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Detail Pages
Duchess of Kent, De Beauvoir Town, N1
N1
N1 8PR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Duchess of Kent
Until around 2005 there were three D o Ks in Islington, now down to two and it’s interesting to note that this pub’s Facebook page has the weblink to the other gastropub incarnation on Liverpool Road – I bet they love the free publicity!
This is a 1930s’ rebuild for Watney, Combe & Reid with its faience tiling recently painted a contemporary shade of grey to make it look more Islingtonian. However, it’s definitely not a gastropub but a very traditional locals’ boozer – I don’t even know if they sell food here.
Situated in an increasingly gentrified area, internally it’s all very pubby with a large bar, carpeted floor, muted music, games machines and two TVs showing the news with the sound off. There are swag curtains and furniture is traditional, as you’d expect. Décor is traditional too with brewgalia and the like.
There was just one customer in when I arrived, served by a very friendly barmaid.
Fuller’s London Pride and an unused pump delivered the ale, not sampled as I failed to notice it until after I’d ordered my half of Foster’s at £2.10.
This is a good locals’ pub, pretty much unchanged and all the better for that. I hope it survives, but this isn’t really my format.
On 2nd May 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Duchess of Kent
This is a good sized L-shaped pub with a long bar that was being run by two extremely friendly barmaids that were having plenty of banter with the twenty or so locals that were having a boisterous Thursday evening drink. There were two hand pumps that had Pride and Tetleys Cask clips, but these were both off leaving a selection of standard draught. I’d had a couple of quick pints before entering here so I opted for a small Guinness and after a little leg pulling by one of the barmaids about me being allowed to use the toilet without buying a drink I received a decent half.
There are a couple of plasma screens for showing Sky Sports, but these were both off and the jukebox was playing random songs. There is a stage at the far end of the bar that is used for a DJ and Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights when there is an extended license until midnight. There is also a dartboard that had a table and chairs on the oche, but this is the sort of pub where you just move them out of the way without any hassle. There were a few signs advertising that private parties and functions are catered for and any enquires should be made to the staff.
There are three picnic tables on the path outside which were being used by smokers during my visit.
I liked the atmosphere in here and although I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again this is a good pub that I would use if I lived locally.
On 15th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5243 recommendations about 5211 pubs]