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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Duke William, Lincoln
Lincoln
LN1 3AP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Duke William
Looks from the street like this hotel, pub and restaurant was created from two adjoining buildings, and the two main seating / dining areas are separated by more than just the bar counter. Didn't have the time to look around, but it all appears superficially traditional (even if it isn't really). Landlord, Helihopter from Docks Beers, FAB's Spirit of Jane (£2.60, half) and the Northern Rising unity stout collaboration from Timothy Taylor and Northern Monk available from the four handpumps.
On 16th November 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about Duke William
This Hotel is worth a look in beer wise, as they do get some interesting guest beers that you might not see anywhere else around the rest of city. They have planned out the internal layout well, where the main focus for food is at the rear and the majority of the drinkers are left to their own devices in the two front rooms. I also went for the Northern Monk/Timothy Taylor which was a plain stout and full of flavour.
On 11th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Tris C left this review about Duke William
With Roman DNA, this pub dates from the mid-17th century, the Duke of Cumberland from 1777, Dukes Head from around 1802 then Duke William from about 1820, the duke in question unlikely to inspire affection from the Scottish visitor.
Boasting rooms that have ‘…been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised for your protection’ and with a food hygiene rating of 5, this is a rather gastrofied affair in the city’s tourist area, photos – especially those of food – can be seen on their website.
I had a half of the Northern Monk/Timothy Taylor Northern Rising which was very nice.
This is a decent addition to any crawl but isn’t really a must-visit; the crying baby was a very unwelcome distraction.
On 7th November 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about Duke William
I was initially not going to bother visiting this hotel / bar / restaurant situated at the top end of the Bailgate but was also drawn here by reports from other crawl members of the Timothy Taylor and Northern Monk collaboration Stout, and I am very glad I did as I thought it was a much better example of a food and Ale pub than the Wig and mitre further south on Steep hill.
An attractive white frontage hints at a building of some age, but internally it has a very modern décor with plenty of Farrow and Ball applied in the dining sections. But there are enough period features, such as exposed brickwork and beams to give the place some character, especially in the bar area where the U-shaped bar is composed of exposed stonework footings with reclaimed beams on top, liberally festooned with beer pump clips.
Although one connected space the bar area gives the feel of two separate rooms either side of the central U shaped bar, each with a bank of four ale hand pumps, but as Mr Fastard says, in the absence of a chalk board that I could see you have to inspect both sets to see what is on which, for our visit, was four ales and two ciders across the eight pumps.
Timothy Taylor Landlord was on both sets, as this is a Timothy Taylor Champion Club establishment as proudly proclaimed by a large plaque on the back wall of the right-hand bar section, as was Ferry Ales Brewery Spirit of Jane Pale Bitter. Then alongside two ciders from Seacider on the left hand set there was Docks Beers Helihopter Pale Ale and the aforementioned Northern Rising Unity Stout on the right-hand pumps.
Then beyond the bar is a spacious dining area which then leads to a small, enclosed courtyard space and an outside garden area.
I was glad I popped into this one as along with Mr Fastard below, it was a lot better than I was expecting.
On 5th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Duke William
Modern fit out but the interior does wind around the two sided bar and is on different levels ,so there are quiet spots besides the front area below a sports flatscreen. This was a crawl visit to sample the Timothy Taylor x Northern Monk Northern Rising Unity Stout (NBSS 4) .You really must visit both sides of the bar to discover the ale range,but given the rapidity of this visit I failed to note what else was on.
Worth popping in if on a real ale crawl,better than I was expecting.
On 4th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about Duke William
Another old place in the touristy bit with a heavy food offering but at least this one rambles off into various different rooms and areas so it is not difficult to find a quiet corner. There seemed to be a good selection of changing ales, judging from the collection of pump clips on the wall - I had a Docks Helihopter limited edition charity brew which was in good form. Generally better than most of the pubs nearby.
On 2nd November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Duke William
A smart, white painted building - or is it two buildings now become one? It seems to be functioning as a hotel, restaurant and bar, with bare stone walls and floorboards. The bar counter is centrally placed and seemingly constructed out of stone and recycled timber. There were four hand pumps, with Timothy Taylor Hopical Storm turned around and three other beers on: Landlord, Tweed from Salt Brewery and a house beer called Duke from local Ferry Ales, which was very good (NBSS 3.5) though perhaps a little pricey at £5/pint for a 3.8% beer. I wouldn't mind popping in again. (Card and contactless payments only.)
Date of visit: 21st February 2024
On 10th September 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Duke William
The Duke William Hotel has a central U-shaped stone bar counter with a wooden frame that is adorned with some old pump clips. There are four hand pumps on either side of the counter, with only the right-hand four being used. Shiny Brewery’s Glamour Muscles and Rocky were available alongside Blackjack’s Irk Street and Black Iris Brewery’s Endless Summer. Premium and craft keg was also available from the polite barmaid, who was accepting card payments only. Wooden flooring runs throughout, as do the stone walls. Seating with a mix of furniture is found to the right and left of the bar counter and at the rear is a dining area. No televisions, but there was some very niche background music playing, not my bag. I can see why people would like it in here, but I thought it a bit pretentious.
On 14th May 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Duke William
Rather more foody now than the previous reviews suggest. There are two main rooms both served from the central bar, plus a further room that was being used for a meeting followed by a meal. Good looking place, so may also have had a recent makeover. 4 ales on the bar served by a pleasant barmaid. By far the most expensive pint and a half of cask that we had in Lincoln over 2 days and nights. It's a decent pub, but not one for a session.
On 19th April 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Duke William
Bar to middle with space left and right. Four real ales - all weak in strength. Rest keg.
On 17th July 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]