Standing outside the Black Castle, I feel like I’m about to board a rollercoaster ride—there’s something so contrived about the whole setup that it can’t be a real pub in a real castle. Well, it is, and it isn’t, so let’s delve into the story of Bristol’s oddest pub.
The entrance to the Black Castle is found in the car park of a large Sainsbury’s near Arno’s Vale, but actually predates both of those. A Grade I-listed building, the Brislington pub was built between 1745 and 55 in the shape of a castle, and was primarily used as stables for the Lord of the Manor.
While no one’s quite sure when it became a public house, it’s been owned by Greene King for over a decade now. With its own chapel, turrets and flag posts, in the Gothic Revival style, and made out of black slag from nearby mines, nearly 300 years later, it still stands out starkly—even beside its contemporaries, like Arnos Manor Hotel.
What’s the Black Castle like today?
Ignore the crenellations, archways, and that the beer garden is a bailey; the Black Castle is just like any other pub. Grab a pint and pull up a chair at the bar to watch live sports, or grab a bite to eat of pub-grub classics with the family—with burgers, steaks and flatbreads its specialities.
As you might imagine, the pub garden is one of the most spacious in Bristol, with seating in and out of the castle walls (although, we admit, the location can’t compete with others in the city). Inside, you’ll also find a CASHLESS pool table that will keep you entertained for hours.
Online reviews of the Black Castle are a mixed bag—some bemoan the quality, others laud the setting and atmosphere. At the end of the day, it is a Greene King pub; most of us should know what to expect when we hear that, but it’s also in a frickin’ castle, so at the very least, swing by for a pint after the weekly shop…
📍 Black Castle, St Philips Causeway, Arno’s Vale, Bristol BS4 3BD
🌐 To learn more about the Black Castle, head here.