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1st Castle Motorcycle Training

1st Castle Motorcycle Training

5.0(855 reviews)See reviews ↓·Portsmouth

About the company

1st Castle Motorcycle Training was set up in 1974. The business changed hands in June 2019. All instructors are fully certified by the DVSA. The company provides motorcycle training courses including CBT, DAS, Progressive Access, ERS, Back to Bikes, and advanced courses.

What customers say

Based on genuine customer reviews

Novice riders and returning motorcyclists alike describe their days here as well organised and genuinely enjoyable, with the compulsory basic training, back-to-biking courses and direct access preparation all singled out for praise. Instructors are repeatedly commended for patience, clarity of explanation and the knack of adapting their teaching to widely differing abilities, whether someone has never touched a bike or is climbing back on after four decades. Sam, Darren, Matthew and Terri appear by name, credited with building confidence, keeping the mood light and guiding learners through slow control, mock junctions and the supervised ride out on the road.

Reviewers mention that the motorcycles and safety kit provided were in good order, and that the timetable covered everything needed without feeling hurried. An observation shared by more than one reviewer is the relaxed, supportive atmosphere, where mistakes are treated as part of learning and nervous starters settle quickly. Prompt replies to enquiries and swift booking are noted as strengths, while the practical outcome of riding confidently in heavy traffic, including one rider's preparation for a long trip abroad, is held up as proof that the instruction works. Fair value for the money spent rounds off the recurring themes.

1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo
1st Castle Motorcycle Training — Customer photo

Reviews

Reviews are taken from publicly available sources.

SW
Sheldon Wibberley29 July 2026

Today, I completed my CBT with 1st Castle and had a great experience. Terri was really responsive and informative, answering all my questions and getting me booked in quickly. Sam was a friendly, knowledgeable instructor who adapted his teaching well to suit everyone’s different abilities during the morning sessions. Darren was excellent too, taking us through the final modules and out on the road despite the hot weather. A professional, well-run team from start to finish and excited to complete my DAS course in the near future – highly recommended!

AZ
Alex Zaharia24 July 2026

I had a fantastic experience with 1st Castle Motorcycle Training. A huge thank you to Darren, Matt and Terry for their patience, encouragement and expert instruction throughout the training. Their knowledge and experience really helped us build our confidence, develop safe riding habits and feel comfortable getting out on the roads. They created a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, making the whole experience enjoyable from start to finish. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to learn to ride safely and confidently. Thanks again, and see you soon. 👏🏼👏🏼🔝🏍️🛵

EH
Ed Hypher22 July 2026

Completed my CBT & DAS course here at 1st castle. I do not have enough words to explain how much I love this place. I will start by saying that the instructors here are second to none - they love what they do and heavily invest themselves in you. You do really feel part of a family here. Booking the DAS course was made a breeze via Terri’s competence. I enquired about the course and was pretty much immediately sent back all the information that I needed. I also only had to wait 1 month after booking it which was amazing! Throughout the course, Todd was my instructor. This man deserves HUGE praise! He is one of the nicest people I have ever met and he educated me in so many different aspects of riding. I ended up passing both MOD 1 & MOD 2 first time with 1 minor across both tests - I owe him massive thanks for quickly getting me up to a standard where that was made possible. He truly the gold standard. I would also like to thank Sam & Bryan too! Two top guys! Despite having gained my full license now, I can’t help but feel slightly sad that it’s all over as I had the most amazing, unforgettable experience there. If you are thinking about any motorcycle training then please do not even think twice, this is the place you have to go to. Thanks again to everyone at 1st castle!❤️

LP
Liam Peppard1 July 2026

I completed my CBT a few Fridays back when it was really warm. The guys at 1st castle were brilliant even when everyone was sweating out on the pad. Darren was excellent and he was the instructor who took me and another trainee out onto the road after our initial slow control and mock junction training. If I remember right the other instructor was Matt who was also very good. Both were very knowledgeable and I came away after a very good day happy I had gained the skills to start my motorbike journey. Cheers guys and keep up the good work!!! Oh and the bikes are good too!!

R
RAD25 June 2026

Me and my Dad passed our CBT today at 1st Castle and had a brilliant experience from start to finish. Matthew and Brian were our instructors and they were both absolutely fantastic at what they do. They were calm, patient, and made everything really clear and easy to understand. They created a relaxed atmosphere which helped build confidence quickly, especially as we were both a bit nervous at the start. We couldn’t have asked for better instructors and we’re really grateful for their help in getting us through the course. Highly recommend 1st Castle to anyone thinking of doing their CBT.

OO
Osmium Osmium8 June 2026

Matthew is an excellent instructor – friendly, approachable, kind, patient, knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humour. I felt comfortable and welcomed throughout the entire day. He explains everything clearly, is thorough in his teaching, and treats everyone with genuine support and encouragement. He is incredibly helpful, and honestly, I don't think I could have asked for a better instructor. I am extremely satisfied with the professionalism I experienced today. To top it all off, I finished the day as the proud holder of a CBT certificate, having passed with flying colours. Thank you very much for all your hard work, dedication, and support, Matthew. I wish you and the team all the best for the future. Keep up the excellent work! – Zoltan

HO
Harley Osborne30 May 2026

Just did my CBT here and I had Matthew as my instructor for the day. Started off a bit shaky on a geared bike but after laughing off a few mistakes and learning from them he managed to get me confidently riding on the road with ease. Top-class instructing makes a big impact when you’re riding alone. Couldn’t ask for more.

Motorcycle training in Portsmouth compared

Ordered by rating, weighted by the number of reviews — businesses with only a handful of reviews do not jump to the top automatically. 8 businesses in this category in Portsmouth are compared.

RankProviderRatingReviewsOpen Sat.
11st Castle Motorcycle Training (this page)★ 5,0855Yes
2M&C Motorcycle Training★ 5,0363Yes
3ADT Motorcycle Training★ 4,9124Yes
4Phoenix Motorcycle Training Wickham★ 4,939Yes
5Fatboy Motorcycle Training★ 4,844Yes
Contact
+442392669331www.1st-castle.co.uk32, Acres, Eastern Rd, Farlington, Portsmouth PO6 1UW
Working hours
Monday08:00–17:00
Tuesday08:00–17:00
Wednesday08:00–17:00
Thursday08:00–17:00
Friday08:00–17:00
Saturday08:00–17:00
Sunday08:00–17:00