) and if you want a drink the nag's head is a far more down to earth friendlier place. Its a shame as one or two of the bar staff are very nice but this woman who claims to be the owner and the manager with the pretentious awful moustache are quite frankly rude,obnoxious and need retraining in the art of good customer service and making you feeled valued and your opinions validated as a customer.please,do yourself a favour and do not leave the Orford road ..they are not worth the money and they do not deserve to have customers with their condescending attitude .As they say on the Eurovision song contest ..the castle gets 'nil poi'.For them to tell me ' no one complains about the food is a joke..they should start using the internet,there are plenty of complaints about them on the various food/pub guide sites.
That's my rant over...thankyou and goodnight ;-)
Review: 5 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
08 Jan 2012
Rating 1 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
I have been in this pub several times and eaten there. on previous occasions I have found it generally to be friendly.Twice though now I have made a comment regarding the food and on both occasions it has been met with hostility and defensiveness.The vegetarian roasts miss out the essential protein needed(large yorkshire pudding with vegetsbles on top),its ok but needs protein,a nutroast,something substantial. thry do a gnocci with i have always been complimentary to them about but tonight,i tried to offer some friendly,honest feedback to an awful meal I'd eaten(roast veg and hummous pie with mash) and met by bad attitude and ridicule. I tried my best to be as polite as possible but was met with 'no one else has complained' and 'pies come in all shapes and sizes(I was saying that the pie was shallow and no filling and that I was still hungry,that it was like eating a starter). not once did they take me seriously or kindly or with any ounce of care that I was a regular customer and nine times out of ten I always had a good thing to say about the gnocci.
I said I wanted to take my complaint further yet they still just said 'thats how the chef makes it'. then a girl comes out when I'm about to leave and try to pretent shes interested in my opinion so I begintrying to tell her how I think the dish could be improved(being a vegetarian of 38 years)and she pulled sniddy faces and was clearly ridiculing my comments and still defending this awful tiny meal that I was still hungry from.when I said I would continue to take my complaint further she just laughed in my face saying she was the owner. This place is extremely pretentious and I would not wish to set foot in there again. They had no interest in listening to my feedback and take notr of my comments,as far as they are concerned they are faultless and untouchable,they defended themselves to the hilt and would let me have my say. I am furious with their attitude and will do anything to make sure people know not to go there- there are far more friendlier less pretentious places to eat and drink in the village,I wouldn't touch this place with a barge pole. I know good customer service but this place doesn't have it. They are fine as long as you don't complain,if you do then you see their 'up their own backsides'attitude.If this puts some of you off going,especially vegetarians then my job is done. thank you and good night ;)
Review: 5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (3)

Reviews (1)
29 Oct 2011
Rating 3 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
OK but not a Gastropub -- A Gastropub for me means above average pub food and friendly pub service. We found neither on our first visit to this self-styled Gastropub in London's upcoming E17 Walthamstow Village area. The venue used to be a fairly ropey local pub that has clearly been lovingly transformed. In fact, the first impression this place gives is really very impressive. However the food does not live up to the ambience. We spent £40 on a light lunch for two, including drinks: one starter (Terrine of rabbit and pork) and two mains: gourmet burger, fries and coleslaw and a gnocchi dish and drinks. A generous slab of terrine was served with a miserly single slice of toasted baguette. When we asked if we could have another slice we were told it would cost an extra £1.50 for a portion of toast, with the money being demanded then and there! When we complained that we really only wanted another slice we were met with a surly response from wait staff AND managment. This was a really unfortunate first impression, I suppose for them and for us but we looked forward to our main course. However with the excepiton of the gnocchi dish, which was very good, the rest of the meal was very average pub food. I hope this place succeeds because a lot of love has clealry been put into its creation. I hope moving forward the management, who seem to be ambitious twentysomethings, learn to be a bit more generous and a little less defensive. I also hope they improve on the weaker dishes on the menu.
Review: 7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
14 Jun 2010
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
this place looks better - nothing amazing but that's about it. I have been to a lot better pubs in Walthamstow and I don't think that this place warrants a second visit. It is now run by I understand a brother and sister. On our visit they were as inviting as a wet weekend. Clearly only in it for the money and have very little interested in the local community. The evening me and my girlfriends went in the female of the two siblings was screaming at one of her bar staff for making a mistake!

The bar staff on the other had were really nice. The food is ok very very limited menu which tasted like average pub - no where near the gastro pub standard. One veggie option only.

All in all ok but not very welcoming and very little atmosphere........lots better more better in the area run by people who have a sense for the area and a smile on there faces.
Review: 5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (1)

Reviews (1)
22 Mar 2010
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Just a bad day? Went yesterday afternoon for lunch at about half two for our first visit. The place was buzzing, very lively with families and babies and not spare seat in the house, which we thought very promising. As we ordered our roasts at the bar the barman told us there would be a forty minute wait. I joked that would be fine so long as it wasn't an hour and a half or anything, to which the feller cheerfully responded that of course it wouldn't be that long. An hour and forty minutes later, we had to pretty much beg for some food or demand our money back. when it came, it came without roast potatoes and was stone cold. seriously not impressed. nor were three other tables, all who queued up with us to get our money back before being forced to go home and order pizza (as by then other pubs nearby had stopped service food). really not impressed. Fair enough it's busy, but if there is a problem then tell your clientelle, don't leave them hanging and certainly don't say food is going to be fifteen minutes if it isn't. Really awful customer service, and that's not even taking into account the terrible cold food. perhaps it was just a bad day. we will however be going again to give it another go as the place has a lot of potential we're hoping that it's normally fine and it was just the one day when the chef walked out mid-service or all the ovens self-destructed or something similarly catastrophic that would explain such a terrible sunday lunch service. get your act together, it is potentially a great place
Review: 5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
03 Mar 2010
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Oh my taste buds! The new chef cooks miracles! It is the number one place to eat in walthamstow! Everybody, try for yourselves. I know where I eat from now on.
Review: 1 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (2)

Reviews (2)
14 Feb 2010
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
I think the place has had an amazing makeover. Beer is always nice and crisp, served in squeaky clean glasses, prices are reasonable and the bar staff are lovely! The place is always busy on Fri and Sat, it can be a challenge to get a table on Sun due to the roast and the quality of the place has much improved since the new owners took it on. It is now run by Ross and Ria – siblings that managed to turn this place into a very friendly and trendy pub open to everyone.



Coming on your own doesn’t feel uncomfortable – you have an impressive choice of books and a couple of games. Bar staff is always happy to spend some time having a chat with you and you generally feel very welcomed. It actually seems as if you were in someone’s living room.



They have been serving a food for over a couple of months now. Prices are competitive and quality is exceptional. On Mondays you have a really nice curry for £5, Tue - Sat a regular menu (my favourite is the vegetable tartlet) and on Sundays – roast. Desserts are fabulous but for me the chocolate brownie with ice-cream takes the prize.



The Castle seems to be going from strength to strength with constant improvements. I now have really high expectations with regards to the garden. I bet it will be amazing!
Review: 0 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
14 Feb 2010
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
On arrival at the Castle last night, I noticed the owner Ross talking to another customer with great enthusiasm about the NEW Fillet Steak he had just added to the menu, replacing the Rump Steak he wasn't happy with. As he handed us a revised menu, I questioned him about the new addition, I was told with excitement that he had just tasted the new fillet and believes it is one of the finest steaks he has ever eaten, anyone choosing this dish should be prepared to be impressed. I decided to take him up on the challenge. £15.95 for an 8oz Steak with chips and salad sounded like a good price. WOW, I'm glad I did, this was a fantastic meal. I asked for the Steak medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. The quality of the meat was sublime and the home made chips were great. The Castle now has a big fan in me, I will be telling all my friends about it. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu, I've heard the roast is also fantastic, see you sunday.
Review: 0 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (1)

Reviews (1)
30 Oct 2009
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Where's the great British Food? Still not there. We've been promised this since it opened, but noting has materialised. The new management is a joke, the pub being on it's third manager since they opened. The current one is nothing if not rude, OTT and extremely off putting. Doesn't say much does it? I've only had the chance to speak to one half of the leasee team ( the bloke - Russ, i think his name is) and he's a cocky, arrogant so and so. In it for the money, not for the Village. I've lived here for 16 years and this is the worst incarnation of the Castle I've come across. Bring back Rodge!

The atmosphere is dreadful. Yesterday evening they had a 'cocktail' evening. I was approached at 6.15pm by one of the bar staff, walking around the village giving flyers out, advertising the evening. Free cocktail before 7.30! Great, what a good time to tell people about it. Maybe a bit of advance warning? Anyway, we walked down to claim our free drink, only to turn around at the door. It was 7.15 and the place had seven people in. They can't even fill the place by giving away FREE booze. What a sorry state.

On a more positive note, the booze is reasonably priced now and I can't fault the bar staff.
Review: 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  
17 Sep 2009
Not rated yet! - Click for an explanation of our ratings
Please update your website as this pub has had a major refurbishment and new landlords/bar manager and it's looking good - very good. Stripped wooden floors great toilets fresh and clean throughout the whole pub. Small beer garden to rear with a promise of a makeover shortly and they will be doing great British Food starting mid-October 2009. I would certainly recommend this venue. September 2009
Review: 0 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Helpful? yes/no
report  

Reviews (1)
Contact details

15 Grosvenor Rise East, Walthamstow, London, E17 9LB

020 8509 8095

Features:

How to get there
Nearest Stations
Door-to-door journey planner
How to find the The Castle pub

From Walthamstow Central, take the right-hand exit from the station and head up the ramp. Veer right along the road and walk down Hoe Street towards Leyton. The 6th on the left should be Grosvenor Rise East and the pub in a little way up the road.

Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions
Is this your pub? Claim this listing to add your pub's web site, more photos or other information about your pub.
History
11 Jan 12 Updated by rossnewham