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Duke of Cambridge, Islington, N1
N1
N1 8JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about Duke of Cambridge
A full blown Gastro-pub, a large main room with appalling acoustics, it was full on babble, there is also an extended seating area beyond the kitchen but I didn't venture there. There seemed to be a meet and greet at the door and table service in operation but I walked straight through and ordered at the bar unchallenged. Beers on were Purity UBU and Mad Goose plus a house bitter the name of which now escapes me, a few craft keg also on offer and I had an Anspach & Hobday London Black, I was the only customer drinking without dining and felt a little conscious of that fact but I was left to get on with it unhindered by the staff with a thank you as I left. Worth a pint but it wouldn't be a regular watering hole.
On 17th March 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Duke of Cambridge
Trendy eating house place which feels more like a kitchen than a pub inside but does at least have some nicely-kept ales: on this visit Purity Ubu and Gold. As stated in previous reviews, big on the organics.
On 16th September 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Duke of Cambridge
A corner pub best know for it's Soil Association accreditation and it's commitment to organic produce.The exterior map shows all their food suppliers.The interior has been totally stripped out,and has ranks of bench seating rather like a refectory.The bar is along the far wall from the apex entrance and has 4 handpumps offering on my trip St Peters Organic Ale,Purity UBU,ELB Brakeman and Three Sods BoHo Bitter(too warm,which is a problem I've had in here before so maybe there a cellar cooling issue.)
It's lively and principally a dining venue although there is a drinking shelf near the entrance if you dont want to take up a position on a long bench .However coming in here just to drink is fine,expect neighbours to be eating.I got into a chance conversation with some friendly locals,which led to more pub information and research.However there are better pubs nearby for real ale.
On 26th February 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Duke of Cambridge
Decent corner pub with craft ales. The three mothers with babies put me off a bit, mind you.
On 19th January 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Duke of Cambridge
12th July 2011.
This is Britain's first and only organically certified pub. As such, all beverages and [gastro] food are organic. The pub proclaims that it is environmentally sustainable.
Ale is pulled by Vestal virgins and lavatorial waste is recycled to power the Wifi server via a wind turbine mounted on the bar; organically reared animals eagerly queue up to be spatchcocked under the High Altar of this pub's salamander (okay, I made this bit up). Seriously though, the concept is appealing and the pub is generally a very nice place - lots of bare wood lines a large and mainly open-plan venue, though lighting is dim which means it's in keeping with the neighbouring Lord Clyde and George Orwell (what is it with this area and dim lighting?); copies of the pub's cook book are on sale at the bar.
I would be very happy to come here again and bring my environmentally like-minded friends, publicly educated or not.
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A return visit and unsurprisingly, little has changed, though it does seem a little more food orientated.
Beers up: St. Peter's Organic Ale, Stroud Brewery's Tom Long, Uprising Brewery's West Coast IPA and Purity's Saddle Black at £4.25 which was both a little lifeless and too warm.
I think this place still sits between pub (not boozer) and restaurant; I'd certainly come here on a date or special occasion if in the area.
On 22nd March 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Duke of Cambridge
Full marks for the concept and the place was buzzing on this early Saturday evening when we popped in to try the Organic beers.. Between us we tried all four on offer, but I hope we caught them on a bad Saturday evening because they were all as flat as pancakes.
Very disappointing as I'd heard good things about the EcoWarrier. But worst of all was that Windsor and Eton Tree Tops Stout was available alongside the Pitfield beers, and this is usually an excellent beer. Sadly not in the Duke of Cambridge for our visit.
To be fair this was the first time to experience this Organic venture for a beer , but on this experience it is likely to be the last, as this part of N1 is now inundated with interesting beer options.
Hopefully the food is worth a visit, but best to check Trip advisor for that.
On 26th February 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Duke of Cambridge
Similar to the North Pole in being a tight wedge-shaped corner pub. Interior is an open-plan affair ‘generic London trendy’ catalogue number #61. Amusement value gleaned from the barmaid sporting a badass wafro. Four pumps, 2xPitfields, WEBREW and Liverpool organic. I tried a couple and was mighty disappointed by the quality of both, flat and lifeless. Packed out (unlike the North Pole, the previous stop) so it’s obviously doing something right, presumably due to the organic certification gubbins mentioned at length elsewhere. Not one I really warmed to and I wouldn’t be looking to head back here again.
On 25th February 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Duke of Cambridge
Tucked away in the back streets of Islington, the Duke of Cambridge is Britain’s only certified organic pub. Opening in 1998, the pub went on to achieve this surprisingly unique accolade from the Soil Association, ensuring that their products are all locally sourced and, of course, organic. It’s a decent concept around which to build a pub and I’m amazed that no-one else has given it a go. As you might expect, the pub has a gastro feel to it with bare floorboards and large scrubbed tables filling up a deceptively large main bar. The colour scheme is a simple mix of light and dark, with white walls and dark pillars and ceiling broken up only by the numerous blackboards listing all of their food and drink options in great detail. The kitchen is located in an area that you pass in order to reach the restaurant and the smells from the cooking were wafting through to the bar which wasn’t all that pleasant. I didn’t get a good look at the restaurant, but from what I saw, it looked a bit more stylish and comfortable that the bar area. I noticed that some of the blackboards listed a range of fruit and vegetables, explaining which of them were in season and at what point they may appear on the daily changing menu. A few people were eating in the bar and the tables all had a bottle of oil on them in an old St Peter’s Ale bottle.
Four hand pumps offered four organic beers – Pitfield Eco Warrior and Duke of Cambridge Bitter, Celt Iron Age and St Peter’s Organic Ale. I opted for a half of the St Peter’s which was served in a dimpled half pint mug and was a little past its best. The keg range is limited, with none of the usual suspects present. I believe the Freedom Brewery produce a lager for the pub, although I didn’t spot it myself. A peek in the fridges saw the likes of Kernel and Pitfield beers available.
I thought the drinking experience in this place was a bit akin to sitting in a canteen, but as a concept or a place to enjoy a bite to eat, they are onto a winner, especially given their location.
On 21st October 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Duke of Cambridge
This pub doesn’t look like much from the outside, and I hadn’t planned on visiting it, but what drew me in was the sight of four pump clips that I didn’t recognise from the doorway. It turned out that three of the ales were from Pitfield Brewery (an Essex brewery I was told by the barmaid) – SB; Red Ale; and Eco Warrior. The fourth pump was dispensing St Peter’s Organic Ale. I detected a “green” theme here. The SB was OK; not good, just “OK” – and at something like £3.50 a pint.
The interior of the single room pub is minimalist in the extreme. It’s bare-boarded, with furnishings consisting of large solid scrubbed wood tables, a couple of plain wooden benches, and a collection of assorted ordinary chairs. There’s nothing on the walls other than chalkboards giving details of the available wines, beers, snacks and a statement extolling their ethical meat sourcing policy. I didn’t see any menus, being in there late afternoon on a Wednesday, but there was a distinct odour of food still lingering.
Well, it’s the first time I’ve been in a completely, and certified, organic pub. Giving this sort of choice to consumers has to be a good thing, but to be honest I didn’t really take to the pub. It’s light, clean, and airy, but I didn’t find it particularly comfortable, and thought it a bit characterless. I doubt whether I’ll go out of my way to visit again, but I’m glad this pub is here to cater for those who want this sort of pub.
On 18th September 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Duke of Cambridge
If you close your eyes and try to imagine what a large high ceilinged open plan organic pub in Islington looks like you probably wouldn't be too far off this place.
On my visit there were four pittfield's ales and two freedom lagers alongside Luscombe organic cider.
There is no music or TV, but it was very busy as you probably couldn't have put a pub like this in a better place.
I think that this is a pub run by publicly educated people for publicly educated people.
On 4th September 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]