Duke of York, Mayfair, W1

This rather cramped Taylor Walker pub, located just off Oxford Street, has an unusual three storey layout. The main bar is at ground floor level, but it’s hardly an appealing place to stop for a drink. Spiral staircases dominate the room and completely block the servery which is hidden away behind, leaving just the fringes of the room for customers to find a seat. Most seating is in the form of high stools positioned along drinking ledges, although a recess to the left of the bar offers some slightly more appealing options underneath a large mirror. The room has dark wood flooring and wall panels, but there is nothing of interest worth seeing, despite the promise of such hinted at by the building’s attractive external appearance. The aforementioned stairs lead up to a ‘mezzanine’ area, filled with standard tables and chairs in, what looked to me like, a dining room. The lower bar was signed as the ‘Chill Out Area’ and had comfy looking tub chairs and sofas plus table football. Perhaps the highlight of my visit was the excellent soundtrack that played throughout my, admittedly brief, stay. Three ales were available at the bar – Morland Old Golden Hen, Sambrooks Wandle and Deuchars IPA – with Thatcher’s Cheddar Valley Cider occupying the final hand pump. I tried the Hen, which was in fairly good condition, but the ale range was a bit disappointing and I saw no reason to sample anything else. I thought the layout of this pub was one of its major flaws and found it very difficult to get comfortable or settled here. In fact, there were as many people outside on my late summer’s evening visit as there were inside, which probably tells you enough. There are much better pubs in the surrounding area, so I doubt I’ll be back.

A quiet retreat just off the manic Oxford Street, this back street corner pub is spread across three small floors with a wrought iron centrally located spiral staircase linking all the floors. The bar is on the ground floor along the back wall. There are four hand pumps but only two on at the time of our visit. Green King IPA isn't one of our favourites so we settled for the Charles Wells Bombardier which was nicely kept. Young Gold hand pump had a small sign on it saying coming soon. Not a bad pub but the glass jar saying 'tips' just isn't a thing I feel should be in a traditional English pub!

I was not overly impressed with this pub. The pint of Summer Lightning I ordered was off; but happily exchanged for a pint of Pride that was only just drinkable. Not a good start. I didn't think that the ground floor was very comfortable with no tables and chairs and only stools on which to perch at the bar or at ledges by the windows or round the central spiral staircase. Maybe the other bars were better, but I didn't visit them. So, dodgy beer, strange layout and friendly barmaid - could be worse I suppose, but I don't expect to visit again.