An oasis that offers welcome comfort in the concrete desert of North Acton.

The Venue
Workers who staff the uninspiring office blocks of Park Royal have little in the way of entertainment: a Tesco Metro, two cafes and this pub. Considering that websites and guidebooks that are devoted to recommending exciting things to do in London have a blank space for this area, it isn’t surprising that The Castle does well. It is perhaps more surprising that it treats its captive audience so well.

The exterior stands out on the bleak landscape. An attractive period standalone building is a sprawling example of a pub that almost looks like a castle and beckons you inward. The decor inside is kept traditional with plenty of wooden finishes and simple hewn tables and chairs. The bar acts as a centerpiece – a large corner-straddling bar made of heavy woods and gleaming with a large range of draught beers. It’s pleasantly surrounded by black and white tiling on the floor surrounding it and is definitely eye-catching, especially when you’re gasping for a pint. There are also two big screens and a couple of fruit machines should you get bored. A nice addition is a covered patio area and a beer garden, which is usually packed in the summer months.

The Atmosphere
As a result of the largely industrial area it’s stuck in, The Castle is packed at lunchtimes and evenings and is pretty much dead at weekends. The clientele comprises workers on lunch, workers after work and workers bunking off in the afternoon. There are a fair amount of ‘client meetings’ that go on here in the afternoons, but otherwise it’s generally a place to sit with work colleagues and have a laugh.

The Food
Much improved in recent months after the arrival of a new chef, food at The Castle is more than just functional and filling. Hot baguettes (from £5.25), assorted burgers including a delicious homemade steak burger with goat’s cheese and caramelised onions (£5.95), and pasta and spicy meatballs (£6.95) are lunchtime staples, whilst the beer-battered fish and chips (£6.75) is a filling and tasty supper. The chips are particularly good here with a pleasant golden-brown crunch on the outside covering the fluffy, almost creamy potato within.

The Drink
This pub does a fine selection of beer and ale. Three of the permanent favourites are London Pride, ESB and Honey Dew all at well under £3.50 a pint. There’s also Fuller's popular London Porter in bottles for £3.25. Lagers on tap go from the cheapest Carling (£3.10 a pint) to the most expensive Staropramen (£3.50) with Grolsch, Stella and Becks in the middle. The pub doesn’t offer Corona instead opting for Sol, a similar fruity Mexican brew. Wine drinkers can choose from a basic list, which starts with house red and whites - both La Vista Chilean table wine - at £3 a glass.

The Last Word
Being the best pub in the area isn’t hard when you’re one of the only pubs in the area but The Castle tries hard to build its reputation on more than just chance - and succeeds.

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