Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The Duke of York, St Werburgh’s
It’s not often a pub truly enchants you. Yet the Duke of York does just that.
With fairy lights crammed into every orifice, nursery rhymes wrapped wispily around the walls and kitsch trinkets and memorabilia, it’s hard not to get sensory overload from this arty independent pub in St Werburgh’s.
Memories of the annual Christmas show at the local garden centre come flooding back: of toy trains navigating fake snow, ceilings covered in baubles, a glistening Santa’s grotto, and with it a sense of warmth, excitement and comfort.
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Situated on the corner of Jubilee Road, where little rows of houses peacefully reside, the Duke of York pub is hard to miss. Its exterior is covered head to toe with a swirling mural, a hint of what’s to come.
The Duke of York transforms into an immersive museum of historical trinkets from Bristol and beyond
Inside, no surface has been left untouched. Beer bottle tops line the ceiling above the bar, whilst thousands of miniature metal butterflies flutter across the outdoor staircase. Letters, magazine pullouts, photographs and old music posters line every other available space.
This pub really comes alive at night, when the fairy lights feel less like plastic rubbish and more like a magical grotto. It’s a ridiculously cosy pub to walk into, with antique lampshades, vintage rugs, velvet chairs and intimate tables.
Couples sit cuddled up into corners, and a solitary man curls up with a book by the majestic fireplace. In other rooms, friends gather to discuss politics and the queen, an ironically close-to-home subject as whispers of the ‘other’ Duke of York – much less charming – are thankfully few and far between.
The Duke of York isn’t just about charm however. The friendly staff really know their beer, with a host of eclectic local brews including New Bristol Brewery’s My Mosaic Romance IPA, and Bristol Beer Factory’s Party Wave, while the pub’s famous Bloody Mary comes in at a very reasonable £5.
The Duke of York’s cosy feel doesn’t stop once you enter the outside area
Hidden behind red curtains in the back is a bowling alley, whilst up the stairs is a huge second bar space that can be rented out, with a pool table and extra tables. It feels enchantingly endless, and the outside area transforms the grotto into a timber ship, with more fairy lights, carved wood and a canvas covering.
Add an impressive book collection and a treasure trove of classic board games, and you’ve got yourself a pub that really knows how to keep the punters coming.
The Duke of York is a glass of red wine by a cosy fire, a place where one can simultaneously escape the world and be reminded of its magic.
The outside of the Duke of York is painted by local artist Alex Mack – photo: Lowie Trevena
The Duke of York, 2 Jubilee Road, St Werburgh’s, Bristol, BS2 9RS
All photos: Mia Vines Booth
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