Dog and Duck
18 Bateman Street Soho London W1D 3AJ
An old favourite with Soho media types, this classic little Victorian pub, with its huge vintage mirrors and pressed tin ceiling, makes an ideal venue for a cosy chat – on a dark winter’s night at any rate. Nestled into the corner where quietly hip Bateman Street meets Frith Street, the Dog and Duck is a place to relish such details as the decorative ceramic wall tiles and the ageing mosaic (showing, naturally, a dog and a duck) set into the floor by the main doorway. On summer evenings, drinkers spill out onto the pavement and into the street, and you’ll have to jostle your way to the bar if you want to sample the fine range of real ales, including stalwarts like London Pride as well as guest brews. Owners Nicholson’s play up the George Orwell connection – the writer liked to drink here, but then he liked to drink in plenty of other London pubs too – by naming the upstairs dining room after him; another cosy little space, it offers a bit more room to enjoy the meat-heavy menu of stews and pub grub standards.
