please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Duke was somewhat of a disappointment. It's 2 rooms were packed on my Friday evening visit. Bar staff were serving people out of order, after long waits. Drinks were overpriced and the selection was poor. The solitary real ale was Doom Bar. I opted for a fizzy keg cider also from Sharp's. Poor.
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Ah, the ol' DUKE...used to be one of my fav pubs on the Richmond circuit, until it became a restaurant...with a pub attached on the side. Maybe thats putting it harshly, but as 'BeerBelly' so eloquently puts it, The Duke is lacking in atmosphere & identity, whenever I visit now. Don't go in on a Monday afternoon expecting hot food! That's when the kitchen gets a thorough clean. And at 4.00pm you will be the only person in the pub! Mind you, I have been there on other days and at other times and still the place is empty..! Me thinks they are doing something wrong here, and there are 27 other better pubs in Richmond that will better tick your boxes! :o(
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I feel lukewarm about this place. As others have pointed out it's trying to be a gastro but then until we discovered the rejuvenated Britannia it was our spot for a post-commute or pre-theatre drink. It's not a bad place, it's just we think The Britannia has the edge in service, food and atmosphere.
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Had 2 pints neither ideal. Disappointing for a Cask Marque pub.
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As others say, it's more of a gastro pub but mid. afternoon trade when I popped in for a pint after a meeting was a mixture of coffee drinkers, people having food and tourists taking pictures of the real ale taps. I had a pint of from the Twickenham brewery which tasted good although at £3,95, was rather pricey. Three ales in total, none of which were from Fullers or Youngs, unlike many of the pubs in the area, although the offering from the Truman Brewery was finished.
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For me, The Duke is a gastro-pub and not the worse for that. Staff and other customers are friendly, which was not what I expected in this area. We just called in on the way to a rugby match for snacks which proved to be of very good quality and value for money. The Belgian Hoegaarden wheat beer was served in the characteristic hexagonal glass with a slice of lime. Enjoyable.
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"The Duke" always seems to be quiet whenever I visit. Unless you go on an evening after Richmond Theatre turns out...then it can on occasion, fill up and get quite busy with 'luvvies' from the theatre trade, and the bar becomes an extension of the theatre.... interesting! I enjoyed this pub more before it became The Duke, I'm not sure what to make of it now, apart from a quick-half stop, before going on to a better pub elsewhere..!! Sorry staff - but as CharlesS helpfully points out - its a restaurant (trying to be fancy..!) with a pub attached. Thats it. I will have to reduce my rating to 4/10. :o(
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service little slow on drinks, lacked some clean glasses. although got served with a smile the wait (for no reason) killed it a todd. little quiet on my thursday visit
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Nice decor but lacking in atmosphere on a Wednesday evening. Big and spacious with definite emphasis on food. Shocking prices of �4.05 for a guinness and �3.85 for a becks. Better pubs in Richmond but hear the food is very good.
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It is a DIning area with a bar tacked on to it but have changed opinion of it, think it does what it does well and the staff are always helpful and friendly. Good food, can be bit deserted during afternoon but busy at weekends and great Roast.
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Have to agree with last review by TheoCC. Last two afternoons I've been in this pub it has been virtually empty, and devoid of any character whatsoever. Its a shame, its in a prime location close to the centre of Richmond, and near The Green. At least I had no problem finding a seat. I remember this pub as "The Cobwebs" (a while ago...!!) and more recently as the 'Racing Page', it seemed to be more popular then, and lunchtimes were always quite busy. But hey, we're in a recession, i guess. And the weather's been awful lately. Maybe 'The Duke' will pick up business in the spring/summer. Lets hope. :o) TJ
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Okay place. Dont think it's really fulfilling it's ethos though. In my opinion it is trying to be a formal restaurant beside a wine bar with average food rather than being a gastro pub which it states it is. In saying that my meal was enjoyable and staff were friendly, probably wouldn't go back though...
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overall a good pub, have eaten there a couple of times and has been excellant, in particular suasage and mash. Service from staff hs always been good and to be honest is miles above a number of pubs in richmond in terms of being child friendly. Agree with comment though about being drafty!
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Re-iterate what has been said, its a dining area with a pub tacked onto it. As to the toilets, whats that about, looks like some Aztec line drawings. for guidance, Men take the left, Women the right. I was a bit peeved their was no hand dryer or paper towels to dry your hands, especially as I was charged �13 for two double vodkas. Staff were ok, but nothing special. Really cant see myself going back.
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Called in to eat and drink before Rugby International. Ordered a pint of Doombar (nice) and Aspal came to �7.20. Ordered some nuts from a jar you know they come in a small white bowl probably two packets of KP nuts- �2
We ordered food I had a smoked salmon starter I wasnt too hungry (�6.00)
and my friend had a burger (�9.50). My food was good the burger was fine but I would say expensive for a pub as all dishes at that price point and more. The atmosphere was good the roof lights creating a light and airy feel- The men and women signs in the loos confused me for a bit; so watch out for that.
For the beer drinkers there was also Fullers London Pride on offer. Overall a very nice pub but expensive
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First things first - it is a re-fitted gastropub. Done up quite nicely but a lacking a bit of soul/quirky touches etec.
Once you get over that and get out of the traditional pub mindset, then actually it is very very good. The place is split into 2 openly connected rooms. One is the bar with tables and chairs which lacks atmosphere, the other is dining room with low level lighting and whilst is quite a good size it feels cosy enough.
I like my beer and the Doom Bar that they had on tap in the bar was excellent. We ate in the dining room - it was just as well we had booked as it was packed and had a very good atmosphere. Food was great (try the pork belly), price was reasonable for the quality and that includes the wine.
I wouldn't hurry back here just to have a drink or two, but will certainly be returning to eat in the dining room again.
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Food and wine here is excellent IF you manage to go at a time in which they are actually serving food. Don't go on a Sunday unless you have booked as it is rammed. Don't sit near the front as the floor vibrates. Don't go when the weather is bad as it is the coldest draftiest pub I have ever been in. Don't around 3-6pm on a weekday as it turns into a children's playgroup.
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I think some of these reviews are a bit harsh. At the end of the day the Duke is exactly what it looks like from the moment you walk in the door - a gastropub verging more on the gastro side but with a couple of comfy sofas and seats off the dining area where you can chill out and have a drink. No, it's not a pub, but it's still a nice place to have a few quiet jars in small company - and maybe even one of their thick-cut chorizo sandwiches and chips.
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pants - yet another good pub ruined by some brainless corporate whores..
TheGP - 25 Aug 2008 20:13 |
Food is good but for me overall disappointing - this place definitely isn't a pub, and not really a Gastro pub or a restaurant - can't drink at the bar and not great for room. Realise great for some but not for me sorry.
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Good food, but VERY expensive given the portion sizes. Decent enough bar choice, but it's not a pub, it's a pretentious restaurant that happens to have a bar inside.
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Bring back the "Cobwebs"...! thats what i say...! TJ
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Its time we made the distinction between nouvelle or haute cuisine and gastro pub food. Gastro pub food should be well made with good ingredients and hearty portions. The portion sizes in this pub are an absolute joke. I thought I'd been transported to a french restaurant in Mayfair for a moment. I've eaten at the Duke a few times now to be sure and it just doesn't improve. Sunday Roast should be a good plateful but don't expect it. I ate in there last night and had chicken and 'roast' potatoes. When it arrievd I would have burst out laughing if my wallet had not gone into shock. The chef obviously knows what he's doing (it's an open kitchen and I've witnessed him in action) but the portion size is just mean and I for one will not be going back until he improves it. The Racing Page had much more chararcter. This place is more of a restaurant than a pub. For the amount of money they make on the wine they should at least give you a decent plateful.
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The food is excellent in this place and well worth a visit, top quality food with out the fuss of a restaurant
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Well FreakyDancer has it part right it is a Gastropub in the truest form. Some hate it some like it, personally I think it is really good at what it sets out to do, food is good service is excellent. It falls down slightly in atmosphere though as it just feels a little cold
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Rubbish. This isn't a pub, it's a restaurant that serves beer. Another great pub (Racing Page) gone to appease the starbucks crowd
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