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Submitted on Saturday, 22^nd August 2015
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The Duke, E17

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw

112 Wood Street
E17
E17 3HX

Phone: 02085219347

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Served areas

Walthamstow, Wood Street

Reviews of The Duke (Average Rating: 4 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The Duke

The Duke’s Head as was, dates from the early 18th century but was obviously rebuilt, I know not when; the pub sign is one of those naff affairs where the human subject has the head of a dog. Why?
With nothing of obvious heritage, the interior can be seen on the website, but it’s a mashup of nonsense: the bar array features some ornate cornice, banged up against white painted corrugated iron. The floor is bare boarded, the walls displaying psychedelic imagery, mirrored on several TV screens which provided most of the light, seemingly in synch with the loud ‘70s’ disco music, played by a DJ who from behind seemed to be a Hasidic Jew, which was a bit odd and during Shabat too. A glitterball bounced multicoloured lights onto the floor, which made me really quite dizzy and disorientated; I actually stumbled when I stood up. What little illumination there was, was augmented in part by a TV showing the football in unwatched silence. Décor took the form of strategically placed potted palms and flowers and candles on conventional tables. Customers were conspicuous by their absence, but a family of four next to me allowed their young son to watch noisy YouTube videos on his phone at gone 9.30pm on my Friday visit.
There were two unused pumps, with a half of Gamma Ray coming in at £3.60, served by a friendly barman.
It’s a short walk from here to the Nags Head…

On 29^th October 2024 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Komakino . left this review about The Duke

Little has changed from Aqua's review two years ago. (I had no idea I was setting foot in his manor!) Internally it's very much style over substance and the darkened decor asks the eye to take a moment or two to comprehend its surrounds: limited lighting is providing by dimmed electric bulbs built into the overhead fans. Lots of in-pub advertising via posters, boards at the bar and laminated signs on the tables peddling their burger menu, quiz night, range of Bloody Marys and 2-4-1 cocktails. A poor show on the beer front, with just Signature Session Brew available (description handwritten in white gel-pen on a black slate), accompanied by Lilley's Strawberry Cider on a second pump (a third was unclipped; a fourth reversed). The Signature was palatable, but as Aqua mentions below, the £4.50 I was charged for a pint seems steep for this area of London. A musical of Motown standards were enough to keep the curmudgeon in me at bay, and a young barmaid was pleasant, but it's a definite 'could do better' from me.

On 19^th November 2017 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1077 recommendations about 1077 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Aqualung . left this review about The Duke

This place re-opened a week or so ago and now seems to be just called the Duke although the old Dukes Head gold lettering currently remains on the outside. The large single room now has bare boards and a small rug with benches around the walls, some tables and chairs and sofas. The dart board remains and there is now an old pinball table. There is still a small stage area at the front. Whoever came up with the colour scheme has been playing too many Rolling Stones records as the exterior is completely black as is the ceiling inside.
The new bar retains four hand pumps but only three were in use on my visit. These had Signature Brew Backstage IPA, Hogs Back TEA and Wild Card Jack of Clubs. I tried the Backstage (£4.10) which was cloudy but tasted reasonable and the Jack of Clubs (£4.30) which was clear but pretty rank, it had obviously been in the cellar too long. I thought the prices were ridiculously high.
It's worth a couple of points for the refurbishment but other than that I thought it was a complete joke. If they are going to charge Central London prices for real ale then the least they can do is look after it. I've lived in East London for over 40 years now and this was my first ever visit to this pub, it will almost certainly be my last despite being my second nearest pub.

On 21^st August 2015 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]

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