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Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
One of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world.
Units 3-5, Heathfield Industrial Estate, Heathfield Street, Elland, HX5 9AE
Westgate Brewery, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QT
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-72dpi.jpg "Exterior. by Michael Schouten. Published on")
High ceilinged, well furnished, wood-panelled lounge bar with sash windows, all in an elegant Art Deco style. The first floor restaurant can be hired for functions.
Following a refurbishment in 2022, the pub's name was changed to The Duchess, this time in honour, so the pub's website declares, of "the BBC drama The Duchess of Duke Street, loosely based of the life of Rosa Lewis, the eponymous "Duchess" who works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietor of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel."
The pub is located opposite the Duke Street entrance of Selfridge's and hence not far from the other shops of Oxford Street. There is usually a choice of three real ales. The interesting menus range from gastro dishes to toasted sandwiches.
Historic Interest
Originally licensed in 1765. At 11pm on the night of 6 December 1944 the then Red Lion was destroyed by a V2 missile, killing at least 18 people and injuring around 40. It was rebuilt in 1958, when it was renamed after Henry Holland, the late Georgian architect to the then owners, Whitbread. As well as many Whitbread pubs, Holland’s buildings included the Brighton Pavilion.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
An unusually intact example of post-war pub-fitting. Rebuilt by Whitbread in 1958, this three-storey (plus attic) pub is named after a famous late Georgian architect (1745-1806). The neo-Georgian style, freely-treated classical doorway, sash windows and boot-scrapers all give a nod to the buildings of Holland’s time. There is one bar on the ground floor which is distinguished by virtually all-over bare wood panelling, giving it an elegant feel. Note the attractive interlinked marquetry band on the counter front and the sub-Adamesque plaster decoration on the ceiling. Panelling and plaster decoration reappear in the upstairs restaurant where the servery is a modern insertion. Unfortunately, so too is the bar back downstairs (the finish of the wood and the ornamental detail is rather different from the rest of the woodwork). The door to the stairs and the doors into the restaurant have glazing set in copper strips and the upstairs gents’ is lined with rather remarkable red and light grey veneer panels set in chrome strips (the ladies’ has been modernised).
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Duchess, London
Changing beers typically include: Fuller's - London Pride , Timothy Taylor - Landlord
Sports TV
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Family Friendly
Dog Friendly
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
Cask Marque
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