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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Wittenden
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Detail Pages
Duke of Wellington, Shoreham-By-Sea
Shoreham-By-Sea
BN43 6RE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Duke of Wellington
I was expecting this to be the highlight of our trip to Shoreham. Whilst it was a close call, I marginally preferred Piston Broke. Nevertheless, this is a great traditional pub with a single room stretching around the bar and a stage for live music on the right-hand side.
The atmosphere was convivial and whilst we were there, a guy started to sing and play the piano. He had a good voice and helped to create a really nice ambience.
Gun Zanzama IPA is the regular beer (at 6.5%, I saved this one until last). Other beers were Gun Scaramanga, Burning Sky Plateau & Fallow, Cellar Head Fuggle Rock & Flapjack & their own Duke of Wellington Brewhouse American Pale, which seemed to be really popular with the locals.
There were also a couple of ciders - Healey's Flattler & Lilley's Peach Cider. Gun NEIPA was a craft beer and they also seemed to have a fridge full of German bottled beers, which were also listed on a laminated sheet. Presumably this was some kind of Oktoberfest.
On 19th October 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Duke Of Wellington
This pub is beginning to look a bit run down as the letter T is missing from the front sign. Inside it's a single room with wooden floors and again I thought it was looking run down but soon stopped worrying about that when I noticed that three of the six beers were Dark Star Hophead, APA and Revelation. The other three were Oakham Mompesson's Gold, Burning Sky Porter and Bristol Beer Factory Independence IPA. I went for the Oakham Mompesson's Gold (£3.80) which was a big disappointment as it seemed to be rather sweet with a slightly odd taste. I'm sure it was in good nick but was lacking the hop character I expect from Oakham beers.
The Revelation (£3.80), probably my favourite of the permanent Dark Star range was as good as ever. I also noticed that there was a distinct lack of products from the global abominations on the bar. I spotted a Meantime lager font and a keg version of Windsor & Eton Conqueror Black IPA.
Despite being rather run down and the disappointing Oakham beer I really liked this place.
There was no sign at all of the expected new micro brewery here. The man in the Old Star micropub thought that the owner had gone on a round the world trip!
On 23rd February 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
The Welly has escaped from the Dark Star stable and now trades as a free house under the management of Rob Jones, one of the brewery founders. There are plans for an onsite micro-brewery, which awaits planning permission.
In the meantime, things carry on much as before. On my visit, however, the Dark Star count on the 6 pumps was a bit down, but this was more than compensated by offerings from the new Burning Sky brewery (which has Dark Star connections of its own). There's another handpump for Thatcher's cider, as well as 8-10 taps: Burning Sky featured on 3 of these as well, and the others were given over to Camden Helles and Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest among others. The lager on offer is Zywiec, while the stout is Hepworth's award-winning Conqueror.
In addition to all the beer, music is a draw, with some pretty cool stuff playing in the background when I visited and the blackboards list all the live music to come - several bands a week.
While the pub's not going to win awards for comfort, the beer's pretty good, so it's worth a few hours if you're in Shoreham.
On 18th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
The Duke of Wellington was rammed with a crowd that was listening to a live band when I visited on a recent Saturday evening. Live music was also advertised for Fridays and Sundays so this seems to be the choice pub at the weekend for music fans.
There is a dartboard around to the right of the U shaped bar and on the opposite side to the left is table football and bar billiards. Just outside the rear exit is a covered seating area complete with log burner and beyond is a large beer garden. As it was so busy it was a bit of a problem moving around the pub as there were a few bottle necks, but the service was prompt and friendly.
I counted seven hand pumps that were drawing Thornbridge’s Jaipur, Ramsgate Brewery’s Dogbolter, three Dark Star brews, Green Jack Brewing Company’s Trawlerboys Best, and Rich’s Cider. I went for a pint of Jaipur which was well received.
I would have enjoyed my visit more if it was a little quieter as I couldn’t really get settled, but that’s my fault for visiting on a Saturday night. The next time I’m in the area I will endeavour to return for another pint or two.
On 10th November 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
A rather striking looking building from the outside, the interior has been rather half-heartedly refurbished with wooden flooring over the original and a functional light wood bar. The pub has a rather bohemian feel and unusual decor such as the display of old vinyl records with the centre labels replaced with Dark Star brewery beer mats. Now an L shaped area however looking at the front elevation I reckon there would have been two doors in the middle between the bay windows, leading to seperate rooms.
Seating is banquettes which have seen better days, small stools and bar stools. Candles are set into Jack Daniels bottles, there are toby jugs hanging over the bar, a selection of board games and reference material randomly chucked on a chair back. There is also a piano(with tourism leaflets all over the top), a bar billiards table and a dartboard. The TV was off.
The leaded windows deserve a mention with their stained glass upper sections depicting various objects/characters.
The main attraction however is the Dark Star beers, four handpumps, three on yesterday dispensing Hophead, American Pale Ale and The Argos Ale. There is also Thatchers Cider from a plastic barrel.
It's shabby, untidy but really rather good, and the service was friendly too. Good stuff.
On 2nd September 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
Nicely refurbished pub worth the walk from the railway station. Great range of Dark Star ales with a bit more room than their pub the Evening Star in Brighton. Wasnt so busy on our last visit as in other years.
On 18th August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
This pub has quite a striking external architecture (look out especially for the hanging wellington boot) and the promise of Dark Star ales within. However, once inside, there really isn’t a huge amount to write home about – the interior is off-putting , it seems rather half-arsed and done on the cheap; laminate flooring and bright colours really doesn’t make one feel cosy. A lot of the light from the coastal setting also seems to be purposefully filtered out by the stained glass windows, making the place seem very gloomy on a summer’s day. Most of the raw ingredients are there – bar billiards, darts, piano etc but it really just doesn’t pull it off. Beer wise, there’s usually four Dark Star ales which of course come out very well, alongside a cider (usually Thatchers). I’ve been here a couple of times now and I really wasn’t that enamoured on either occasion.
Great beer but I wouldn’t go out of my way to do this one again unless I happened to be nearby.
On 2nd August 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
April 09 we returned to find the pub under new management and a younger clientèle. Beer still OK but not as much atmosphere since Roy and his team have left.
After a period away from the area, it was great to find that this pub has been refurbished inside and out and the beer is probably the best in Sussex. here you can regularity get that perfect pint that momentarily takes your breath away. If you are anywhere near the south coast, do not miss this pub!
Great pub with friendly staff. Newly developed beer garden with regular barbecues. Selling most Dark Star beers in perfect condition with a few choice German and Belgium bottled beers. Some evenings there are live bands.
Well worth a visit!
On 14th April 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve Jackpot left this review about The Duke Of Wellington
As a Dark star fan I was pleased when they opened up a pub in shoreham. The beers here are superb and over the first year the venue has been refurbished.They have live bands on Fridays and sometimes Sundays,and Roy and the rest of the staff are great. Well worth a visit!
On 6th December 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about Duke Of Wellington
Dark Star Hophead, Sunburst, & Original, Crouch Vale Top Sail, & Thatchers cider occupied the 5 handpumps, an impressive line-up. Piano on far side of bar, but apart from that and the very attractive original windows, an otherwise very modern, rather bland appearance, which was a shame. Note on wall states that ‘anyone mentioning a brewery with the initials GK, or a football team CP' will pay a forfeit to the lifeboat charity box. Needs to be busy to hide the lack of character, but fantastic beer.
On 18th November 2007
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]