The Duke, Deptford

Finally manged qualm my curiosity pop into the recently refurbished Duke for a pint this evening, but alas I was left aghast within 30 seconds! I could not help but be impressed at to the massive improvements to this formerly dilapidated pub upon entering this now clean-cut establishment. Eagerly I headed towards the bar in hope of the offer of purchasing something special beer-wise. However, the beers on offer were very ordinary run of the mill mass produced products, very disappointing considering the attempts in gastro-pub style. Disappointed, I thought OK maybe I have got the image wrong and it is just another regular pub, possibly focused on the local student population and decided to order a fail-safe pint of Taylor's Landlord bitter. Upon receiving the pint from a very polite young lady I was completely gob-smacked by the extortionate price of �3.40!! I paid for my drink bewildered and headed towards the end of the bar to make the most of my extremely expensive purchase. On the wall next to me was the drinks price list. The most prestigious draft beer on offer was from Europe's largest brewery, Heineken at a whopping �3.80 a pint!! Scanning down the outrageously price list for mediocre drinks I had to, pinch myself as I thought I was up in Covent Garden or something. Also absent was a decent wine list (no idea on prices) and the food appeared quite expensive with a roast advertised at over �10. I downed my pint, which was actually very good, and left before my wallet was emptied in the blink of an eye.

Obviously, the brewery/owners have very clearly not done their homework on a whole plethora of decisions for their investment around the style/image/potential customers. The basics being; the local population, the location, the competition, the products, to name a few. Why would anybody want to go there with Greenwich such a short distance? It simply DOES NOT have the most important aspect of entering contemporary hospitality, a UNIQUE SELLING POINT!

Customers have an enormous choice of places to go in the area covering the full spectrum of the pub market and all at prices much more realistic to what experience/ambience they offer. Moreover, Canary Wharf is just over the river where many pubs and bars are reducing their prices to attempt to stimulate trade in the current environment! Sadly, I feel The Duke will not last long and the investors need to reassess their ability to break into hospitality trade.

3 Mar 2009 01:06