This beautiful gastropub is a bright and pleasing affair, ideal to spend the evening sampling the extensive list of wine.

The Venue
The Duke of Clarence is a bright and beautiful gastropub sure to grab your attention. On the outside, a few chairs, tables and umbrellas greet visitors for meals and drinks, whilst the inside is lit in warm yellow lights and filled with comfy furniture. The real beauty of the Duke of Clarence lays in the decor, inspired by Art Nouveau motifs: gilded leaves, tree branches, mottos and geometric patterns gently adorn the cream walls. Tables, chairs and large sofas of different sizes and colours give to the place a nice feeling of casual comfort while avoiding the idea of spare pieces picked up from the streets. On the contrary, the space is bright, clean and really welcoming.

The Atmosphere
The Duke of Clarence is essentially a pub. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid back and you can take in the quiet and glamour, the latter coming from the decor rather than from the clientele. Regulars, who you may find are a bit more polished than the usual pub punters, come here to wind down from work. It's a good place for a serene night out and caters well for couples and groups. At the weekend, it gets pretty busy so reserve a table if you are planning to have dinner.

The Food
Built around starters, sandwiches and mains, the menu is a pretty standard affair with no surprises: most options are pub staples but there is the occasional Mediterranean dish to tempt you. The well presented starters seem to be the best options together with traditional pub mains like fish and chips or burgers. Sandwiches look attractive but the Italian-inspired mains can be a bit of a disappointment. Not a full gourmet experience, the food is a nice complement to the wine, more than the other way around. It will fill your stomach though.

The Drink
Wine, wine and more wine. The list is long and fantastically structured. It doesn't matter if you are a connoisseur or a novice, the wine menu is made so well you really can’t go wrong. White wines are grouped as aromatic, crisp cool, creamy and exotic; reds are deemed as fruit driven, smooth classic and new world champions, and the definitions are spot on. Not enough? You still can choose between the port, rose, pudding wines and Champagnes. Most bottles are sold whole, starting at £12 and escalating to £30, but most wines are available by glass as well, priced between £3-£6, which is surprisingly affordable. Even the bubblies are pretty cheap, starting at £24 for a full bottle. Obviously, the bar sells beer (with a couple of interesting ones) and traditional spirits as well but wine remains the biggest asset of this beautiful gastropub.

The Last Word
The Duke of Clarence is an intimate, aesthetic venue with a no-nonsense menu and a superb wine list. Perfect for a night out when you actually feel like staying in.

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