Pub goes kosher in bid to attract Jewish community

by Josh Pettitt, reporter Saturday, December 31, 2011
12:12 PM

But traditional pub staples such as English breakfasts and Sunday lunches will hold their place on the menu – albeit as a kosher version.

A pub in Barnet has ushered in the New Year with the resolution of becoming a totally kosher establishment.

The Castle, which previously sold itself as north London’s “premier events venue”, has been awarded a kosher licence by the Federation.

Baileys has been removed from the bar at the Childs Hill establishment, the wine list overhauled and the local rabbi carried out and inspection of the pub’s liquid offerings as The Castle in Finchley Road waves goodbye to its image as a boozer and becomes a hub for the Jewish community.

But traditional pub staples such as English breakfasts and Sunday lunches will hold their place on the menu – albeit as a kosher version.

Head chef Ashley Josephs said: “We decided this would better serve the community around us and we’re going to be one of the few pubs this side of Israel to put on a kosher Sunday lunch.

“We’re really starting from scratch. All the food preparation will be supervised to make sure only natural ingredients are used and no foreign objects are being mixed in.

“We already have a large client base which we didn’t want to lose. But we have to adapt and at the same time we have to bring in the majority of the community around you.”

The pub will also stay open on the Sabbath but the management only plans on selling bar snacks.

Mr Josephs added that the pub had already taken bookings for “very large functions” and the pub is hoping on holding wedding receptions.