The Duchess, Marylebone, W1

Originally licenced as the Red Lion in 1765, this was destroyed by a V2 in 1944 to be rebuilt in 1958, named after the Georgian architect to Whitbread, for whom the pub was built. It now has a CAMRA heritage interior of Regional Importance. The previous reviews and CAMRA’s description do a fine job by way of description; I’d describe it as being a neo-Regency/Art Deco mashup, with lots of ugly illuminated founts and Corona glass cooler to the bar (see photo). When it comes to entertainment, there’s a no expense spent attitude, with The Martin Lewis Money Show playing silently on a TV, for absolutely no apparent reason whatsoever, power ballads playing loudly over the gramophone. Ales: a very nice barmaid indeed was serving up Pride, so I opted for a pint of Neck Oil at £6.50; if only I could have asked the advice of Martin Lewis. This really isn’t a great place. The heritage value lifts the grade by a point or two, but otherwise it’s not worth a special visit.

Strange small pub this one. A small wood panelled ground floor room well described by previous reviewers with a first-floor restaurant room. I guess it focusses on the weekday lunchtime trade as there wasn’t a lot of people in enjoying the high tables and stools when I popped in on Saturday night. Same two beers on in the form of London Pride and Doombore and the Pride was just about passable. Due to it being located opposite the Duke Street entrance of Selfridge's its handy for a quick pint when your better half gets stuck in the clothes floor of said department store and demands additional browsing time, and especially as there isn’t really anything else much better in the Immediate vicinity.

Not the greatest of pubs. Two real ales - London Pride and Doombore. Nothing special about this place.

Interior as described by Rex below. 2 real ales served didn't visit the restaurant upstairs.

The ales on here were Old Speckled Hen and London Pride (£2 a half). This is an unexciting selection to say the least, but at least real ale is available. I was in too early to see a full menu, but a chalkboard hung from the ceiling had a number of meals listed – examples are fish & chips (10) and the landlord’s steak & ale pie (12). £ signs are obviously redundant here. Inside the only seating is tall tables/tall stools, and tall stools at ledges around the sides. I guess these furnishings are designed to maximise the numbers they can get in, and to aid vertical drinking. The room stretches around behind the servery, but with more of the uncomfortable furnishings there as well. The walls are wood panelled floor to ceiling and said ceiling has some nice fruit themed embellishments – not Lincrusta but something similar. Being Christmas we have the flashing fairy lights. I don’t object to Christmas but I could live without some of the things that come with it, such as flashing fairy lights, and the plethora of Christmas ales. But I quite liked the Christmas songs being played, including some Frank Sinatra classics. I reckon this is an average pub. The ale selection’s average at best, and I don’t reckon the furnishings are conducive to a comfortable drink. But that’s just my opinion, and I realise that many will occupy these tall tables/tall stools out of choice.