Duke Of Wellington - Tower Hamlets

I used to enjoy going to this pub, but my recent experience was disappointing. I was charged for 3 drinks instead of 2 and when I brought it to their attention, they refused to give me a refund. They suggested I write down my bank details so they could do a transfer the next day, but I was not comfortable with that. After some arguing, they eventually gave me a couple of drinks to take away. Overall, I would recommend avoiding this place as it seems they may be trying to scam customers.

This pub falls short in almost every aspect. The music reminded me of a continental cocktail bar playing reggaeton and Ibiza chill - not my cup of tea. The beer selection consisted of mostly generic lagers and corporate craft, with an odd display of crisps above the taps. The seating was uncomfortable, with high stools that were surprisingly low. The temperature inside was unbearably hot, with bar staff sweating and reapplying deodorant. To top it off, there was a neon sign on the wall that said "F**king Beautiful." Overall, not a pleasant place to enjoy a drink.

This is a really great boozer! Always a warm welcome and they have such a good selection of beers and wines, the house wine is very descent. All the bar staff are extremely knowledgeable on their drinks, one member of staff in particular , We think his name is Phillipo was so attentive, friendly and welcoming. Made our visit such a pleasant experience. They also have a really good covered our door area. We will definitely be back!

The nostalgic amongst us were thrilled to hear that the Duke was reopening having signed petitions to support it before developers tried to rob the community of a decent pub. For decent, read average beer (Guinness was good, everything else on a scale from pot luck to average) sticky floor, careless lighting and at best impatient/ambivalent services. In its latest iteration the pub appeared soulless and gentrified. Nostalgia clouded our view but proximity kept us coming. Over time however, it dawned. The Nuke (New Duke) was staffed by a couple of hard working Italians who delivered exactly what a regular customer wanted. Friendly service, intuitive approach to what a customer likes, a friendly face after a hard days work and most of all a feeling that you were valued, which compensated for almost eye watering prices. Thank you Kevin and Martina. You are what makes the Duke tick. I hope you are valued as employees as I am sure you would be very hard/impossible to replace. Thank you for looking after us so well and making it easy to come back over and over again.

The refurbishment has been good and the open space at the back of the pub, with umbrellas is good for those who want to drink outside and smoke. Rather spacious outdoor area. Bartender Kirill is warm and welcoming, well groomed and smart. Barmaid Martina is very charming and friendly. Beautiful gal. I wonder if the staff have been hired for their looks?! Managers Miri Olivier are professional, friendly, courteous and polite. With a welcoming atmosphere and laid back and friendly vibe, I'm not surprised by the popularity of this pub, among locals. I rarely visit pubs but this is one of the very few I visit and it's basically my local. I always bump in to locals here. And that's not just residents. Staff who work in other pubs and restaurants also frequent this place. If you live in and/or work in Spitalfields, or are visiting, do visit this pub.