please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
this pub is good, nice beers and nice food - nice sausages! A little bit too pricey for both food and beers. It has specific with clientele (office workers and university students/staff). The bar service would be better served if there are more barstaff as lunchtimes and early evenings tend to be very busy. Sometimes only one staff behind the bar and you could wait up to 10 minutes before being served. Nevertheless you will find this pub is high standard and you will enjoy drinking and eating there.
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Nice Beers and nice food - I recommend the sausages.
Can get rather busy at lunch times.
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I have just sampled the Master Brew and have found it to be of excellent quality. The Duke is once again, being used by many people during the lunch period.
It's good to find the old place and Shep's excellent ales being cared for, as before. Cheers.
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This is my response.
Hi Geoff,Thank you for your reply. I am very pleased to hear that the high standards have been restored, at one of the best real ale houses, near to where I work. I have previously brought several friends along, on many occasions, to sample the best Shepherd Neame ales that they were likely to find in London.
I can only assume that my suggestions to the bar staff, were followed up.
As for the predecessors, I know them to be very professional and caring. I have no doubt that they would continue to be so, even when faced with the prospect of not having a job. Regards John Bell
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I have just received this reply from Shepherd Neame.
"As the Business Development Manager now responsible for the Duke of York,your e-mail was forwarded to me. After receiving it, I made an unannounced
visit to the House to carry out a beer in glass audit and to check standards throughout. All beers, apart from being dispensed at a marginally high temperature, were inexcellent condition, scoring top marks for taste,aroma and clarity. The cellar was tidy, clean as was the trade area and bar servery, continuing the high standards set.I am surprised about comments regarding the treatment of the previous
management, particularly as they have recently written to my predecessor thanking him for his understanding during their working relationship.
I do hope that I have reassured you that standards and quality of offer will not drop and hope that you will continue to enjoy a good pint in a popular pub.
Geoff Baker"
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I have just had the most unfortunate experience of my first visit, to The Duke Of York, since the new tenants took over. The horrible "crack sound" of the dirty beer engine, being pulled, as the stale beer around the two sections gave way, is a sound I have not heard for decades in a real ale pub. The first 4 pints came up hazy and warmer than I am used to in this formally superb house. Even after at least 8 pints were pulled, the haze was still present. You used to be the first in at 12:00 and the ale was the best Shep's you could get. Unless someone can get the new tenants to perform like the management used to, this place will die a painful death. I can only assume that the regular users have stayed away in protest at the treatment of the former family, or due to the poor standards at this relatively expensive pub. Shep's will feel the wrath of my typing fingers very shortly.
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Hi Phil, Jill & Flick, I hope that the South East London CAMRA Chairperson, Roz Cox, visited you on your last evening at The Duke. I also hope that CAMRA can offer some guidence and assistance. If you ever get to be involved with a pub or club which has live music and is licenced for bands,or you want a private party with live music, you can contact me on my mobile or my E-mail address on the letter that I left you. The very best of luck in finding new work. There must surely always be a demand in the trade, for top notch, genuine people like yourselves. Cheers, John.
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I have recently received this reply to my e-mail.
Thank you for your recent email, which has been passed to me as District
Manager for this house.
I can assure you that the Duke of York is not closing but is going to be run by one of our Tenants and not one of our Managers, who will continue
running the pub to its current standard.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Yours sincerely,
SHEPHERD NEAME LIMITED
PAUL HAYES
District Manager
No mention of why Phil, Jill & Flick are taking redundancy and probably leaving the trade.
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I have just sent this E-mail to Shepherd Neame, following the sad news that just after their honeymoon, Phil & Jill and their daughter Flick, are being made redundant, due to the change from Managed House to Tenanted House.
"As a frequent user of the Duke Of York, Borough, London, I am very disheartened to hear that the wonderfull family that manage this excellent showcase for your superb ales, are being made redundant. After so much hard work and genuine hospitality, this is no reward."
I would have written more, but there is not enough space given on the web site. John
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Ham, Egg & chips is the nuts.
Lagers wet, cold & fizzy. Orangeboom great or if you want to eat some pavement, the Holsten is worth trying.
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The Duke is a great pub. Good atmosphere and lovely staff
K - 2 Nov 2004 15:49 |
What a great pub. The atmosphere is great. The food even better and there is always a service with a smile. Working near a pub like this is great.
Ralphius - 27 Oct 2004 16:07 |
If you like good beer and relaxing after work then this is the pub to be in...I should know I'm there most nights!
Jamie - 27 Oct 2004 12:53 |
God bless the Duke of York for pouring Orangeboom. By far the best draught lager in the world. Makes my day.
Aidan - 27 Oct 2004 12:39 |
The Duke Of York was never going to be a food pub. It's main focus is the excellent ales and unusual imported beers.It is difficult to create atmosphere with so many large windows, but I still remember how the "Goose" used to look. The atmosphere was created by the lively student regulars enjoying the live piano and occasional folk band. At least the spit and sawdust has gone. I for one, enjoy sitting in the "old farts" comfy chairs in the corner, sipping the wonderfull, if pricey, Shep's finest. John.
John - 25 Oct 2004 12:35 |
Ok, I will admit the beer is good, but the pub has no atmosphere whatsoever. If you like Dido, then this place should suit you to the ground. Too many 'aged' items like the laughable portrait of the Duke himself. If you want decent food, go to Terry's or El Vergel instead!
Nick - 22 Oct 2004 17:31 |
I have just had my first meal in this wonderfull pub and I was very impressed. If you are hungry, I recommend the ham egg chips & peas. There is plenty of it and top quality, for just over a fiver. John.
John - 12 Aug 2004 13:50 |
Lately I've found myself at this pub at least twice a week. A lot of their fancy Dutch beers are pricey, but the staff (who I have always found to be friendly and professional) do warn you of that when you order a pint! I usually shun poncey overpriced beer but most of the stuff here suits slow enjoyable sipping and is strong and tasty, so an evening here isn't more expensive than elsewhere.
Nicole - 19 Jul 2004 21:08 |
I have never had any problems with the bar staff at this very friendly place. It must have been late. If you fancy a session, it's always better to give yourself enough time. John.
John - 19 Apr 2004 20:12 |
Good pint of Sheperd Neame but visit on the evening of Monday 5th March spoiled when we were informed by the barmaid when last orders were (we arrived at twenty-five to eleven). It then became apparent that she was waiting to go out with a few of her mates who were clustered at the end of the bar and this was further confirmed when she started switching off the lamps and squirting Mr Muscle ostensibly on the tables but mostly into our pints. Won't go back.
pubclub - 6 Apr 2004 09:43 |
The perfect pub. The beer is just that - proper stuff, none of this Southern gassy muck you get in the rest of London.
And what a CD collection. Dido, Dido, and if you are lucky, James Taylor followed by Dido.
Grrreat
Clive - 2 Dec 2003 17:02 |
A newly aquired Shepherd Neame pub. Used to be the original Goose & Firkin. Perfect Shep's ales served with loving care by Phil, Jill & Flick. Wonderfull bar back full of bottled ales, Trappist brews, wheat and fruit beers, all served in the correct glassware. Nice clean air and refurbished/new facilities. If you want something special, this is the place.
John - 23 Sep 2003 04:34 |
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