The Duchess, Marylebone, W1

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.