Lurking behind the Queens Theatre, this Soho pub is an evolving entity in this diverse district.

The Venue
The Duke of Wellington or ‘The Welly’ as it reads on the barman’s skin-tight vest, is a lounge-style pub at the start of Wardour Street. You’ll notice straight away that this isn’t just a normal pub. It may have a classic name over the door but the high stalls gathered around ledges pinned to pillars suggests more of a bar environment that encourages mingling; plus, the hasty creation of a dancefloor with the minimum of furniture removal.

The wallpaper is modern and colourful and the distressed wooden look that goes with it is very en vogue - there has certainly been effort and thought put into the design of the place. There is little in the way of seating except a sofa at the back and two large armchairs propped next to a small table at the entrance - only the early birds will catch the… chair. The lounge bar upstairs is closed during the day but offers seating at night and therefore an alternative to wondering what to do with your arms whilst standing.

The Atmosphere
The Welly has a mixture of identities. A visit is nothing short of weird as Balearic house and Justin Timberlake style sounds are blurted out of the speakers, over the heads of a largely disinterested clientele. The night comes alive as people ditch the ledges and corners and head inward to the dancefloor nucleus. The plasma screens flash music videos, the volume goes up and the cocktails come out. The Duke of Wellington is welcoming to all and particularly gay friendly. The clientele is largely male but the age ranges between young and old.

The Drink
There are stocks of bottled beers beneath the bar and the barman should be happy enough to tell you about the list of wines that are available here. There is a solid range of draught beers including Peroni, Kronenbourg, Heineken and Fosters.

The exciting part of the drink offering here, however, is the cocktails. There is a cocktail list spilt into two sections: party and classic. Quite why the Malibu Woo Woo or Purple People Eater are more party than the Long Island Iced Tea or Cosmopolitan is anybody’s guess. They are £5 each or two for £7.50, so find a friend and split the cost.

The Last Word
The Duke of Wellington is as fun as any along the road in the evening but lacks a daytime etiquette appropriate to a simple, quiet drink.

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