Duke of York, N1

On 2nd October 2017: Once The Duke of York, this pub came close to closing but a compromise was reached with additional storeys added with the pub retained and formerly home to the Beavertown brewery. It's clear upon entering that this is aimed at the young and trendy set as not one molecule of the original pub remains. The floor is modern bare boarded, there's a bar to the right, bricks are bare as are the low wattage filament bulbs hanging from the ceiling. There are simple chunky wooden tables, mixed wooden chairs, stools fashioned from shiny sheet copper, some exposed RSJs, presumably the result of the vertical extension, an open kitchen and quite loud music; the route down to the loos is illuminated by wire caged bulkhead lamps. I certainly wasn't asked if I was eating or where I'd like to sit, food being the likes of ribs, steaks and burgers with sauce bottles on the tables. In all it's a bit like a slightly industrial American diner, definitely not a gastropub. Ales: six on keg thereafter four from Beavertown including a sour and Neck Oil at a punishing £4.80 a pint. The décor, loud music, prices and location (this is a slog to get to) mean that I doubt I'll return. Rated 4. -------------------------------- A return visit to this early 19th century pub and this is no longer affiliated to Beavertown, the phonetic spelling of the area: De Beauvoir Town. The interior has been quite radically altered too and for the better, with the bar moved from right to centre, overall trendified with white Anaglypta ceiling, then bare brick walls, black and tan quarry tile floor, lighting from spherical white translucent sconces, traditional furniture with oxblood peripheral banquettes and a barely audible soundtrack; a TV was spotted, off, but what was certainly on, was an overpowering smell of fish ‘n’ chips. Customers were young and trendy apart from an elderly couple eating the aforementioned fish ‘n’ chips; a coincidence? I think not. Lavatories are now a set of unisex cubicles, with communal basins which may not appeal to all. What is also of little appeal is the disabled WC, which is actually in the pub, with ventilation holes at top. There’s still no cask beer, but 20 taps running the gamut from the likes of Neck Oil (£3.20 a half), then everything from Guinness to Moretti. This place is an improvement and overall, not too bad by modernised standards, but the lack of cask is a disincentive to making a return.

Official site of Duke of York - thedukeofyorkpub.com

Official site of Duke of York - thedukeofyorkpub.com