The Castle
“Wood, printed glass and brick give this chic pub a timeless feel for a selection of beer and wine.”
Quick info
About The Castle
The Castle is a pub in London at 44 Commercial Rd, open into the early hours for late-night drinkers. Beers and ciders are on tap at the bar. Downstairs, a basement room hosts events and a late-night club on certain nights. Upstairs, a second room puts on occasional gigs and comedy nights, so the building covers a drink, a show or a late dance under one roof. A semi-circular bar anchors the main room, and a separate back room sits alongside it.
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chatty, engaging bartender, old-school local pub feel, beer and cider selection and damp smelly basement.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chatty, engaging bartender, old-school local pub feel, beer and cider selection and damp smelly basement.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return above all for the bartenders, who chat with customers and, as one puts it, have a funny word for every client. One regular who often went in alone says conversation always came easily. Several describe an unpretentious local, a real pub rather than a gastro place, with a solid selection of beers and ciders on tap, outside seating, a semi circular bar and a more intimate back room. One reviewer calls it rough around the edges but chilled on early weekday evenings. The most repeated complaint is the basement, where two reviewers describe a damp smell, one saying it smelled like sewage during an event there. Service draws two sharper accounts. One customer found a bartender rude after asking for a replacement for a flat coke, which was refused. Another was declined a second double vodka because of how their eyes looked, despite saying they were sober, and the bartender who had served them earlier offered a single instead.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return above all for the bartenders, who chat with customers and, as one puts it, have a funny word for every client. One regular who often went in alone says conversation always came easily. Several describe an unpretentious local, a real pub rather than a gastro place, with a solid selection of beers and ciders on tap, outside seating, a semi circular bar and a more intimate back room. One reviewer calls it rough around the edges but chilled on early weekday evenings. The most repeated complaint is the basement, where two reviewers describe a damp smell, one saying it smelled like sewage during an event there. Service draws two sharper accounts. One customer found a bartender rude after asking for a replacement for a flat coke, which was refused. Another was declined a second double vodka because of how their eyes looked, despite saying they were sober, and the bartender who had served them earlier offered a single instead.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“We went there every night during our London trip ! Hugo is an amazing bartender who always has a funny word for every client ! He made our trip better than we imagined ! The bar in itself is the perfect cozy place to enjoy a beer and expérience the english culture. We will definetly be back ! Bisous bisous”
- Google user
“Pub was ok but the bloke behind the bar was incredibly rude. My coke was flat and lacking syrup. I politely asked for a new one and explained it was no good. The bartender looked at me like I’d spit in his face. He wouldn’t give me a new one and claimed the coke was fine. Saw him tasting the coke again later in the night so I guess someone else complained after me. Won’t be revisiting.”
- Google user
“The best pub in the area by far. The Castle is a simple, unpretentious place with a properly relaxed atmosphere – exactly what a good local should be. Everyone is friendly, and as someone who often went in on my own I always ended up chatting easily with people. Hugo behind the bar is brilliant – engaging, welcoming and a big part of what makes the place so good. Proper old-school local pub. Highly recommended.”
- Google user
“Beer selection 4/5 Bar tender Hugo that managed to find a conversational thread with about a dozen different attendees in a not so quiet part of central London 6/5 I love places where it's defined by the (genuine) personality of its staff, and this firmly sits up there.”
- Google user
“Wish we found this pub earlier in our vacation. East London is awesome to stay in as a foreign tourist, and this place epitomizes why that is true. Staff, vibe, and pours are on point...and not a single annoying tourist (like us) to be seen. Visiting London? Stay in Aldgate, Shoreditch, or Whitechapel....and make the this place your go-to, after-dark pub.”
Location
Bars near The Castle
- Boom Battle Bar Liverpool Street4.82,9900 miWheelchair accessible
axe throwing, darts, mini golf
- Leman Street Tavern4.21,2450.1 mi£10–50ReservationsWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi
private dining room events, fish and chips, sunday roast
- The Pride of Spitalfields4.72,2980.3 mi£10–20
cask ales, outdoor patio drinking, salt beef sandwich
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Castle | 4.31,072 | — | — | chatty, engaging bartender, old-school local pub feel, beer and cider selection |
| Boom Battle Bar Liverpool StreetWheelchair accessible | 4.82,990 | 0 mi | — | axe throwing, darts, mini golf |
| Leman Street TavernReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Wi-Fi | 4.21,245 | 0.1 mi | £10–50 | private dining room events, fish and chips, sunday roast |
| The Pride of Spitalfields | 4.72,298 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | cask ales, outdoor patio drinking, salt beef sandwich |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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