Duke's Head, Wallington

This is a Young’s pub, but with Sharp’s Doom Bar as a guest when I was in there at Wednesday lunchtime. Food is available – in fact there was a single sheet lunchtime menu on the tables. The sandwiches were quite substantial and reasonably priced at £4 to £5, with a handful of chips for an extra £1. Main courses were around £8 - £12, and thus much the going rate, although I thought that the curry of the day, even with rice and naan, would have to be something pretty special for the £12.15 they were asking. This pub is situated on Wallington Green, with a bit of grassed area and some trees separating it from the main road. It’s on the CAMRA inventory of heritage pubs, due to its inter-war fittings. The previous multi-room format is clearly discernable, in particular the snug on the left as you enter the main bar area. There’s also an original Public Bar on the left, which I only just glanced in, but was able to see that it was just a bit more basic than the main (ex Saloon Bar) room. The main room where I spent my visit retains the original wood panelling, much of which is decorated with Dickensian style prints, and the ceiling beams have hanging from them an assortment of mugs, jugs, steins and the like. It’s clearly been extended to the rear with a more recent add-on room, plus the hotel annex has been added on the right. The older parts retain the essential pub atmosphere, but overall it is an attractive pub, in a fairly attractive location, and in my view is easily the best pub in Wallington. Not everyone is a fan of Young’s ales, but I quite like them when they are kept properly (as they were here when I was in) and would be happy to visit again.

Official site of the Dukes Head - www.dukesheadsurrey.co.uk

Official site of the Dukes Head - www.dukesheadsurrey.co.uk