The Castle

We were introduced to this place by our friend who comes here every weekend and we are so happy we got to experience this place! We drove over 3 hours and we got to party at the best goth club I’ve ever been to. The music and vibes here are awesome and there are so many cool people to meet and dance with. There is even a whipping station as well as two bars.

i have been going to the castle for almost a year now. it is my favorite place ever and i drive two hours every weekend and it’s worth it. first, it’s one of the cheapest clubs i’ve been to. $12 to get in is great. the line moves pretty fast and i’m glad there are two lines so it goes by quicker. the security are also amazing because i have never seen an incident in here. i enjoy all the music and different rooms however i wish they would switch the downstairs music up a little bit. when i went almost a year ago they would play emo or goth music, or throwbacks and now its just pop or the trending songs. also the stamping system should be better because one time i almost couldn’t get back in because the lady didn’t fully stamp me. other than that best club ever full of diversity and i love everyone here 🖤

Honestly one of the most unique clubs Ive ever been to. The place seemed plucked from a vampire coven with grunge rock to match. Be aware, however, that the dress code is quite literally unorthodox. The only real negative I could point to is the lack of dividers for urinals and inadequate privacy for stalls.

I went here with some friends as the DD person. This is a very popular location, so prepare for it to be very busy and packed all night. It's definitely an alt club- with adult entertainment, especially upstairs. A lot of people enjoyed that as a feature. There were a ton of different kinds of people there with a lot of different outfits and styles. Very diverse which was great to see. There was a great energy and vibe there. To get inside, it is *cash only*- so be prepared to pay the cover charge in cash, and have your ID ready. I brought soft earplugs- because it was very loud- id recommend this if you have sensitivity to loud noises like I do. There are 3 different bars inside- but I'm not sure of the prices or the kind of drinks they have, and I don't know the prices. They did have bottled water. I did see an atm on the second floor but it was out of service. Upstairs was playing EDM/Techno, and downstairs was playing more mainstream clubbing music. Each floor had places to sit and rest or placs to put your drink. It also had some really interesting erotic style artwork as well. I think the first floor was smoking friendly. The staff was great at keeping people moving so that walkways didn't get crowded. I never felt unsafe while I was there. Parking was rough- but that's not something I'd knock stars off of the club for. It gets really busy in that area- and there are a lot of bars, restaurants and night clubs, so be prepared to spend 10-20 minutes finding a spot.

If you want to wander into a dreamscape straight out of a dark gothic storybook, The Castle is the perfect place to lose yourself to the romanticized notions of another world. 🖤🌹 I've always found it as a haven for self-expression and inclusivity that welcomes everyone, no matter who you are or how you dress. I've always felt safe, celebrated, and surrounded by a diverse, accepting community. Find yourself with my personal favorite bartender Bert, upstairs in the red room.🌹 Be warned, as many find The Castle also their haven, the lines are long to get in and sometimes getting drinks.🍸

I LOVED IT HERE. First time to a club and it was so cool. The upstairs music was more like rave music and (I have no clue how to dance to that) but downstairs they play music you can dance to more. like they played shut up and dance. Me and my friends danced all night and it was GREAT. They have a stripper pole downstairs too and it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use one the people around you will cheer you on. It was really cool 10/10 would recommend. Great crowd. I didn’t know how to dress goth and just dressed up in a black dress and fit right in. I’m DEFINITELY going back again

For the 30 minutes I was inside, very cool fun atmosphere. One of my friends who was 21+ went to get whipped and handed me his empty drink so it wouldn’t get spiked or anything. Im 20, and got kicked out moments later for holding his drink, couldn’t explain myself, couldn’t tell my friends what happened. the guy who walked me out also said i could maybe come back in in an hour and that was a complete lie. really cool vibes in there, wish i could’ve stayed for longer :/

I was a regular here and typically loved this place. However, after spending a lot of time thinking on it, I feel it would be irresponsible of me to not write my experience as a warning to others coming to this place. I came here one night to celebrate my birthday (with a sash!), and an old man in a leather trench coat and captain’s hat sexually harassed me and started smacking my rear without consent or any prior contact. When I brought this up to security, they refused to, no, said that they COULDN’T do anything because “he’s a regular”. I’m not sure what kind of policies these employees are being upheld to, but that sounds like an awful way to conduct business in what should be a safe place for the alternative. If you’re looking to burn $10 and risk being a target for their “regulars”, then this is the place for you! Certainly an unforgettable birthday experience.

Loved it. Super cool theme, drinks were cheap, and they started playing Deftones so I can't hate. Did get super hot on the lower level, but I was having a blast so it didn't bother me much. Gotta visit this if you're into the whole spooky aesthetic

We went to the Castle for the Vampire Ball, and it was an endless night of wonderment, especially in the VIP room. While it first started as a small bar, it has grown into an epic party palace with groovy DJs. We picked up drinks at the VIP bar for most of the night, but you can also order from other bars in the saloon and the Main Room dance hall. There are many areas to hang out, but it can be a challenge when it's a big event with the crowds coming in droves. For the Vampire Ball, everyone was dressed accordingly, but it was pretty hot and stuffy wearing the regalia when it's wall-to-wall with people. If you had VIP passes like we did, ordering drinks wasn't too terrible, but you did wait a few minutes to reach the front of the queue. If you didn't have VIP, it could be a challenge based on which bar you were closest to ordering at. Overall, the Castle was fun, especially with the Endless Night Vampire Ball. You get to live your best self, so long as your makeup doesn't run too much.

I've been a regular at The Castle for a while, but after what happened recently, I don't feel safe or respected here anymore. I was kicked out without reason and falsely accused of being sick in the bathroom--something that simply did not happen. What's worse is that the interaction felt racially charged and handled with zero tact or empathy. There was no attempt to verify the situation or even speak to me respectfully. It was as if a decision had already been made based on assumptions--not facts. For a place that claims to be inclusive and part of an open-minded community, this experience was the exact opposite. It's painful when somewhere you've supported so often chooses to treat loyal guests with such blatant disregard. I hope this review sparks reflection on how patrons--especially patrons of color--are being treated at this establishment.

Awesome Vibes , rock on cool kids. this was great went with my wife and got to live out my rock and roll raver dreams. will be coming back thank you the castle ybor !!!

The preeminent goth club in Florida. 4 different bars inside, a massive dance floor, always different events, stripper poles, a rack with "professional" doms, everything you could ask for. Always a fun party vibe, with tons of place to dance, talk, chit chat, sit, and just show off your best goth wear. The drinks are always very well priced. If I had any complaints at all it's that sometimes security seems a little lost especially when the "popped collar crew" starts to flood in. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Super weird place. Always down for a good time, here wasn't it. Ppl doing snow everywhere and super rude staff. Music wasn't the great either. Felt like a demonic sex club.

Love this place. My husband and I will go again when visiting Tampa. We went on Friday and Saturday cause we loved it so much. I wish I lived in Tampa cause I would work there and be the spank-the-butt woman.

This is amazing club to have really gold time. People are very nice no one is rude, I've been here couple times and I've not seen anyone causing any problems. Best thing is no one will judge anyone everyone is welcomed here.

I love the ambiance of this place. It's like partying in Dracula's castle. I came on a goth night. Music was banging, and I had a lot of fun. There were two dance floors, one upstairs and one outside. I wasn't sure what the rules were in relation to the people being flogged, but they seemed like they were having a good time. I think the person doing the spanking worked for The Castle? Maybe it's a liability thing. Were drinks overpriced? Yes. But you'd be hard pressed to find a club in Ybor that doesn't have that.

Beware if u open a tab they ask for your ID. That's too much personal info they have for me to feel comfortable. Staff is rude

Love Castle. It's especially fun during Gasperilla. Very inclusive crowd :) drinks are cheap!

Upon moving to Tampa, I heard many stories about having to "check out the Castle." While I am super into dark, unique experiences - the Castle was nothing short of that. We decided to check it out around 11PM on a Saturday night. We arrived at the Castle with a short line to get into the entrance. While we waited, we took in the detail of the building itself and the outfits of people walking into the establishment. I was super into the vibe that this place was giving off. When officially getting into the building, we realized there was somewhat of a hefty cover charge. For me, at 32, I normally am not one to pay a cover to go into a bar, but I figured since it was an experience - I might as well. We were a little shocked at how much cover was that night and likely won't pay it again to visit unless it is to allow someone else to enjoy the same experience. We quickly went up to the bar and ordered a few drinks which were EXTREMELY strong. I mean, straight vodka. I wasn't complaining, because..why would you? The decor in the place was very gothic, dark, creepy. i LOVED it. While this is not normally my scene, I definitely think it is a great place for people to go to express themselves. It allows everyone to be welcomed no matter what and that, to me, is pretty cool. We went upstairs to an area of gothic music. It was a little loud for my liking, so when we finished our drinks we left. Kudos to the owners of the Castle for making this place a well known and well liked club around Tampa!

Ugh. I can't say enough of this place ! This place was amazing! So much fun! There is an entry fee tho. I've been twice, the first time I went through the street door it was $25 and the second time I went I entered through the side and it was $10. Drinks are a bit pricy but then again. What club isn't? Do watch out for how bartenders will charge you differently on each level. The lower level charged me $2 more for a drink then the top

Went for one of their 80's Video Nights, and I'm kicking myself in the ass for NOT going any sooner! The decor and vibes of this club were some of the best, I truly felt like I was in a Gothic version of heaven when I walked into the club and into main Dungeon. The crowd was also amazing too, felt like i finally found my long lost family in there (hell i saw someone willingly let someone play with their ass pretty much adter giving em some money), and if you bumped into someone all you do is apologize and make sure you didn't spill their drink lmao. Yes there were people being whipped there, but I will not be ashamed to admit that I tried and LIKED it. Fair warning about that section though, it attracts a crowd of people watching you, so if you're not into other people watching you, I'd recommend skipping it, but if you're willing to experiment while being watched I'd recommend it. Upstairs primarily plays a lot of electronic/dark dance music and on that particular night, downstairs played 80's new wave-esque music videos. Since I went on a Friday too, it was also during their iconic Midnight Mass night, so the place was definitely packed during the night! Cover was $10, but it's cash only, however they do have an ATM available on site if you need to pull some cash. Since I wasn't sure if cash only covers are standard in clubs (this is the first one ever been to) this isn't counting against the review score. Definitely a must-visit if you're into the gothic culture or if you're looking for something just a LITTLE bit different to your typical nightclub. Definitely making it a point to go there more often to have a GREAT time!

Was visiting Tampa and found this place in Ybor city. I had so much fun here. The entrance is $10 per person cash only. If it's your birthday you go in for free :) It is from 10:30pm-3:00am The line is long but it's okay. There's plenty of room inside the castle. You can dress up in fun costumes. Halloween all year round sounds amazing. Wish the DMV had a place like the castle!

i would give 0 stars if i could, they gave up on playing any emo/goth/halloween music, for halloween they had a halloween 2000s horror party playlist and played charlie xcx and all i want for Christmas, they need to get rid off all of their djs and put people who actually know their audience. we asked them to play anything emo and the next song was hot to go :|

This is the only club my friends and I will go to, because there are simply no other clubs in Tampa that can compete. There are so many rooms with different themes and purposes, it makes the experience feel like an adventure. The staff is always courteous and I feel not only that they want me there, but that they want to be there too. The people who go are friendly, easy to talk to, and eager for interesting conversation. The cover is a little expensive but I'd rather pay a few extra dollars for a night full of guaranteed fun.

Had a terrible experience at The Castle. I was denied entrance to the bathroom by a security guard. Apparently his job was to stand in front of the bathroom and decide who has the correct genitalia to enter. In all the years I have lived out as a trans woman, this had never happened to me until that night. I doubt anyone really cares that much.. it's sad.

The club was fun but the bartender had an attitude and on top of it when i gave my ID and credit card to open a tab, he lost my drivers license right before I had to fly back home. I don't understand how a drivers license just goes missing, but no one had answers for me. I couldn't get in touch with the club for help in any way before physically showing up the next evening to find out that my ID somehow vanished. I called multiple times, emailed, and messaged their Instagram. This was such an unbelievable mishap and it's quite unfortunate that nothing could be done for me even though this was not my fault and now because of a careless bartender, i have to deal with traveling without identification.

The setup of the club is cool. The music is good. The staff are horrifically rude and unprofessional: One seemingly drunken bartender cussed me out and demanded that I leave after I didn't tip him for a can of apple cider. Another time, I was rejected at the door because the women who checked my ID ( I am 21 and it's a real Maryland ID) said the photo looked blurry. It is illegal for businesses to claim a real ID is fake. They need to train their staff how to check IDs from other states. When I tried to tell her the ID was in fact real, the security shoved me out of the line and told me to "get out of here". What is this treatment????

Price is not bad at all, only $10-$12. Large space with variety of bars with differing levels of noise and intensity. Spacious dance floor. Castle is so aesthetically pleasing. Lots of cool bdsm dungeon stuff too if you're into that.

Walked in a boy came out a man. The drinks were so stiff you needed to be drunk to drink them (not a bad thing). Be prepared to see some crazy characters. I have no photos of that night and it shall stay that way.

Super fun place! Everyone can just be...no judgement. I highly recommend visiting when in Tampa

A must see place if your looking for nightlife in Tampa. Went night before Halloween and it was a blast. I personally think it's one of best night clubs in the area

Pretty sure their goal is to completely remove any bit of alternative left and turn this place into a tourist trap with Anime influence due to staff favor. They are completely unprofessional here. They need to wipe the entire staff and start over. Way too much of a power trip. This place is dead compared to 10 years ago. I would no longer label this as a goth club other than the attempt of decor and Dj's.

The best club in Tampa! The vibe is very Tool/ Nine Inch Nails + EDM but no worries-- everything is still amazing even if the music and the ambiance is different than your normal taste. The service here is superb - only $6 cover only. $6 vodka and soda with quality dear Eddy vodka and not watered down. Come here for good times. No creepy dudes and everyone was chill.

The Castle is an Ybor City institution for all things Goth, punk and New Wave. I went here in my 20's and well, I'm in my 40's so... yeah its been here forever. It's an imposing structure filled with loud music. Dark moody lighting and bars that help you get into the feel of things. The Castle consists of 5 rooms, on two floors: The Saloon, the Tower, the Courtyard, the Main hall and the Dungeon. Each has it's own look and feel, each providing it's own.. take on the place. And there's the grand staircase, because that's how you traverse between the two floors. Themed entertainment can be found on certain nights. The night I recently visited was the "Steampunk Ball". Normally I wouldn't go out to the Castle on a Saturday, but one of my friends, and Steampunk Royalty was in town, and he asked me to show my face, so dutifully I went. And so did a lot of other people, including Makers and crafters alike. There were so many creative souls in the place, that had tragedy struck, Tampa might well have been left a barren wasteland bereft of any beauty because it would have all been left in the rubble of the castle. You can find their regular night list - their current theme nights on their website, thecastle.com. A couple of nights to look forward to would be StarWars night where you can bring out your inner Jedi or maybe your inner Jawa (I think that would be awesome to see) and of course the Half way to Halloween party on May 14, which has become a Tampa ritual for those of us in the Halloween industry as a benchmark because we don't get to play with everyone else, so we claim this day.

Had a lot of fun! Enjoyed the different dance floors, nice big bars, friendly bartenders, the decor was great

This is a place to be free. A place to leave your inhibitions at the door. Whether you're there for people watching or losing yourself on the dance floor, it's worth experiencing. I love places that encourage freedom of expression and individuality.

This is the absolute best goth/industrial club in the country, even compared to the clubs in places like Los Angeles (and I've been all over the place). Unique in its ambiance, The Castle is housed in an old Cigar Worker's Union hall that literally was built to look like a castle (complete with stained-glass windows), and the club, which and which has been around since the 90s is one of the few places in the US that still has the original vibe and decor. I grew up in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area and experienced the SF scene in the 90s, and The Castle reminds me of the clubs from way back in the day - there was a particular "magic" that anyone who was there remember (where you entered a world separate and different from the outside world), and though things have changed considerably, I do feel like The Castle has a bit of that quality of being a "sanctuary." Whether it's on the main dance floor or outdoor patio, covered in tropical plants, I always have a good time. (Sadly, the huge multi-stemmed tropical tree that was in the patio fell over in the hurricane, but the staff seem to have done their best to maintain the same atmosphere). The music is one of the high points. Whether it's death rock or post punk or other random things/music videos outside or the typical industro-rave on the main dancefloor, I hear things that I almost never hear anywhere else. DJ Tom Gold in particular does a great job of spinning some of the most cutting edge industrial/aggrotech/harsh EBM from the last 3 years (from around the world). I was also impressed by the security and the whole way the place was run. The very first time I went, some drunk mainstream guy started haggling me, and security jumped in and dragged him off without me even having to say a word. They do a good job at creating a safe space where everyone can have good time (whether you're a goth or rivethead or just enjoy the music). As a plus, this is one of the only clubs in the county that is just a goth/industrial club, where they actually own the building, and it's open on every Friday and Saturday night. There aren't enough good things I can say about The Castle. If only they could stay open all night (but local laws require them to close at 3 AM). I would probably keep dancing!

I just keep calling and calling and no one ever answers. Idk if it's because it's a gay bar thing in Tampa Florida and st Pete or it's because they're closed. I'm a 30min and so I'd really like to have anyone come up and tell me that it's open during this covid situation rn. I'll change my score when someone actually picks up the phone or messages back from the club

Reggie's customer service hurts my heart. I've been to the castle every Friday night for the past 2 years. He shines his flashlight in my face telling me to " move along" without any regard to how I feel or anybody behind me. He's mean. I can't find any other word in my extensive vocabulary but mean. REGGIE " guy with goggles on his head" stands in the doorway upstairs at the castle has made my experience there unhappy. The ladies that work in the bathroom think he's mean as well as most Of the bartenders. Proof is in the pudding......Reggie needs WAY more customer service training .. my friends come out from across the state and country and can't Believe how horrid he is to them

Usually I love going here but tonight a staff member threw a hard object at me to get my attention to move from the stairwell. I couldn't hear her cuz it's a loud club nor did I feel I was in the way since I wasn't directly on the steps so I'd didn't think much of it. But for her to throw whatever she threw at me over the balcony from the bathroom was WAY OUT OF LINE! I could've gotten hit in the eye since it came just that close to my face nd that would've been a MAJOR lawsuit agents that club dude to that staff member not simple walking up to me to tell me to move or send security to tell me. Great place but some employees need to be put in check.

-WARNING! ADULT CONTENT- What an interesting club! They hold many themed parties at this location. This weekend was Superhero/villain fetish night. The club has two floors with 4 bars, 2 on each floor. The castle is comprised of different rooms holding different purposes. There is an outside dance floor and two large stages inside, one on each floor. Their is a private sitting room with a pole for adult entertainment. It is available for anyone to dance on. Throughout the castle were plenty of activities to get your blood flowing. There were plenty of people there to talk to and share stories/interest with. It's enjoyable to exit the normal routine lifestyle from time to time and try new things. I went out of my comfort zone and had a wonderful time! Great place to meet other people with similar interests and try something new!

Denied my ID despite it being real. They literally don't know what they're doing at the front

My favorite place to dance. This place really is like no other. The building is beautiful, the drinks are generous, the vibes are welcoming, the gogo dancers are so pretty in their outfits, and the music is always great. Been visiting here since 2012

I've recently moved to this area and really loved this place. Three different rooms with different music in each room. An outdoor room that was really cool. Great atmosphere, and for the most part a great place to just dance and enjoy the music without being bothered. For the most part I say, because at one point in the night I was trying to enjoy dancing in the outdoor section in my own little spot I procured on the dance floor, when this clearly intoxicated woman kept "aggressively" dancing towards me; she would dance in one spot away from me, but then kind of dance in a line right up to me, purposely bumping into me, stay in that spot for a bit right on top of me, then line dance her way about 10 feet back to her original spot, stay there for a minute or two and then come back dancing down her 10 foot line back into me. I mean, who does that? In a busy club with a full dance floor? Clearly someone who was over served. But other than that, the place was great and the night was enjoyable. I will go back, and hopefully line dancing drunk girl will not be there next time lol.

I was there for my birthday/Halloween weekend for my 21st!! It was an absolutely amazing experience my mother decided to take me because she was there in the 90's. I am definitely coming back!!

Cool place but the service at the bars suck. Rude staff upstairs. Cool space though, the outdoor area was really nice

One of the last original 'goth' clubs left on earth. Simply iconic. Probably one of the most underrated places ever. Normies stay away.

Such a unique experience. Really cool however it's extremely busy and almost impossible to get a drink

Went here with a couple friends for Halloween. We came at 2:30 am and they charged us the full $20 cover. The bartender did last call as we went upstairs. Zero stars would be better.

Honestly 10/10 experience. Yeah I saw a whipping didn't love it. Did it ruin the night? No.

Wish there was a club like this in Miami. The music was. Ranged from goth, industrial, & depeche mode retro. The building spot is huge. Has several rooms. The main room is so cool goth. The decore looks like church/castle. Loved it.

This place is a Tampa institution for alternative subcultures. If you live in Tampa and have not been here to get your dose of subculture education, then shame on you. I have been involved in the Goth scene for over 17 years (yes I am getting old), and it is not just a phase for most people. I have been coming here on and off for over 13 years now. The Castle is one of the most highly regarded clubs in America as far as the Gothic Rock and Industrial scene go. You can come here to hear the latest music from both genres as well as see some of the most beautiful people outside of New York City or Los Angeles. The main reason to come here is to listen/learn about music and dance. If people are looking to hook-up, dance in pairs, find drugs, or have bad behavior; then this is definitely not the place for you. Many people will find that just because someone dresses differently that they do not act that different. Sometimes it's the people that look normal that are the real freaks. There is an 80's night, a dance remix music night, an indie rock/electroclash night, a night for "Coffin Classics" (old school goth music), and an industrial night - something for almost anyone. The 80's night is also well known because they show the artists' videos on big screens as the music is playing on the dance floor, and some of the stuff they play is quite obscure. I mainly attend the Saturday night because the DJs spin industrial music upstairs, and I get drinks in the smaller upstairs room. There are really good mixed drinks for $3.00. I have not purchased drinks at the downstairs bar yet, but on Saturdays they spin 1990's Industrial and Darkwave on the back patio. It is a great place to get away from the smoke and reminisce about the 90's. The cover is usually under $10.00, unless it is a special event. Check their website for details on event nights. The drinks can be expensive in the main dance room and there is a lack of good service, but the smaller second upstairs bar has some great mixed drink specials. Some of the patrons might act stuck up at first, but they will warm up to you eventually, especially if you attend often. There is also a slew of stupid people that have glowsticks and bump into you, but you will find that anywhere at a non-dress code type club. There are also many "normal" or "plain dressed" jeans and T-shirt type people that just go there to look at everyone and laugh, but they find out eventually that it is pretty cool and that vampires really don't exist. There are also some older fetish type people wearing stuff that is not so flattering, but I give them props for their confidence. People watching is not a crime at The Castle and there is no dress code, so come as you are and learn something new about music, culture, dancing, and fashion.

ahhhh - The Castle. Gothic/Electro/Industrial/House heaven. I hadn't thought to review this place for some reason, but then I saw Kelleigh M.'s ROTD for this long-running establishment today, and thought to myself, "Why not?" I started shakin' my groove thing here somewhere back in 1993, and never once have I had a bad experience. The atmosphere is always good, the beers are big as hell and the DJs are always playing good jams, especially on old school Mondays! So about a year ago I started going back to The Castle after what was probably a 10 year hiatus, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the place hadn't changed a bit. I hit up the Ramstein concert last April with my chica, and we hit The Castle afterwards. We ran into The man AKA The Senator AKA The Mayor and had a blast. Should I post the picture of my girl slapping his ass to prove it? LOL - probably not. But we've been going pretty regularly since. Out-of-towners, heed my word; you want this notch on your travel belt!

I dragged my friend Elena out to play so I could get my first experience of Tampa nightlife. When it comes to going out, I like to stick to goth clubs, gay bars, and places that have a wide variety of music and a "come as you are" feel. None of the pretentious BS and I don't have to hear that one song about the Apple bottom jeans and the boots with the fur. So Castle it was. We noticed almost no one was dancing (one dude was stompin around alone and there was a kid with glowsticks). I'm paranoid about looking like a jackass so I wait until things get a little busier. I like to people watch so all is good. 95% of the clientele that night fit into the two categories: "I'm 16 but I have a fake ID and shop exclusively at hot topic. I'm so rebellious and gawthic! Look at my Tripp pants, fishnet shirt, and trench-coat with buckles!" and older people hanging at the bar drinking alone, not talking to other people. The remaining 5% accounts for people who wandered in mistakenly and didn't fit in. I like the "goth" music scene - industrial, synth pop, whatever. Some of it is kind of -eh- but that's how all genres go. I've gone to goth/alt clubs in south Florida and loved everything the DJs played. Whoever was DJing the night I went sucked for 80% of the music choices and lineup (really fast tempo to slooow to slooow to mid tempo). I can understand music that is more in tune with interpretive dance (i.e. super slow chillout-esque) being played in a lounge type place, but there's a huge dancefloor! Play stuff that you can at least dance to (or stomp to or the leaf waving in the wind thing that super skinny goth girls do- you know, the generic goth girl dancing crap). After an agreement with my friend of "if he doesn't play something good in the next 5 songs, we're leaving," we left. The people were dull and weren't into dancing or socializing (something that was ALWAYS big at the goth places I have been to). I'm used to friendly goths that at least make eye contact and don't live in their little clique. I saw more people txting on their cells by themselves or running around trying to "look cool" than anything. Where are the corsetted geishas, non-mainstream goths, and attractive (and fashionable!) gogo/burlesque girls that I miss so much? Not at castle. And then it hit me. I've never been to a goth club where people under 21 were a main portion of the clientele, let alone even allowed in (soFL is notorious for most places being 21+ just based on local laws). It felt like I was babysitting or something, so many kids running around. And I'm only 22! I wish the morgue in Miami still existed, but I'll survive with an occasional trip to Respectable's in West Palm. Not sure I'll ever stop by castle again, to be honest. Now get off my lawn, your pleather platform boots are messing up the grass.

The castle is a lot of fun. I went for the first time for their Halloween event and it gave me unrealistic expectations for my future visits. The place was packed and lively. My future visits have still been fun but the club has been pretty dead and the crowds much older. It is a fun place to go, especially during their events. Maybe check their facebook page before going to an event and see how much of a response they are getting for that specific event before heading out. Would recommend

I was just crying my eyes out with laughter reading the 1 star reviews. Like anyone cares!!! This is the best club in Tampa and it has been for 30 years. If you don't get that, you don't deserve to be there.