The Black Castle

Randomly situated in a Sainsbury’s carpark, and looking like some sort of medieval themed restaurant, the Black Castle was a pleasant surprise when we came here last weekend. All ten of us stuffed our faces with reasonably priced (and perfectly cooked) steaks, although the chips were a bit cold, fajitas, burritos and fish n chips, then moved onto some mammoth desserts (three waffle towers, a chocolate orange sizzler and three mountain something-​or-​others) before settling in the bar area for some post-​dinner drinks. Can’t believe that all the mains came to under £80 that’s a bargain right there.

This architectural monstrosity is possibly the most hideous looking pub I’ve ever seen in my life. Made to look like an English castle (though it was built in 18century but still), for reasons I can’t quite fathom, it is actually located in a Sainsbury’s car park (go figure) and is filled invariably with chavs watching football.
The interior itself, bares no resemblance to the exterior, again, for reasons I can’t quite fathom. Surely if your going to keep this naff mock castle look you should extend it to the inside as well, but no. The inside is a fairly soulless looking bar with light wood finishing’s and TV’s showing Sky Sports football.
If you’re a bloke and want to escape from the Sainsbury’s shopping, then maybe it’s worth dropping in. Can’t imagine why you’d want to go here at any other time under any other circumstances.

This is a really strange place. It is apparently an authentic 18^th century construction but, perhaps because of its surroundings (between a supermarket and a petrol station), it seems like one of those garrish medieval joints they like to fabricate in the US.
On entering, it’s not much better — somewhat akin to a downmarket Harvester. On the one occasion that I went (I was early for a film at the Showcase cinema neaby — honest!) there was a karaōke night on, but no one was joining in so the woman running it was singing country numbers to herself. Needless to say, I haven’t been back.

Surrounded by out of town superstores and fast food joints, the Black Castle sits rather jarringly amongst them. The building is a mock up of a castle, built in the 18^th century. Whilst I’m usually quite enthusiastic about old buildings that have been put to good use as a pub, this one doesn’t really work very well.
As pubs go its on the unpretentious side of things. Lots of lager, lots of chips. It’s all right, certainly better than going to Mc Donalds for your lunch, but I can’t say much more in favour it than that. The staff were pretty friendly when I went there, they’re just not serving up anything spectacular.
Drinking in a castle is pretty cool I suppose, and it certainly does make a change to car parks and PC World, so if you’re in the area don’t actively avoid this place, but I wouldn’t go out of the way for it.

I very much dislike this ‘castle’. Firstly, it is an utter eyesore on the landscape. Obviously St Phillip’s Causeway area isn’t the most beautiful in the city — but this makes it a whole lot worse.
No doubt there is some history behind it, but it looks like a prefab building with weird turrets, and it is pretty much slap bang in the middle of Sainsbury’s carpark. How odd.
Inside isn’t even quirky — I was sad to discover. Instead it is like a chain pub and the food is basically something or something with chips. The selection of beer is bog standard lager and the clientele seem like bog standard lager drinkers (nowt wrong with that, but just giving you an honest impression). I will not be returning.

A strange looking place on the outside. Looks like someone tried to knock up a prefab castle as some kind of DIY project. I was quite surprised when I heard it is actually quite an old building with a bit of history to it.
Inside, it’s just another of those pine laden characterless eateries. Nothing to wrote home about really. Next door to Sainsburys, which is good for the shopping I suppose.

The Black Castle pub, is one of those unique establishments in that what you see outside is not conveyed in the inside of the place. The Bars are modern well staffed and stocked with plenty of alcohol. The Food is decent enough pub food, its type of establishment you go to watch a game with the lads, grab a game pool afterwards and enjoy yourself. The toilet facilities are decent enough with plenty of parking with a large Sainsburys car park accompanying it.