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History: Home > 26 Furnival Street (formerly The Castle)
26 Furnival Street (formerly The Castle) (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Sawbridgeworth - Mead Mild |  | 1 |
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | | 1 |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow Hammer |  | 1 |
| Wrekin (formerly Ironbridge) - Dbl Simcoe | | 1 |
| Crouch Vale - Sladek | | 1 |
| Cross Bay - Halo | | 1 |
| Spitting Feathers - Autumn Smoked Ale | | 1 |
| North Yorkshire - Summer Ale |  | 1 |
| Bryson's Brews - Westmoreland Bitter | | 1 |
| Fellows - Crafty Fellow | | 1 |
| S43 (formerly Sonnet 43) - India Pale Ale |  | 1 |
| Clark's (sometimes shown as Westgate Brewery) - No Angel | | 1 |
| Harwich Town - Parkeston Porter | | 1 |
| Great Orme - Merlyn | | 1 |
| Mr Grundy's - The Red Baron | | 1 |
| Tower - Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Jurassic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nook - Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Flack Manor - Flack's Double Drop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Andwell - Resolute Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Itchen Valley - Red Car Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Itchen Valley - Rudolph | Not Tried | 0 |
| Joseph Holt (see also Holt's) - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Umbel Ale (aka Special Coriander Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hidden - Pint | Not Tried | 0 |
| B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Shefford Dark Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thwaites - Good Elf | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wentworth - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Redcar Best Bitter (aka Nethergate 3.9) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cross Bay - Nightfall | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Old Flame | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eastwood & Sanders - Beyond The Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moles - Rucking Mole | Not Tried | 0 |
| Moorhouse's - Premier Bitter (was 3.8%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buffy's - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lemon Head | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burton Bridge - Sovereign Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale - Red Kite (superseded by 4.3% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| S43 (formerly Sonnet 43) - Blonde Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - Silver King | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
25 Jun 2013 (Stephen Harris)
I came here to meet my friend Medium Sized Colin (the artist formerly known as Big Colin) only to find that he had already moved on. It must be more than coincidence that I always seem to get a ropey pint here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S43 (formerly Sonnet 43) - India Pale Ale | 4.40 | | Impossible to properly describe or rate the flavour. It was sour, on the turn and with the first whiff of vinegar. I can only say ‘poor’. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Moles - Rucking Mole | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Best Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Lemon Head | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Vale - Red Kite (superseded by 4.3% version) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Itchen Valley - Red Car Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| S43 (formerly Sonnet 43) - Blonde Beer | 4.10 | Not Tried |
28 Jan 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Late afternoon visit and the pub is fairly quiet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harwich Town - Parkeston Porter | 4.50 | | Ouch, this was horrible. Cold, thin, very fruity, tangy and a slight nose of vinegar – i.e., it was on the turn. Some underlying roastiness. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Umbel Ale (aka Special Coriander Ale) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| B&T (Banks & Taylor's) - Shefford Dark Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wentworth - Best Bitter | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Cross Bay - Nightfall | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Itchen Valley - Red Car Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Old Flame | 3.50 | Not Tried |
08 Jan 2013 (Martin the Mildman)
Fairly quiet mid evening on a Tuesday, was able to find a perch near the bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Bay - Halo | 3.60 | | Pale malty bitter with biscuity malt dominating but with some fruity hop in the finish. My score 15/20. |
| Mr Grundy's - The Red Baron | 4.20 | | Dominated by a harsh dry, yeasty and malty flavour. Little hop to counteract the dry malt. Rather unbalanced and not to my taste. My score 9/20. |
11 Sep 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy but found a corner to sample the beers and make notes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrekin (formerly Ironbridge) - Dbl Simcoe | 4.80 | | Pale strong bitter with quite a sweet, fruity inital flavour. Full bodied with the finish of a citrus fruit cordial. My score 15/20. |
| North Yorkshire - Summer Ale | 4.00 | | Shown as 3.8% on pumpclip, this was a very pale bitter with moderate bitterness and a little sharp hoppiness. Rather dry finish. My score 14/20. |
14 Jun 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Busy with the Euro football on the TV.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fellows - Crafty Fellow | 4.00 | | Very pale bitter with a dry, bitter flavour without being particularly hoppy. Dry, bitter finish. My score 14/20. |
22 Dec 2011 (Stephen Harris)
Very busy with pre-Christmas drinkers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spitting Feathers - Autumn Smoked Ale | 4.50 | | Brown beer with definate smokey flavour. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Silver King | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Jurassic | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Nook - Red | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Flack Manor - Flack's Double Drop | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Andwell - Resolute Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Itchen Valley - Red Car Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | House beer, now brewed by Itchen Valley (formerly by Nethergate). |
| Itchen Valley - Rudolph | 3.80 | Not Tried |
06 May 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Rather quiet for a Thursday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crouch Vale - Sladek | 4.10 | | Golden bitter brewed with a new Czech hop which imparts a fruity, citrussy character. My score 15/20. |
09 Mar 2010 (Martin the Mildman)
Farily quiet mid evening on a Tuesday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawbridgeworth - Mead Mild | 3.40 | | Excellent smooth, malty and low hopped brown mild. My score 16/20. |
19 Feb 2009 (Ian)
Handfull of people in. London appears to be either being dug up or recently resurfaced. This area was being dug up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower - Pale Ale | 4.80 | | Advertised on a type written unbranded pump clip as a traditional IPA. Copper, thin white head. Oh dear, this isn't good either. Some butter toffee, some vague spritzey hop on finish. Aroma is terrible, a chemical edge to it. Thinnish in mouth. Finish has a bit of a buttery tingle to it. Poor. |
| Clark's (sometimes shown as Westgate Brewery) - No Angel | 4.00 | | Copper brown colour, slight haze, disappearing head. It's a not very good bitter, some fruit malt, some tingle on the finish. Aroma is musty and poor, not fully attenuated I'd say. |
| Triple fff - Alton's Pride | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Eastwood & Sanders - Beyond The Pale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Moorhouse's - Premier Bitter (was 3.8%) | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Buffy's - Bitter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Redcar Best Bitter (aka Nethergate 3.9) | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Burton Bridge - Sovereign Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried |
10 Dec 2008 (Ian)
It was quiet and nice to have a chat with the new landlord who wants to have a range of ABV beers in. I sat by the window and watched people working in the offices opposite and dashing around.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | 4.80 | | Decent dark ale. Nice hop throughout too, on top of choc, dates, prunes flavours. Great condition. This is good. Nice sourish fruit edge to it. |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Yellow Hammer | 4.20 | | Pale gold, thin white head. Solid blond ale, perfumed rose petal lemony citrusy beer. OK condition. Good nettle, nice sherbert nettle. |
| Bryson's Brews - Westmoreland Bitter | 3.60 | | Yeasty bitter, yeast dominates throughout |
| Great Orme - Merlyn | 5.00 | | Diacetyl. Some heat from the alcohol on finish, but too buttery for me. |
| Joseph Holt (see also Holt's) - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hidden - Pint | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thwaites - Good Elf | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Redcar Best Bitter (aka Nethergate 3.9) | 3.90 | Not Tried |
About the 26 Furnival Street (formerly The Castle)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 5 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 7 |
The pub is found in Chancery Lane, Central London, EC4A 1JS.
Corner pub off Holborn/Chancery Lane. Dark wood, dark red and cream walls decorate a single room. Bar has 8 handpulls, but 10 micros available are promised soon. A couple of regular beers, but plenty of guest beers with a "Coming Soon" chalkboard. Reasonably priced sandwiches available at lunchtime. Large windows give a more open feel. ** Closed in April 2015 for conversion into an hotel. ** Re-opened with a new operator with change of name in late 2018 (was Red Car).
We have visited this pub 12 times, seen 53 different beers and tried 27 of them.
Postcode: EC4A 1JS