Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Duke, Surbiton
Surbiton
KT6 4NQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Duke
This place seems to be largely unchanged since previous reviewers' visits. The tiny outside seating area is still there on the left; there are more tall tables/tall stools for my taste; a wall at the back is reclaimed and possibly distressed wood from crates or pallets; and the TVs are present of course. There are raised and carpeted areas at the front on either side of the doorway, otherwise the place is bare-boarded.
Being a Greene King pub there were a couple of their ales on - GKIPA and London Glory - with Wimbledon Common as the guest ale. There was also Gwatkin Red Bull cider on draught. There was a pretty standard pubco menu on the tables, including pub grub staples such as sausage & mash (£10.45) and beef & ale pie (£11.95) available. Top notch prices for a basic pubco pub. I also spotted a covered cakestand on the bar counter, with some sort of confectionary under it.
I didn't think this pub was anything special. It's a basic high street pubco pub; but my pint of Wimbledon Common was in good shape.
On 27th September 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Duke
Dull formulaic interior.Wood floors ,brick and designer battleship grey paint.Tall tables and stools.Two GK beers and Park -killcat pale so it wasn't a disaster.
On 20th August 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Duke of York
Still remains a rather bland outlet as described below,if there has been any change over the years I would guess its now more foody than it once was. Four pumps for ale,GK IPA, Abbot and H&H Rocking Rudolph and one clip reversed, to be fair the festive offering was in decent condition albeit a bland offering.I wouldn't plan a revisit.
On 2nd December 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Duke of York
This pub was a Hogshead before having a short stint as The Elm Tree before becoming The Duke of York which is what it is today. It’s a Greene King pub and I counted four hand pumps in amongst the standard draught products that line the bar. The ales available were Old Speckled Hen, Abbot, IPA and as my visit was just before Christmas the seasonal beer was Rocking Rudolph. I went for the Guinness that was well served by a friendly enough bar person. Very cheap food is served from 11:30 until 17:00 daily. I spotted a couple of plasma screens that were turned off and some very low background music was playing, but it was impossible to hear over the chatter reverberating around the interior of this open plan bare wood pub.
Outside there is an awning that covers a smoking area that is railed off from the path at the side of the pub.
I thought this place to be bland and forgettable and although there is not much wrong with it there are far better pubs in the area.
On 17th January 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about The Duke of York
I've been pleasantly surprised by this pub recently, after several years' avoidance.
It was indeed a Hogshead previously (and before that a Currys, retailing electrical equipment - don't go there expecting historic pub architecture). For a year or two, whilst Whitbread seemed genuinely to be making an effort with Hogsheads as a quality real ale chain, it was a very good pub run by a landlord who understood the important things in life - he knew his beers, knew his customers, and knew his barmaids. Then he moved on and his replacement was so clueless that even the lager-drinking bar staff started drinking out of bottles. On occasional visits during its subsequent incarnation as the Elm Tree, I felt its main purpose was just another high street venue in which youths could get drunk while watching football. That may well have been a tad unfair of me, but it certainly wasn't my sort of pub.
On recent return, I've found they've boldly dispensed with the screens, and seem to be taking the pub in a different direction. I would like a wider range of ales than just GK, but I have to admit they serve them well. The bar staff seem very efficient and friendly, and give the impression that they actually want to serve you. Overall, it felt quite comfortable. And if last Monday was anything to go by, this could become rather a good live jazz venue.
I've rated this a cautious 6 for now, intending to re-evaluate after a couple more visits to establish whether its latest relaunch has indeed provided an interesting addition to the Surbiton scene. I just hope it doesn't go too 'foodie' to the exclusion of a proper pub identity, which is a danger, but they seem to be getting a reasonable balance at the moment.
On 19th December 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Duke of York
A pretty bland and mediocre town centre pub consisting of a single room with the bar along a side wall. Once a Hogshead I think and now following on as a GK pub. No guest beers on my visit, just IPA, Abbot and OSH. It looks like there has been a relatively recent refurb, but there is not one iota of interest or tradition in the internal layout. A wood floor and some B&Q style stained wainscotting, mixed seating with some high tables and stools, including a central room feature of a raised area with opposite drinking shelves. Live music is heavily advertised around the place, I assume they use one of the slightly raised areas towards the front but I'm surmising.
Several TV screens, a pool table, dartboard and numerous gaming machines dotted around.
Not my kind of place at all, but it will suit some and to be fair the welcome and service were very good.
On 17th June 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]