please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A great pub with a spectacular range of beers and all human life represented. We gathered there after a trip to see the local non-league team play and for February, the weather was clement enough to perch outside in the garden, even if we did come in eventually. Saltaire Triple Chocoholic was on tap – always a boon.
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Proper pub, great beers!
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The best boozer around by far. I travel several miles to go there but it is worth it. There is always a fantastic selection of good ales and the music is usually good too.
I must not forget to mention the extensive section of ciders & lagers.
It is worth going just to see the stained glass windows. I have never figured what all of them mean.
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Best pub for miles around IMHO! Dog friendly and lots of covered sitting areas in the garden, they even have a log file in the garden too. The ales were quote varied and not all the usual suspects either. The Brodie's was lovely and she who must be pillioned, loved the dark beers. They have a Pizza Menu from the place around the corner with 20% discount. Our was delivered very quickly, piping hot and very tasty. Live Jazz combo yesterday when we visited. Great way to run a boozer. Can't wait to go back!
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An excellent basic drinking pub. Dark Star no longer own it we understand but their beers are still on the bar along with beers from other breweries
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A "dark star" brewery pub located a short walk from the town centre, the beer quality was very good and there were also some interesting lagers on tap.
A single bar serves a large open drinking area and at the back of the pub there is plenty of seating for drinkers, the pub is "dog friendly" and also appears to have bands on fairly regularly.
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new staff,formerly at the evening star {brighton} have upped the ante in this boozer.the beerfest in feb was magnificent. in again 19th feb,rother valley chocolate porter v.naice. a pub on the way up.
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A good pub with a great range of beers, always well kept. My mate had his pint nicked (a regular occurence in busy pubs I am told) but the governor gave him another one without batting an eyelid. The music is a great attraction with a wide range of styles. Go There.
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Great pub
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Definitely improving. I find the beers are kept to a wonderful standard, if there are any rare problems, such as the last one out of the tub, the staff will replace without a blink of an eye.
The music, well I am normally out of there before it starts, I am a bit too old for the volume, and value my hearing. The Sunday afternoon music can be a lot better if you sit in the smoking area outback, about the right volume for me.
The Dark Star beers are the attraction for me, thank goodness there is a brewer who knows what hops are for!!
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Our second visit to this pub yesterday. Very well kept beer; we enjoyed Green Daemon Helles from Kent this time round and Dark Star APA on the first visit. Must give it another try when there's music on.
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Great little pub, very good selection of beers, now with more guest ales than previously. Had the Triple fff Alton Pride in fine form. Do agree with previous posts that if you are in there for music can be too loud, or maybe I am just getting old!
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A smashing little boozer with an absolutely brilliant range of beers, lagers and ciders and a nice friendly crowd both sides of the bar. BUT in a pub barely larger than my lounge the amps arn't required and certainly don't need to be turned up to the pain level. I'm afraid the volume spoiled my visit.
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I guess I always go at the wrong time (Sunday afternoon?) but for me not up to the standard of the two other Dark Star pubs. Nowt wrong with the beer though!
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I was in there last night. Had 3 pints of Dark Star APA which was in excellent form. An appreciative crowd were gathered around the bar sampling the beers.
Only problem I had was that the music was too loud and it was on a 4 track loop of Robin Trower songs. Clearly only appealing to a very limited audience. He was singing along to them though. I doubt if they play requests.
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A Great pub, good beer and live bands, shame its a couple of miles outisd my staggering distance otherwise it would be my local.(maybe i could move?)
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Well what can I say about this pub, actually quite a lot if you must know :-)
Visited this pub for the first time last week as we were looking for a new pub quiz to attend and boy what a find. I can quite honestly say that me, my wife and my friend have never ever felt so welcome in a pub in all my life, and I am not exaggerating. All staff and management are some of the friendliest people I have ever come across. The beer is fantastic and they let you sample anything you�re not sure about, but it all tastes great to me and I am a fussy bugger. Even the locals are really friendly. The quiz was great we won on the first week and then came last tonight, just shows you that it�s diverse which is what you want out of a quiz.
I can quite honestly say that I will be visiting The Duke of Wellington on a regular basis from now on infact I wouldn�t mind making it my regular drinking hole.
Well done girls your pub rocks
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How nice to find a pub with a bar-billiards table!
The beer was nice as well. Very pleasant experience all round.
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This is a large, single room pub with a horsehoe-shaped bar. Three or four pumps serving Dark Star Hophead and Golden Gate and a guest beer Nailsworth Winter Woolly. My pint of Hophead was well kept.
The bar itself looked as if it had just been built and was waiting for a varnish. The pub was also harshly lit.
There was live music on our visit from someone described as 'folk soul' (whatever that is). The songs were cliched left-wing nonsense - one of the titles was 'Hard Money' and at least two of them contained the word 'shit'.
Can't fault the beer, but the overall experience was disappointing.
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Regarding the comment below,the Wellie has always much busier when there is music on (most Friday Eve's, some Sat Eve's, some Sun afternoons) and quite when it is not.
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Revisited following change of management. Although very lively, with music and an obviously happy local crowd, I did miss the quietness that was apparent before. Beer still however top notch and an extremely friendly welcome. Possibly such a contrast from previous visit that it took the wind out of my sails. Will definitely return in October 2009, when next in Brighton.
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To say that this pub is "over rated" i believe is most unfair. Although peronally i liked the previous landlord, i do believe that he wasn't the best at his job and hense the reputation of the pub slipped. I do think however that since the early January when the new land lady took over, the pub is quickly improving. The staff are friendly, the beer is as fantastic as ever and the atmosphere is becoming better every time i go in there. And contrary to superseagulls remark above the lack of custom, i feel from my own experience that the great and ever improving atmosphere is as a direct result of happy customers, both new and old faces that seem to grow in number every time i go in there. The best of luck to the new managment on making an all ready good local boozer, a great one!
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Over rated Dark Star pub that has been on the slide for a while now, beer selection is nowhere near as good as a couple of years back when it first opened and this shows by how quiet it is nowdays, maybe its the Credit Crunch but on the other hand why is the Buckingham always heaving?
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I sense an improvement here in both ambience and staff. It would be difficult to improve the beer as the Dark Star offerings are already top notch. I will up my rating accordingly!
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Found this place for the first time a few weeks back on a mystery tour of pubs in the area during the week. Naturally it was fairly quiet but I was most impressed at the quality of the beers. Mainly Dark Star, although I am a fan of their beers. 1 guest on although there maybe more at a weekend. I will visit this place again. Cheers!!
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Great pub and worth the train ride on a sunday. Good alround pub, but can be hard to get the bar maid to look up from her book or phone.
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Wonderful down-to-earth pub - great beer, great bands, great atmosphere, and run by a landlord who loves his job. Top.
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This pub has a great music tradition in Shoreham, Bands play most Fridays and some Saturdays. Check out the Duke of Wellington Myspace site for bands and dates.
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Excellent Dark Star beer in a good friendly, no-nonsense boozer. Well worth a visit.
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intransigent
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Great Dark Star beer and some cider in good nick, so worth a trip for that.
Outside is an interesting bit of architecture. Inside, however, is nothing particularly special and I wasn't really too keen to stay on beyond a pint or two.
Will try again in the near future, perhaps I caught it below-form.
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Dead quiet on Good Friday lunchtime, in contrast to the nearby Buckingham Arms. Three Dark Star ales on handpump, plus two guests and a cider. Slightly strange decor and ambience, as already noted by others, although the landlord was friendly enough and I'd certainly return if passing though Shoreham again.
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folie a deux
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Bit of a strange one this. Located in a pretty grim industrial area of Shoreham. Pub owned by Dark Star brewery so as you would expect the real ales are good with dark star plus microbrewery guests. It is often rather quiet (maybe that is becasue if I go in it is early evening) with just a few people sitting at the bar. Bar service is OK but nothing more. The decor is rather odd with laminate flooring and bright colours but it does not really work. Bottom line is that although the beer is good there is little atmosphere and it is definitely not as good as other the other Dark Star flagships (Evening Star and Stand up Inn).
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slowly dying, gets worse
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Great beer and lively conversation. If "anonymous" revealed him/her/its self then perhaps I could take their comments with a little more than a pinch of salt. Although somehow I doubt it!!!
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used to be great, the music can be hit or miss,lacks ambience , and the landlord??????
anonymous - 2 Dec 2007 18:01 |
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.
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Weasels ripped the soul out of the pub
anonymous - 11 Nov 2007 11:02 |
What the dickens is going on? The pub used to be OK.
anonymous - 30 Oct 2007 20:51 |
it may have good beer but the staff were gruff, rude and unhelpful, unlike the well run Evening Star in Brighton, run by the same firm. sad 'cos this used to be a nice pub.
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Beware of Blackhawks!
anonymous - 19 Oct 2007 10:21 |
The 2 messages sent by anonymous (13/9 & 29/9) are complete rubbish. They have been posted by an ex-customer who is very small minded and the sort of person who runs off crying when he can't take charge and run someone elses pub for them.
He is also not very welcome in any pub in Shoreham.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2007 15:06 |
At the last juncture, the pub was infiltrated by Nazi-types. Not the usual crowd but these right-wing bastards got in and made a nuisance of themselves.
anonymous - 29 Sep 2007 10:06 |
Landlord does a fair immitation of a Camel. Pub contains at lest one violent nutter. Avoid at all costs. Not worth the grief.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2007 09:18 |
locals pub, but well worth train journey down. because at the end of the day, its crammed with dark star ale.
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Will it ever get there? always something being done inside but never gets there really. It is a bit more inviting but has a long way to go yet. Beers are still great though, a bit of a madhouse as all the regulars are real alcohol freaks.
anonymous - 24 Jul 2007 16:27 |
Lovely friendly staff and although quiet, enjoyed chatting to the landlord and a customer at the bar. Plenty of good real ales on offer. Is still in the renovation process. Was recommended to me for its Dark Star range, and I was not disappointed.
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Picture is out of date. I uploaded a new picture, but nothing happened. Outside has a complete revamp.
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Floor has now been replaced and the new tables are being made (these are crafstman made, not ordered off the shelf, so it takes a bit of time).
New floor has put the rating up. Tables, when they arrive, might put it up to 10.
Probably got to be over 21 to appreciate the pub. Not a jack-a-nory establishment.
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Duke of Boots has now got its licence to open later in the evening, including this Easter.
Pub is dog friendly. Too much so, some people may say.
anonymous - 6 Apr 2007 12:19 |
Look for a giant left footed Wellington Boot hanging outside. Only pub in Shoreham that has the taste to sell traditional cider at �2.40 a pint of Thatchers which at 6% alcohol is average for this sort of drink. Beer is sold as well, but no keg fizzy stuff. Foreign bottle beers. Decor about to be refurbished as it was previously tatty in parts (still is at the time of writing). No late sessions or late night opening past eleven (yet). Football pub and TV shows terrestrial TV matches on the large flat screen. No food other than crisps and nuts are sold. Background music (DVDs) seems to be obligatory in pubs nowadays but the pub is conducive to conversation. Garden without a view. Special events sometimes. Music on Friday nights is sometimes below par, sometimes above par, depending on your taste. No fruit machines and no plans to install them. Bar billiards. Chess sets and draughts, cribbage, cards etc.
anonymous - 4 Apr 2007 00:59 |
Another pub from Dark Star, again beers are top notch but when we visited conversation was kept to a minimum by the TV blaring out cricket commentary accompanied by the landlords impersonation of the umpire every time a 4 or 6 were scored mmmmmm! Not sure if decor has been finished or not
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the wellie is perfect for live music like Dolly Dagger i would pay double ie �4 to see them they are so talented and experienced clashing hedricks! what more could you want? ive seen grown men leaping up in the air to the thrill of them the lead guitar making voodoo sounds etc where have they gone for gods sake?
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Visited over the weekend for the first time and although as already been commented on,in need of an interior makeover, this was more than made up for the array of pumps that produce the fantastic selection of well kept ales from themselves and others that dark star are now synonymous for.
The conversation was pleasant from both sides of the bar,and although there is much to be done before this pub reaches the heights of its sister in Brighton the signs are looking positive.
Keep up the good work Dark Star
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Interior refurbishment is going to happen fairly soon according to what I heard last Tuesday.
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Not a pub for those liking the usual lagers and alco pops. Good beer, good clients, bar billiards and good music. What more could you want.
anonymous - 6 Feb 2007 17:56 |
Excellent beers. Like the last poster said, the interior does need working on. Could be that the bar looks a bit too contemporary for a start. The exterior is now fantastic "Well Done" The massive Wellington Boot and bold sign should get people's attention. This has the makings of an excellent pub.
anonymous - 11 Jan 2007 15:36 |
Great beer but please do something to the inside, what a dismal place, no character at all. It needs sprucing up and something to remeber the place by, rather than newspapers, crappy old furniture and the landlord leaning on the bar doing his soduku not noticing the glass is empty.
anonymous - 10 Nov 2006 17:10 |
Great pub! Love he music - especially The Ant Hill Mob! Shame they charge �2 admission and the stopping to pay the person on the door makes me feel uneasy going in. However, once inside it is worth being brave and the customers are a trouble free lot.
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The beer is excellent, but what a strange pub. The decor is completely out of character with the building. Not sure how to describe it. Some good 60s music being played, but the place still lacked atmosphere. Service was a bit on the slow side. Dark Star always score 10/10 for their beers. It's a shame their pubs aren't as good.
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What an absolute gem! I have lived in Shoreham for many years but never visited this pub in its former life, but now that it has re-opened under the Dark Star banner, I have a reason to visit... every week!
Superb beer and friendly staff, what more can a man (or woman) need? How about live music every Friday evening? Also, patrons were recently treated to a mini beer festival where there were not only real ales, but wheat beer, cider and perry.
This is not one of those pubs that like so many attempts to woo customers with fancy decor, fruit machines and sky TV while offering up bland interbrew style refreshment. No, this is a pub that offers a warm and friendly welcome and aims to treat your tastebuds!
Highly recommended.
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I missed out on APA but had a very nice "hophead" pity it's so bare with no atmosphere as it is a Dark Star brewery pub.
anonymous - 11 May 2006 16:47 |
A bit plain but worth the visit for the great Dark Star beers. Also had three guest beers on.Very friendly staff. Yes,well worth a visit
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Nice to see this pub now doing really well. It was the Dark Star Brewery that initially got me there; the pub had a bit of a bad image in the past before Dark Star took over.
Roy the 'Inn Keeper' as he likes to be called is a nice chap and I can see this pub taking over as the best in Shoreham (and we sure do have a choice!) before very long.
Being a smoker it is nice to hear that there are plans to cater for us lepers by upgrading the outside rear area with a covered area and heaters.
Keep it up Roy, good beer nice atmosphere and I'll continue to pay very regular visits.
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