A typical station pub lacking in any heart, the Iron Duke is a last resort for tired commuters.

The Venue
The Iron Duke is located within one of London’s busiest train stations – just be careful of all the pigeons flying overhead. With an internal and external entrance, either way you enter you’ll find a soulless pub. Inside the station, the tables and chairs look into Victoria – a busy hive of activity that drains you just to look at it. Sat between coffee shops and fast food joints, this is never going to be a pleasant option for a pint. Inside, it’s small with a bar and a couple of seats and an upstairs area that provides little relief; its packed in tables meaning you’re likely to feel quite claustrophobic by the time you drain your pint.

The Atmosphere
The transitory nature of a station pub like this means the staff aren’t too reliant on repeat business so any friendly banter is out the window, although they’re perfectly polite. From people nicking the chairs outside to stuff a McDonalds in their face to the commuters chugging back a pint before being crammed onto their train, the Iron Duke has a real feeling of emptiness.

The Drink
The drink offering isn’t too bad at the Iron Duke to be fair. Ales are offered on tap such as Pedigree, Pride and a couple of rotating Young's ales alongside a selection of standard lagers that cover everything from Guinness to Carlsberg. Nothing to set the world alight but if your train has been delayed by several hours then at least you can have a pint without straying too far from the information boards.

The Last Word
The Iron Duke is your typical station pub. If you’re meeting someone, are stuck waiting for a train or just need some Dutch courage to face your journey home then it does the job. Just about.

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