The Dog & Duck, Soho, W1

Update - January 2013 No TT Landlord any more, but this appears to be one of Nicholsons better outlets from the beer range perspective. A good pint of Oxfordshire Meads Must was enjoyed, although being served ¾ of an inch short ( at a conservative estimate ) did rankle and a less than gracious response to my eventual request for a top up didn’t improve my mood I’ll be charitable and put this incident down as a one off and say that it’s still worth seeking out this Good Beer Guide listed pub. Original review – January 2010 Smallish street corner Nicholsons pub situated in the heart of Soho. In marked contrast to The Three Greyhounds, from where I had just come, the Dog and Duck has a splendidly preserved Victorian interior which earns it a place in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. As you enter through the side entrance on Frith Street, note the decorative floor mosaic and the fine wall tiling, some of which notably features motifs of the two animals in question. Worthy of comment also are two large advertising mirrors and a rather curious mini snug to the left of the side entrance as you go in, which was presumably partitioned off in days long gone. The Dog and Duck is of course the pub where Madonna, allegedly, developed a penchant for TT Landlord. On my recent Saturday afternoon visit, Landlord was joined behind the bar by the ubiquitous London Pride, Lancaster Amber and, most notably, Ringwood Fortyniner and Thornbridge Kipling. Both the latter two beers were in fine form, particularly the Thornbridge Kipling - a fine pale fruity bitter with an ABV of 5.2%. There's an upstairs bar and dining room - the George Orwell room - which acts as a useful overspill during the inevitable busy periods. There's also a perilous descent to the downstairs gents. This is probably my favourite Soho pub - best visited if possible in less busy periods - particularly if you want to admire the decor.

A Soho favourite of mine over the years with a now much more adventurous selection of ales than in the past,not a sign of T.T.Landlord ,a former staple of this pub,instead I had a very good pint of moor Revival,always a good pub but even better now the beer range has improved.

This wonderful Soho pub, dating back to 1897, has a name that reflects Soho’s past as a royal hunting ground. The interior of the pub has one of the capital’s finest examples of tiled walls, with several incorporating images of dogs and ducks. It also has a servery in an unusual front corner position between the two entrance doors. The servery is all dark wood and etched glass, with similar panes appearing above the doors and in the porch area. The bar area is very narrow, with just enough room for a drinking ledge opposite the counter, above which there are some impressively large Victorian advertising mirrors. The glazed tiles can be spotted between these mirrors, but it is the far end of the room that boasts the finest tile display. There is a good deal more seating here which is arranged around some copper topped tables and a grand fireplace. Impressive chandeliers in both halves of the room complete a very pleasing look. Upstairs is the Orwell dining room, named after the famous author who apparently used to drink here, as did the likes of Constable, Rossetti and Madonna, although presumably not at the same time. This is a Nicholson’s pub, so there was an interesting beer selection awaiting me. My choice was from Fuller’s London Pride, St Austell Tribute and Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Caledonian Golden Sun, XT Dark Roast, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Kelham Island Pale Rider. I plumped for the Dark Roast which was a luscious malty number in top condition. The bar staff were super efficient, coping admirably with a quickly crowded bar area. I really liked the feel of this place and would happily have stayed longer had I been able to grab myself a seat. Overcrowding may be the only real drawback to this place which is well worth a look for the interior alone. This remains the best pub I have managed to find in Soho to date.