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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 26th April 2026) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Duke of York, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP2 7AS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Duke of York
A former Ushers pub, given the small ceramic plaque by the door and name to the hanging sign and with a defibrillator fixed to the outside wall, the pub proudly wears its heart on its sleeve.
An avowedly locals’ pub, it’s well described below, the interior basic.
There were seven pumps, my Hop Back GFB good and £2.40 a half.
This is a decent pub – certainly better than the neighbouring Village – but is let down by loud televised sports’ commentary.
On 19th April 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2324 recommendations about 2267 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Duke of York
The Duke of York is a U shaped pub with a carpeted bar around the central U-shaped serving counter that supports Fosters, Amstel, Guinness and three flavours of Thatcher’s cider alongside seven hand pups that were drawing Hop Back’s Summer Lightening, GFB and Entire Stout, St Austell’s Cornish Best and Tribute, Downton Brewery’s QuadHop, and Wadworth’s 6X. Padded benches run under the front windows either side of the central entrance where tables sit on the oches of dartboards on both the front left and right-hand walls. There are two televisions, one of which was supplying some low background music courtesy of Now 80s. In the right rea corner is a bare board floor seating area where access is gained to the toilets and a small enclosed paved beer garden at the rear. On the right-hand wall is a full bookcase that includes a long line of the Good Beer Guide, this pub has just won the local CAMRA POTY award, which doesn’t surprise me. I thought the friendly governor was very welcoming, and the lone local sat at the bar engaged with the group. The stout and QuadHop were on good form, so I’d have no issue returning if I find myself in Salisbury again.
On 2nd April 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6626 recommendations about 6588 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Duke of York
Backstreet community pub also sought out by readers of the Good Beer Guide, and while I was waiting for others to arrive I saw the feature on page 2 of the local newspaper highlighting their latest Camra branch Pub of the Year award. Plainly furnished L-shaped bar with limited decoration apart from the feature fireplace on the right-hand side. Hop Back's GFB, Summer Lightning and Entire Stout available from three of the seven handpumps, along with Tribute, St Austell's Cornish Best, 6X and Downton's Quad Hop (£4.60 with 20p Camra discount). An excellent, if rather hidden away, stop near the station.
On 1st April 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about Duke of York
A fine back street ale orientated pub a short walk from the train station albeit on the wrong side of the tracks for Salisbury Town centre. It’s hard to imagine that this was the centre of Salisbury’s gay scene before it shut down some 17 years ago as, since reopening as a real ale focussed local, it gives you the impression it has always been that way.
The bar supports seven hand pumps in total and alongside three from Hopback (Summer Lightning, GFB and an extremely good Entire Stout), there were St Austell Tribute and Cornish Best, Wadsworth 6X and Downton Brewery Quadhop.
An extremely good ale house to start or finish any crawl of Salisbury.
On 31st March 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2340 recommendations about 2186 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Duke of York
This is a really good back street pub, with a place in the current Good Beer Guide, and less than 10 minutes from the station. Our first pub of the day, and my suggestion of not moving on from here to a daunting itinerary in the town when rain was already falling fell on deaf ears despite the quality of the first pint (NBSS 4, £4.80), with six more on the bar. I was somewhat undermined by the BBC weather forecast of a 95% chance of rain every hour for the next five hours being slightly wide of the mark. Maybe next time.
On 27th March 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4733 recommendations about 4337 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Duke of York
Remains excellent and I am pretty certain the guy behind the bar was the same chap who served me all those years ago. See the review below for an interior run-down; my brain was no longer willing to communicate with fingers so sparse notes. Seven cask on, and a great range for Salisbury once the two Hop Backs were stripped-out. A good half of Stonehenge Mystic (NBSS 3.5) for my troubles. Also some ciders. A shame it’s a late weekday opener as it makes it difficult to fit into a daytime crawl especially given its location on the wrong side of the tracks. Still, you must make sure to try to get there and give it your support. GBG listed and fully justifies its place. 8.5
August 2012
A new ale pub for Salisbury, newly converted from what was a gay-friendly pub and a former Ushers outlet. Seven handpulls lined up, with five interesting ales on the go all in very good nick, along with a couple of proper Welsh ciders. 40-dd single malts and a draught wheat beer are also on. As noted below, it is located in the back streets away from the immediate town centre but actually not too far from the rail station and is also close to a well-established ale house in the form of the Village. The friendly beardy landlord is very welcoming and knowledgeable about his products. The interior has been freshly scrubbed and painted, leaving it rather too white and sterile, hopefully some homely touches will be added in due course. TV is available for sports. Rear garden advertised but never ventured that far, too busy watching Mo’s second victory. Beware slightly erratic opening hours. A worthwhile visit for pub-lovers and seems like a place that is destined to improve more with time. Rated 8
On 30th January 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6004 recommendations about 5984 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Duke of York
A very thorough PSM review gives great detail and I agree that this is a terrific back street locals boozer.The Ushers pub sign was pleasing,and although the interior is quite basic,there was a very friendly and helpful barmaid offering tasters and ale advice.We were the first customers in at noon on a Saturday,having made a bee line from the station,but the pub quickly filled up with jovial regulars,the bar stools proving popular.Muzak at a decent volume was fine and the real fire was lit ,enhancing the atmosphere.
Six handpumps operational with regulars Downton Quad Hop,Hop Back GFB and Summer Lightning (NBSS 4),enhanced by regular rotating guests on my trip of TT Landlord,St Austell Cornish Best and Anthem, and Stonehenge Great Bustard (NBSS 4) fully justifying the 2024 GBG listing.The pub is committed to offer lots of Locale.For fans of the apple,there were four boxed real ciders and a sparkling one on tap.
One not to misss when in Salisbury,worth passing through the dodgy looking underpass to get beyond the insanely busy roundabout in this less salubrious part of the city.
I will most definitely return.
On 17th December 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3154 recommendations about 3154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Duke of York
This is a mighty fine backstreet local’s pub, just a short walk from the station, albeit in the opposite direction to the city centre. The pub looks pretty special upon approach, that’s to its attractive glazed tile exterior and interesting old Usher’s pub sign. You enter directly to the bar, with the servery opposite the front door and seating areas off to either side. The left-hand side has a bit of a public bar feel to it, with bench and chair seating arranged efficiently through this compact space. There was a good group of locals occupying this part of the pub, which made it a little tricky to get a proper look around, but I did notice a very nice etched glass pane for a ‘Jug & Bottle’ entrance, which has seemingly now all been knocked through, but may have once had a more prominent position within the pub. The bar has a dark wood panelled counter front and pleasant traditional bar back, and extends a slight way to the rear on the right-hand side. There are hard backed banquettes around the perimeter on this side of the pub, with some basic chairs in support, and a nice fireplace dominates the end wall, thanks to a surprisingly large brick hearth and an unusual arched mantlepiece with a floral print and small semi-circular integral mirror. A TV to the side of the lit fireplace was showing At The Races with the sound just about audible. The room extends a little way back down this side, with the carpet giving way to bare floorboards. The walls have low tongue and groove panels back here, with plain painted upper sections, whilst seating is a mix of pews and chairs to the left and low stools to the right. There’s a lot of nice old breweriana on display, including some framed beer mats, brewery mirrors and adverts, as well as a huge picture of Salisbury cathedral and a well-stocked bookcase containing plenty of old editions of the Good Beer Guide. Toilet doors are to the rear of the room - take the Gents’ door for access to a scruffy looking garden area with a few picnic benches.
There were no less than seven cask ales on the bar when I arrived - the widest ale range I saw all day in Salisbury - with the options comprising Sixpenny Gold and Best, Hop Back Summer Lightning and GFB, Stonehenge Old Smoky, Dartmoor Jail Ale and Plain Ales Independence. I tried a pint of the latter, served to me in a branded glass by the friendly barman, and in excellent condition - easily my best pint of the day. The pub filled up pretty quickly on my Monday evening visit, creating a nice atmosphere typical of such welcoming local’s pubs.
I thought this was an excellent pub that really stood out from the crowd in Salisbury’s extensive pub scene. The main draw here is the well-kept beer and convivial atmosphere, but it’s also an attractive building with some interesting decor that merits a bit of exploration. I missed out on a couple of the city’s best regarded alehouses due to them not opening on Mondays, but they’d have to go some way to top this place, which is a must-visit for anyone visiting the city.
On 22nd February 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Duke of York
Lovely backstreet pub north of the railway tracks.The single room is U shaped , wrapped around the central bar. Carpeted floor with Oxblood half wall panelling, Ivory painted walls above.Five beers were on from the seven handles on the bar, Downton Quadhop , Plain Ales Incognito and Inndependence APA, Hop Back GFB and Sixpenny 6d Gold, both beers I had were very well kept, I told the non working landlord who to time to come over to my table to chat, he praised his cellarman of 17 years service.
Top boozer.
On 25th October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2306 recommendations about 2269 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Duke of York
We hung around slightly on Friday evening, waiting for this back Street Victorian Pub to open at 6.30. It was only when we got there, that the owner told us it opened at 6pm on a Friday. Five ales and two ciders, so we went for the Wessex Brewery Golden Apostle, which was in superb shape. The pub soon filled with ale drinkers whilst we were there. A good pub, well worth the wait for the late opening time.
On 23rd May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3745 pubs]