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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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The Duchy Arms, Kennington, SE11
SE11
SE11 5UG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Duchy Arms
A food forward corner pub and indeed the barmaid was prompted to come and ask me at my table if I would be eating by her seemingly up his jacksy manager or landlord, I got constant disapproving glances from him whilst I drank my pint sat out of the way on a small corner table.Thankfully my skin is thick enough to ignore it and continued with my rather average pint of Wimbledon SW19, the only cask beer available, there was a standard keg lineup plus a token Beavertown Neck Oil.The pub was bereft of custom other than myself and a couple of solo diners. The barmaid was friendly but under constant pressure from the boss, I'll not be back anyhow.
On 13th July 2023
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Duchy Arms
Dating from at least 1821, this has presumably been rebuilt at some stage in a rather Georgian style, the name dating from 1972, prior to which, it was known as the Anchor & Hope.
The place doesn’t exactly do much to announce itself, as there’s no external lighting. On approach, I actually thought I’d got the wrong street, as the place isn’t visible until you’re virtually on top of it. Once inside though, it’s quite brightly lit and fairly traditional, with an interesting leaded stained-glass front to the pot shelf. Furniture is mixed and conventional, with a boarded floor, décor in the form of framed prints. What’s most striking, are the large arched window reveals, complete with extravagant blue velour swag curtains; it was a bit like drinking in Marlene’s boudoir, with pleasant music playing. Customers are a game of two halves, with seemingly young male incomers in the rear bar, but with rather glum old locals in the front.
Ale manifested itself in the form of one unused pump, a real cider, Portobello Stiff Lip IPA and Sambrook’s Pumphouse, at a pleasing £2.25 a half and in excellent shape too, served by a friendly barmaid.
This is quite a decent place, but it would be much improved if the TVs were turned off, at least in the main bar, for a more relaxing experience.
On 12th December 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Duchy Arms
Nice corner pub in the Kennington area. Back room has been through a refurb, now is a mix of dining area and bar. Large screen showing sport. 3 ale taps all at £4, Hogs Back Harvest, Mister Chubb's & Doombar, which was turned round. Lots of choices for food including a kids selection. Friendly staff. Garden area through passage to the right of the main bar. Like this place. Gastro pub it ain't.
On 1st November 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Duchy Arms
Box-shaped corner pub with a single-storey rear extension. Gentrified staple-shaped interior, with a back room in one corner and the passageway through to the rear patio beer garden in the other. Mix of furniture throughout. Two of three handpumps in operation, offering Doom Bar and Truman's Swift.
On 25th June 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Duchy Arms
All change for this traditional late Victorian pub forming the corner of Sandcroft Street and Courtenay Street in Kennington. We visited on the 1st of August just after it had reopened after undergoing an extensive refurbishment into what looks like the usual Gastro makeover more into a restaurant / bar. The shiny front bar was open when we popped in but the dining room and kitchen was not scheduled to open until the 5th August, so consequently the place was empty. And that, combined with the usual bland sterile gastro makeover, yes we’ve all seen it before so no need to describe, meant we didn’t bother to stay for a beer but moved on quicker than we expected for the Prince of Wales. Therefore I will leave it to others to rate this place for a pub experience.
I am not sure if this place is now owned by Fullers, but for the record Pride and Seafarers were the available on the three pumps on the shiny new bar top
On 16th August 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Duchy Arms
The Duchy Arms is a corner pub that is in a fairly quiet area off kennington lane.
Once inside i went into a oblong shaped room that looked like it had been done up to within an inch of its life,there were normal tables and chairs to the front,plus a bench seat to the rear left,the room is bare boarded.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Gales Seafarers which was a decent enough drink,the other beer was London Pride.
There was some very quiet background music playing,the pub was empty apart from myself,a young couple came in asking for food but was told the kitchen is'nt open for a few days.
This pub seemed a bit too bland and sad in my opinion,but it may pick up once the food operation starts.
Pub visited 2/8/2014
On 2nd August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Duchy Arms
This is a detached backstreet local just off Kennington Rd, occupying a largish corner site. By the look of the clientele when I was in there last week, it's very much a locals' pub. They had Pedigree, Spitfire and Harvey's Best on. I had the Harvey's, at £2.80 a pint reasonably priced, and it tasted OK as well. It's got all the hallmarks of a pub that hasn't changed much since the 70s or 80s – red mock velvet covered stools; serried ranks of dark varnished and polished tables; well used banquette seating; and a clean patterned carpet. I found the Duchy Arms to be very clean and well looked after, with no sign of any dust or dirt. The barmaid was friendly and welcoming, and I thought it seemed to be just the sort of place to go for a quiet pint. It had a nice balance between comfort and simplicity, and I should be happy to drop in for another pint if I was in the area.
On 9th September 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]