Walmer Castle

3 Reviews on “Walmer Castle”

• Mihir

  Decent local pub. Nice beers on tap and comfortable seating. They have outside seating and are in a quieter part of town. So sitting outside is doable. The food whilst nothing special is decent. I often go to watch football and if hungry grab a bite. They have a few tvs dotted around the pub and one in a semi private area where one can sit with a group and writer eat. Or watch sports as the little area has its own TV.

  September 11, 2015, 7:21 pm

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• Iris

  The Walmer Castle is the kind of pub where I could sit for hours, slowly sipping on one drink and chatting with a friend, reluctant to ever leave. I could, and in fact, I have. Even at the busiest of nights, nestling on one of its big armchairs makes me feel sheltered, at peace. Tens of colourful blackboards, hanging from every wall, set the mood with lighthearted jokes about grub and booze: the type of banter Id expect from a friend if I went a little too wild after having one pint too many. The atmosphere alone would be enough to keep me coming back; add the fact that the Walmer Castle serves excellent food, and youll quickly understand why Im so fond of it.If youre expecting the praises of a selection of British classics, youre in for a surprise: the Walmer Castles speciality is Thai food, while standard pub fare is banished to the very last half page in the menu. My visits are usually driven by a mad craving for Pad Thai or red curry: I cant help but marvel at their perfect balance of flavours, and wish the Thai dishes I dabble in at home were half as good. As of last week, theres a new entry in my list of favourites: the Paenang curry, rather mild in spice, but pleasantly rich in sweet coconut milk and Thai basil. The coconut rice I ordered on the side was so sticky and sweet, it could have been a brilliant pudding; it took as little as half a bowl to fill me up, but I still couldnt get myself to put the fork down until the last grain was gone.I usually visit at lunchtime, when the ground floor bar is quiet enough to enjoy a leisurely sit-down meal, and finding a table is no hard task; on the other hand, the upstairs restaurant can get very busy in the evening. The two floors couldn’t be more different: the pubs look and feel is as classic as can be, while the dining room is a full-on Thai restaurant with a life of its own. Everything harks back to to the South-East of Asia: the furniture, the crockery, and even the Asian waiters, whom I never saw hanging about downstairs. Even so, the setting is far from formal, and attracts a more varied clientele than youd expect to see on the plush side of Notting Hill; the friendly, unobtrusive service suits special occasions, business dinners and relaxed everyday meals alike.Prices suit all pockets, just like the atmosphere suits all tastes. Most mains cost less than 10, and price differences between the lunch and dinner menu are minimal, the main one being that curries dont come with complimentary rice at the restaurant. Even factoring in an additional 3.20 for a bowl of rice, you can expect to spend less than 20 per head for a generous, fulfilling meal and throw in a drink too. Youll be hard-pressed to find a better bargain in the area: the Walmer Castle makes the best Thai food I had in Notting Hill, if not in the whole of London. Mark my words, for this isnt the last time youll hear me say them. whatevergetsyouthroughtheday.wordpress.com

  February 16, 2015, 12:39 am

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• Greg Stephenson

  I am only giving this a 3.5 because it is permanently busy, but the pub is a pleasure to drink in when you can find a space. It’s one of those places which seems to always be full of attractive people and the Thai restaurant upstairs is a great surprise. I am a regular to the restaurant as the Thai food is great for the price. Especially the Pad Thai

  December 26, 2014, 4:32 pm

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