Duke of Wellington, Belgravia, SW1

A gem of a pub, tucked away down a side street and away from the hustle and bustle. It's the sort of pub you go to and sit and relax over a good pint. Ales always well kept. Will return.

I found this a warm and inviting little pub. Being carpeted throughout, and with a fire on the go (coal effect gas fire perhaps?) made it seem a warm haven on a bitterly cold day. The fire had the obligatory bloke sitting beside it doing his crossword, with a portrait on the chimney breast. It might have been of the Iron Duke himself, but didn’t really look like the other portraits of him that I had seen. This pub is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area (especially as it’s only a short stroll from Victoria Coach Station) as long as you don’t mind Shepherd Neame ales.

A street corner Shepherd Neame pub with a central island bar in a single carpeted room. Mainly traditional seating but with a few stools at perimeter drinking shelves. Lower walls wood panelled, painted white/cream above which gives a light and airy feel, windows have opaque glass. It was nice to see the fire lit on a bitterly cold day and despite the weather on a Monday lunchtime there were a fair few customers in, many enjoying the reasonably priced basic pub food, eg cod and chips £7.95, sandwiches and toasties between £4-5. Various old photos, military prints, a family tree of the House of Wellesley and always a favourite in my book, framed plans of the original building. The TV high in the corner had the news on with sound. Standard Sheps beers, Master Brew x2, Spitfire, Bishop's Finger and new to me, seasonal Howling Wolf. Typical high Sheps and Belgravia prices, the HW was £3.45. Certainly a proper pub and therefore better than many of the upmarket pretentious establishments in the area.