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Duke of Wellington, Southampton

36 Bugle Street
Southampton
SO14 2AH

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Graham Coombs left this review about Duke of Wellington

Secreted in the gentrified area of the Old Town, this is a slightly gentrified old pub, tastefully furnished but retaining good timber work and traditional furnishings. A similar back room with its own little bar acts as a dining area and function room. A Wadworth's pub, with 5 of their own beers on handpump. Pleasant enough.

On 31st October 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Danny O'Revey left this review about Duke of Wellington

Lovely old beamed pub in old town, but its a little unfriendly and locally and the Wadworths beer is very average

On 5th April 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about Duke of Wellington

This building dates from the 12th Century and is a stunning looking building on approach and has an equally impressive interior. The interior had an L-shaped lounge and bar area, with a further good sized room at the rear. This pub is popular as a wedding venue, as there is a registrar next door. Nine pumps, with a choice of seven Wadworth beers on our visit. We went for the Horizon, which was a very decent beer. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked the manager why there was a piece of string attached to a ceiling beam and then fixed to timber up the side of the wall. He explained that this was a Medieval game called 'ring the bull', where you have to swing the ring and try to attach it to the hook on the wall. I did have a couple of attempts without any success. The pub had a relaxed atmosphere and is renowned for its good food.

On 8th April 2019 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3380 recommendations about 3380 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

This is a lovely old traditional pub set down a side street just a short walk from Southampton’s main High Street. A few benches have been arranged outside on the pavement, with steps leading you up into the main bar. This is an atmospheric, bare boarded L-shaped room with the servery directly opposite as you enter. The bar has a modern dark wood counter with rustic corner posts and a mock Tudor style canopy, all supplementing a sympathetic dark wood bar back. To the right there is a small seating area with banquettes and chairs around the perimeter and a plain stone fireplace on the end wall. The left side of the room is notably larger and runs back a short way past the end of the bar. Another austere looking stone fireplace can be found here along with large wingback armchairs directly in front of it and a mix of banquettes and chairs to either side. Decor throughout the pub is primarily of a military bent and includes numerous photos of mounted troops plus a few of the eponymous Duke alongside a few black and white local photos. Elsewhere, there is a huge clock on one wall whilst at the opposite end of the room a large blackboard details a decent sounding pub menu. Posters advertise live music and there was an old swing and jazz soundtrack playing in the background.
The pub is currently run by the Wadworth brewery and six of their beers were available across nine handpulls. The choice on this occasion was from 6X, Swordfish, Bishop’s Tipple, IPA, Horizon and St George & Dragon. I tried a pint of the latter which set me back £4.20 but was in very good shape and went down very well having just walked here from St Mary’s.
I found this to be a very cosy and welcoming pub which has a nice traditional interior and plenty of comfortable furniture in which to relax over a well kept pint or two. The pub has been a bit of a bastion for good beer in the centre of town over the years and still merits consideration when in the area despite the proliferation of interesting new bars in the last few years.

On 20th September 2018 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

Old Tudor style pub owned by Wadworth and features a good range of their beers across nine pumps, there was a guest of Portobello Westway Pale on my visit. The L shaped traditional styled main bar reflects the Tudor themed exterior.It's OK here but nothing to get to excited about.

On 13th April 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

This 15th Century building retaining some of its original Tudor features was once a brewhouse; indeed it was originally called The Brewe House and was renamed to celebrate Arthur Wellesley's victory in 1815. The cellar was from a much older building and is thought to be 12th Century. There are two bars downstairs and an eating area upstairs. It is currently a Wadworths house and has been a GBG pub in the past, but a spate of poor management saw it removed despite remaining a CAMRA favourite. New managers came in in Dec 2011 and the situation seems to have returned to its previous excellent standard. Good food is available which represents fair value for money. There were 4 ales on, all Wadworths. I had "Bishop's Tipple" - very different to the old Salisbury Brewery's beer of the same name, but a first class pint nonetheless. An essential part of the Southampton ale scene and a must for a town crawl.

On 5th March 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


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Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

lovely old pub in the nicer part of Southampton with a limited selection of real ales, no micro breweries and limited very opening times, call in if you are passing.

On 20th October 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Chris 87 left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

Retaining an impressive Tudor feel both inside and out, the Duke of Wellington is definitely one of the best pubs in Southampton city centre. Several Wadworth ales are available as well as Ringwood Best. My pint of 6X was in good condition and the landlady was friendly. It is a little out of the way location-wise but worth seeking out, particularly if you like old interiors and Wadworth output.

On 17th February 2009 - rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


nikki everett left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

hi i have been tracing my family history and they lived in vyes lane near this pub. a friend and i viseted the pub which is very old and stped in history, it was welcoming and served great food and as it was winter time the open fire was a real treat. the staff were friendly and wecoming so please vist and take in some history with a good meal.

On 28th January 2008 - rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Duke Of Wellington

Whilst spending a few days in Southampton popped in here for a couple of pints in the evening before heading down to the Spanish restaurant on the Quay side. Welcoming atmosphere and the couple of beers we tried (one being a different Ringwoods to the others I have tried on this trip) were more than drinkable. Obviously didn't try the food, but the large pies a group of American tourists were tucking into looked pretty good.

On 29th October 2007 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]