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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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The Duke of York, Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells
TN2 5TD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Duke of York
Typical refurbed Fullers pub with a reasonable, for Fullers beer lineup of Pride, Seafarers, Wild River and Dark Stars Hophead and APA. A decent and well attended pub.
On 30th March 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Duke of York
Appealing Fuller's pub that has been substantially refurbished in an upmarket yet traditional beerhouse style. Not a lot of space around the bar, but there are some small tables out in the pedestrianised area and York's dining room at first-floor level. Six handpumps on the counter; with Pride, Seafarers, ESB and the seasonal Old Winter Ale (4.40) plus Proper Job as a guest and Cornish Orchards vintage cider available on this occasion. Also has ten keg taps to the rear or the bar dispensing a good selection of craft beers.
On 1st January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about Duke Of York
A great Fullers pub in the Pantiles, serving an excellent pint of Pride. Nice interior and not too busy on our Saturday afternoon visit. well worth putting on your crawl list.
On 11th July 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Duke Of York
A rare old school pub in The Pantiles area, boarded floor, distressed boarded ceiling although the gnarled beams and posts looked to be affectations. Some wood panelling also looked to be deliberately worn but the wonky floor must be real. The words of the old rhyme "The Grand Old Duke of York" are on display as is a shelf of old red suited lead toy soldiers. A roaring fire helped the ambience on a chilly day, there were stacks of logs all around.
Beers from Fullers, Pride, ESB, Seafarers, Oliver's Island plus guesting Hooky Bitter and a cider from Cornish Orchards. Various "nights" advertised, curry, steaks, open mic, not my thing I just prefer the quiet comfy pub of an afternoon which is what I found. A decent spot and a grand drop of ESB.
On 27th February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Duke Of York
The Duke of York is a traditional pub in the Pantiles area of Tunbridge Wells where you are more likely to stumble across a restaurant than a decent pub. This a is a single room pub which isn’t the biggest, but the bar still supports five hand pumps that, during my recent Wednesday afternoon visit, were drawing Doom Bar, Abbot, Summer Lightening, Harveys Best and Tunbridge Wells Brewing Company’s Sovereign Blonde. The Doom Bar was on good form and the bloke working behind the bar was a friendly enough chap. Food is served and the sausage and mash comes in at £7 which his very good value for the area. The décor is old and worn and hops were stuck to the ceiling and ran the length of the bar. There was no music and there are no TV screens that I could see.
This place has done well to remain traditional in this area and that alone deserves a revisit.
On 15th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Duke Of York
Unlike the other pubs along the historic Pantiles colonnade, the Duke of York has resisted the urge to change and provides a traditional, drink led establishment in contrast to its revamped, gastro style competitors. The interior is well suited to the needs of passing tourists as its wooden beams, pillars and floor create the sort of traditional feel that they are no doubt looking for. There is just the one room, but this is well furnished with seating options, mostly in the shape of tables and low stools, although there are a few pews as well. There are a number of benches outside which are popular in decent weather, as is the low colonnade wall at the front.
There are lots of nice old pictures of the pub and the Pantiles area on the walls which give you a bit of an insight into what the place was like in its heyday. Music was playing in the background but it was hard to hear due to the buzz of chatter from a good crowd of locals and tourists.
There were four handpulls and all were in action, offering Sharp's Doom Bar (£3.20), GK Abbot, Shep's Spitfire and Harvey's Best. We were served by a helpful and cheerful barman and the beer was in commendable shape. I'd passed this place over on previous visits to town, but I was glad we stopped off here recently and would consider popping in again next time I'm in town.
On 27th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Duke Of York
This attractive looking old pub is situated at the heart of the Pantiles area, the most touristy bit of Tunbridge Wells and given its position and alluring charm, you can expect it be fairly busy.
The single room interior has a basic feel with heavily sloping bare floors (no, you’re not drunk!) and sagging ceilings propped up by numerous old pillars. Old photos of the town adorn the walls and the pub has managed to retain quite a bit of character even though it has obviously been knocked around internally over the years. There is some seating outside
The 4 ales on my visit consisted of a farily mainstream selection of Doom Bar, Harveys and Greeen King IPA that was redeemed by the presence of the Tunbridge Wells Royal. The pub is Cask Marque accredited and also part of the SIBA scheme.
Where a lot of its neighbours have sold out to the interior designers and modern trends, the Duke of York has managed to retain its traditional pub approach and, despite it being a tourist hot spot, the pub still has the feel of a local and is certainly worth a look in.
On 20th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]