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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th April 2024) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Duke of York, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP2 7AS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
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 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
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 2727 recommendations about 2727 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 3114 recommendations about 3114 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 1871 recommendations about 1844 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 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Duke of York
Square room with central servery, 6 pulls of micro brews mainly local plus a selection of national kegs. There's a special fireplace, decor is brewery ads and pump clips. Very alehouse in character. Opens at 6:30 through the week and doesn't look very open even when it is, check the door.
On 15th January 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Duke Of York
A Victorian corner pub, it reopened last year as an ale pub and has now distanced itself from its former reputation. It has been refurnished, the regulars are now starting to come back and it's getting a good reputation for its beers. The decor is slightly chaotic, the carpeted bar is furnished with a mixture of benches and chairs, There are no frills, just a basic working pub with good beer and an enthusiastic landlord who likes his ale. Five ales, a Japanese beer and some German lager on this time, all rather drinkable. If the standard keeps up this will be a future GBG candidate, and although it's a bit off the beaten track, it's quite close to the railway station so is worth breaking a journey for. An essential part of a SP2 crawl.
On 13th May 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3277 recommendations about 3242 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
j lomas left this review about Duke Of York
Good range of cider & ale all ales on where in great condition. Very good ale pub
On 13th November 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Duke Of York
Recently reopening following what I gather was a lengthy spell of closure, the Duke of York is now trying to plant its roots firmly in the Real Ale market. It is situated in the back streets but quite near the railway station making it a fine start (or in or case finish) to an ale trail.
I have not been here in its previous guise when it was primarily a gay pub but the interior looks like it has had a recent and makeover that appears fresh and tidy but quite plain and unassuming. A large collection of pump clips gradually taking over the wall space was the most notable feature.
There were 7 hand pumps with Botley Best, Botley Old Cooperage, Moorhouse Premier and a couple of ciders from Gwynt Y Ddrage, Happy Daze and Haymaker. The landlord (I presume) was very welcoming and chatty regarding the beers and has clearly set out his stall to compete with the better ale pubs in town, one of which, The Village is a couple of munutes walk.
As this was pub No. 13 out of 14 visited, things are a little hazy but I can recall enough to suggest that ale tourists include this on their itinery. Maybe next time I’ll make it an earlier stop!
On 8th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]