The Duke (of York), Holborn

I registered on this site, just to comment on this pub. I have worked down the road from The Duke for 18 months, and since it is our 'local', have been there many times. Every time I have been, the staff are curt and unsmiling. They border on extremely rude. You feel that even asking for a drink at the bar, is putting them out hugely. Twice in the last month, we have been served houmous that is off, and once had mouldy bread to accompany it. When we asked for fresh bread and houmous, we were grudgingly and slowly served. No apologies or offers of money back when the houmous was substituted with a bowl of olive oil. Service is slow as well as surly, and the food, while admittedly very tasty, is expensive. The decor isn't bad, although some of the paintings leave much to be desired, but to be honest, the unfriendly staff and hard chairs, make a visit there quite uncomfortable. I certainly have given this pub enough chances to redeem itself, and I think it simply gets worse. So in conclusion, nice expensive food (when it's fresh) but rude staff and really not worth the bother.

3 Aug 2005 14:52