The Duke Of York

Well, look, I'm biased. The Duke of York is a Samuel Smith pub, so the beer is a cut above most establishment's. I drank the Extra Stout, about the closest thing to a Guinness you can get brewed in the UK. All hail Tadcaster! The pub is a well established fixture beside the Palace Theatre. I got there at curtain down time, so the place was busy, but not industrially so. Good service, knowledgeable about the beers, cheerful. Not much seating, although there was another room out the back I didn't venture into. Bare boards and no music. Conversation floated among the beer glasses. Very good.

Had lunch enjoying a pint with fish n chips. The fish and mushy peas were well prepared. The atmosphere was great with the dark furnishings, paintings and wood paneling. My only issue was the service which I experienced as lax and unfriendly. I didn’t feel welcome or appreciated for ordering food and drink at the bar.

Stopped in for dinner on our way back to our hotel nearby. It was quite busy, being so close to Victoria Station and the theatres. We were able to get the last table in the dining room. Service was pretty good - they were quite busy when we were there, so not a lot of conversation with the staff but they were efficient. I had the fish and chips which was just OK. We had better at a few other places around town previously. Also seemed a little more expensive than other pubs we visited. If you're looking for a drink or a quick bite in the area, its a good spot but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again.