The Duke of Sussex
I have been exploring pubs in the Waterloo Station area because it’s a good spot for East & West Londoners to come together, with pretty neutral (read: generic) vibes. The area can be a little tricky because it’s such a travel hub, and you can find yourself wandering into a cheesy spot aimed at passing-through tourists. That being said, the Duke of Sussex is around the corner from Waterloo Station, a little hidden away next to a park, but not far off the beaten path at all (5 min walk from the station entrance). There’s a cute beer garden outside which would be full of people on a summer day (my visit in the evening of January was not conducive to sitting outside).
Try this beer: Try the Long Horn IPA if you like IPAs.. it’s a bit heavier than a typical IPA, but it’s tasty and a pretty neutral tasting IPA
The beer. The beer selection isn’t amazing at the Duke of Sussex. They’ve only got very light lagers on draught - the likes of Estrella and Moretti, but they’ve got a Truman’s Raw Lager (for those unaware, “raw lager” is just another term for “unfiltered”). I’m not a huge fan of unfiltered lagers as they are little bitter, but worth giving a try if you like Camden Hells Unfiltered or unfiltered Pilsners. They’ve got a unique cider - Hazy Hog Cloudy Cider for those cider lovers, and a small selection of crafty ales and IPAs. They’ve got Cwtch, which is a Welsh Red Ale by Tiny Rebel brewery, which is a modern take on a cask ale (read: a bit colder, a bit more hoppy, but by traditional standards, still an English style ale) - I’d ask for a taste before ordering a pint. They’ve also got Neck Oil (Beavertown favourite) and, as mentioned above, a Long Horn IPA. There’s also a Truman’s Pale Ale (same brewery as the Raw Lager), which might be worth a try if you are looking for something different. All in all, this isn’t a pub I’d go to in search of a new beer - stick to your usual, but it makes up for it liveliness and ambiance.
The ambiance. I visited the pub on a Wednesday night in January, and it was very lively - which is saying something considering the popularity of Dry January and the fact that it was the middle of the week. The proximity to Waterloo Station is also a likely reason there was a healthy crowd in the pub in the middle of the week. That being said, I wouldn’t call it cozy, meaning it’s definitely not a date place. It’s too bright for a date, and the seating is centred around larger tables - not exactly conducive to anything intimate. For a pub, I don’t love the bench along the wall seating in general - I would prefer cozy chairs and small tables for people sit down and congregate around, which the Duke of Sussex didn’t have. It’s a great place for a group of friends looking to catch up somewhere relatively quiet, but not empty, and have a couple pints. I do think the pub is more conducive to summer drinks, given the outdoor seating, than cozy winter evenings, and most importantly, it’s lacking a fireplace, so gets a bit drafty when the weather is cold outside.
The food. I didn’t eat here, but I will note that there is a restaurant in the back, so if you are looking for food, don’t be turned off by a crowded front room, as there is likely to be seating in the back for those who wish to eat.
Any extras. There is a private room upstairs if you want to rent it out for private parties. There is also a TV that was showing the football on one wall of the pub, but it’s not huge, so probably not somewhere you’d want to go for a big match where pubs are likely to be crowded. However, if you want somewhere that won’t be too crowded, but the match is playing, this could be a good option.
The wrap up. There’s nothing super special about the Duke of Sussex, but it’s a great spot if you are looking for somewhere central to catch up with friends. Skip it for date night, but if you want something easy, and generally acceptable for a group of friends with varying preferences, this could be a good spot to meet. Note that anywhere near Waterloo Station will have, on average, more expensive pints!
Average price per pint: £6.10
