Duke of York

The Duke of York is one of my favorite pubs in Belfast. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the beautiful ceilings and the walls filled with interesting memorabilia that tell stories about the city’s past. The atmosphere inside is warm and welcoming, making it a perfect place to relax after a day of sightseeing. What stood out most to me was how friendly and attentive the staff were they really made me feel at home. I especially enjoyed sitting outside on the street, where you can comfortably drink a good pint while watching people pass by and feeling the buzz of the city. It’s a lively yet laid-back spot that captures the true spirit of Belfast. Whether you’re into history, great drinks, or just want a fun place to hang out, the Duke of York offers all of that and more. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting after thank to me (:

A Quintessential Belfast Experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Duke of York in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is an absolute gem! Stepping inside feels like entering a living museum of Irish pub culture, with its walls adorned in vintage memorabilia, quirky signage, and warm, dim lighting. The atmosphere is buzzing yet cozy, whether you’re tucked into a snug corner or enjoying a pint in their lively outdoor alley—perfect for people-watching. Their impressive selection of local craft beers and an extensive whiskey menu (featuring rare Irish pours!) is a dream for enthusiasts. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable. Located in the heart of the vibrant Cathedral Quarter, it’s a must-visit for anyone exploring Belfast. Whether you’re a local or a traveler, the Duke of York delivers an unforgettable blend of history, charm, and good cheer. Sláinte! 🍻

A very busy pub in the most vibrant part of Belfast. Memorabilia covers the walls and ceilings creating an eclectic atmosphere. As you enter the pub it feels very crowded but there is also a large back room with more space. Live music creates a fun atmosphere, but a little too cramped for my liking.

A quirky and a must to see with all the memorabilia on the walls and ceiling. There was live music which was good. The atmosphere was great. Everyone was singing along. Loved the little up umbrellas in the alleyway leading up to the pub.

It is an amazing pub, very attractive folklore, and nostalgic environment. With a load of decoration that keeps you busy for hours. They have skillfully fitted a lot of stuff into the walls and ceiling, way more than a big museum!

One of the most heavily decorated pub I've ever visited 😮 every inch of its walls and ceilings is covered with posters, artifacts and other items. Classical choice of ales, didn't try the food (if they do), a wonderful place to enjoy a drink with your friends. As it is a famous landmark in Dublin, it is often crowded and finding a seat is not easy.

Didn't try any food but loved the pub, the atmosphere and the decor.

This little pub is situated really well on the streets of umbrellas it's was extremely busy for a Thursday night, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. There were so many things to look at on the walls and the ceiling. Great atmosphere 👌.

I would live here if I could. Located in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast, the Duke of York is place to be. I ended up here almost every night that stayed in Belfast and I don't regret it. One peek down the alley and you'd see I'm not alone. If the building packed, the alley probably is too. There was always live music and plenty of good craic to be had every night. Pint prices are reasonable and if you can get yourself into the building (beyond the bar) the ambiance is fantastic: vintage guinness signage, lots of gilded items, lot of antiques. Even if you don't drink, it's worth a visit.

We didn't choose this pub, our tour took us there. When you come from the US and you think "traditional lrish pub", where those in Belfast would agree or not, this is what I imagined. I would highly recommend stopping here when in the Cathedral District.

I think this was my favorite pub in my trip to the UK and Ireland. Had a great time drinking with friends and enjoying the beautiful atmosphere. I will forever remember this place. I absolutely loved all the different ciders you could try, in the US there is always just one and it is bad.

A legendary spot and stellar recommendation from a local friend of mine. It may have been the summer afternoon, but the outdoor sessions and whiskey on the rocks was such an aesthetic. Super intimate and old school, and forever my image of Belfast looking back on my trip There are some choice bars stumbling distance, so make sure to spend your Friday night here!

Such a fun find! I loved looking at all of the trinkets along the walls and ceilings, especially all of the unique Guinness coasters. We went in the early afternoon- I imagine it gets quite busy (maybe even wild) at night, but loved it at mid day. They had Irish music playing. Good drafts. No complaints.

We loved the beer signs on every surface, and that you can have a drink outside on the patio. The alley, it is in, is Insta worthy

Just stopped in for a quick pint of Guinness and a glass of delicious friend at hand whiskey and had a great experience. The bar is full of really cool memorabilia that you could spend hours looking at. We stopped in fairly early on a weekday night since I've heard it can get outrageously busy on weekend nights. I'd highly recommend it for a great pint and some fantastic whiskey.

Great for a pint after work or in town on a night out!! Hard to get a good space if you leave it too late but all round good atmosphere inside or out! True spirit of Belfast! Get to the Duke for a pint!

Lost one star only because of the considerably long time it took to get a drink at the bar, I think this is an understaffing issue really as the back room with the fabulous live music has a bar which isn't always staffed! When I was last there after DigitalDNA conference with a Canadian, 2 Americans and a whole lotta locals the atmosphere was buzzing by the front bar and outside (it spills into the cobble stone streets) but the back room with the live music was relatively quiet and the band in here hidden at the back were fab - see my video Nearby you just have to turn down the alleyway beside to see the wall graffiti art and the coloured upside down umbrellas - makes a great pic! Traditional and fabulous - a must for all tourists into Belfast

Really, really, really liked this famous pub in Belfast - in fact when I think of Irish bars, I'd like to think of this place as opposed to the ones dotted from Thailand to L.A which just have a flashing neon shamrock and serve warm Guinness to bastardise the whole concept. The Duke is situated on some lovely cobbled streets making outside drinking possible and on this occasion there were at least 50 peeps doing the same, loads of benches, barrels, good banter and fun - for me I wish this place existed in Manchester and I'd be in every night. Inside, the atmosphere was rocking with music being played live and 2 massive rooms - one with music fans and others just shooting the shit and setting the world to rights. Good selection of beers - Guinness was quality too! Fairly decent prices.

Fun bAt in a lively back alley. Fun to find as you walk down a quiet alley turn a corner and there is singing dancing and drinking going on. Didn't see any food but the beer was good service was average but worth the visit for the experience and people watching

We had just arrived in Belfast, fresh off the 7 hour flight from DC and stumbled upon this well-known pub in the wee hours of the morning after grabbing some coffee at Established Coffee and walked the cobble stone streets to scout out the area. At the time we had no clue where we were, no clue about Hill Street or the Cathedral District, we just wanted to check things out while we wait for our hotel to allow us to check-in. As we walk along Hill Street we see this ally with beer signs so we go in for a closer look and find the Duke of York. Of course at 7am on a Saturday this place is deserted but we added it to our list of possibilities to check out later that night just because of the interesting location and local look to it. That night we head out and end up at the Dirty Onion first after a recommendation and then when we headed over to the Duke. Walking into that ally was a total 360, there was life, music and plenty of beer. Walking into Duke itself was a bit overwhelming, the initial bar area is pretty tight on a Saturday night, but if you just manage to make it through the first bar area you will find tables and a back bar are with more seating/standing options. We stayed there till closing it was so good. The people, staff and atmosphere with people of all ages made this one of my favorite pubs in Belfast. Tried to revisit on Sunday night, but the place was fairly empty....good thing the Harp bar is just around the corner!

I've never had a bad night in the Duke of York. Tucked away in a back alley Belfast, it's a pub that has totally benefited from the emergence of the Cathedral Quarter as the place to be in Belfast. It looks like a local pub that belongs in Ballykissangel. It's small, low ceilinged and its walls are covered in old Guinness posters and random items. Prepare yourself though - people will be hanging from the rafters in here most nights. It can be a nightmare if you don't get down early enough to claim a good spot (preferably seated, but not too far from the bar!), you might find that the only space available to you is in the alley outside! That sounds terrible, but it really isn't. The alley that it's in is so narrow that you don't really feel like you've left the pub at all! There are benches to sit on, and covers if it rains. Sorted! There's a club upstairs that I love as well. It's a total sweat box, but the music is good dancefloor music, usually with a rock feel, and it goes until 2am, which is unusual in Belfast. The staff and the patrons are all friendly. There really is a local pub feel to the place. Everyone is made to feel welcome and within ten minutes, I guarantee you'll feel like you're a regular and have been going there all your life.

Tucked in the alleyway near other prime Belfast pubs including Harp, Dirty Onion, etc. there are two different experiences in the same bar. The street facing side seems to be the pick up or date side, as most people were standing talking to an opposite sex person (could have just been typical Friday night) and the main bar is on that side. My group ended up on the other side and we were happy we ended up there because great live music was played on that side with a small dance floor. Great social experience and the bar staff were the customarily delightful people I came to expect traveling in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Lovely bar that if you tell them you want to stand outside will fill your drink into a plastic cup so that broken glass doesn't litter the alley. When I did decide to take a break from the hotter interior, I was pleasantly surprised to find street musicians entered into a rowsing drum set and a lively carnival like atmosphere as I sipped my stout. Fun times!

Last night, instead of heading to the cinema or for a meal, we decided to pop down to the Duke of York for their Fringe Comedy Club. The comedy night takes place upstairs in the Duke of York. I had never been upstairs in the Duke of York but it's a perfect venue for an intimate gig. It comes equipped with space for easily 50 and a fully stocked bar (last night it was even stocked with bar man). So how would I describe the comedy night? The comedy night was full of variety, first up we had the hostess with the mostess, Mags comparing the evening and welcoming the audience with a huge cabaret tune. Next up there was a keyboard playing nun (Sister Gisinta *sp) - yeah you read that correctly, a keyboard playing nun - her comedy was a little on the slapstick side but hilarious none the less. A keyboard playing nun is a hard act to follow but stand up comic David managed to achieve that feet with relative ease. His brand of interactive audience based comedy was right up my street - at this point I felt like I was on a night out with my mates getting a good auld raking rather than at a comedy show with a bunch of performers I had never seen before. The comedy was rounded up by Gemma who also involved the audience and kept a few of us on our toes, quite literally. Gemma's comedy is hard to compare to anything else - she was dry and witty combining real life situations with humourous quips about relationships! Before Gemma we were treated to some parlour room style juggling, something that was completely new to me but something I'd be keen to see again! The show concluded with a big sing song - just the way any good show should! In terms of a date night it was great, something different, something fun and a welcome break from the usual mid week (Terrible Tuesday's) monotony. It's only £3 at the door and for the price of a drink you'll be throughly entertained. Another gem dished up by the Duke of York - is there anything this bar can't do?!

We decided we would check out the Dooty Frooty cabaret at Duke of York last night and we were definitely not disappointed. We laughed from start to finish - it was actually hilarious! The cabaret is held upstairs in the Duke of York - it was the perfect location for this type of show - not too big and not too small. The show was so funny and light-hearted and they really interacted with the audience. This would be a perfect thing to go to on a Tuesday night - whether it is after a meal or before heading out to nightclubs! I'm not a fan of the cinema so this was right up my street! The admission was only £3 which is nothing compared to what you would pay to go to other events. There is also a small bar upstairs with a huge selection of drinks so you will not go thirsty! All in all a great night and looking forward to going again.

To be honest I'm not sure why this pub gets such a good name...however I do keep going back...but mainly because my friends are already there and I am meeting them.... Its always so crowded...to the stage where it becomes really uncomfortable and I just want to leave and go somewhere a little bit quieter....but I guess its not the 'Duke of Yorks' fault that it is so popular....its the punters....so oddly my message to the punters is to like this place less then I might like it more. A couple of times I have been here there have been several promotions and free drinks and what not...which makes it good...but when your sweating so much and cant move..its not fun...but perhaps I'm a big moan!!!!

Great pub for a quintessential Belfast experience. Nice mix of locals and visitors and drinks fairly reasonable for downtown Belfast. Great atmosphere.

On our list before arriving in Belfast, did not disappoint! Great Guinness, super nostalgic decor and fun people.

One of the friendliest, traditional Belfast pubs out there. It has all of the usual beers and a large range of whiskey. I opted for a nice craft beer 'Fransican well'. There is often a musician playing in the bar at the weekend. Lots to see inside the Duke of york pub itself with old school mirrored pictures. It can be difficult to get a seat inside as it's usually packed, but no worries as outside is just as good craic. There are benches and outdoor heaters and inside the court yard there are entertaining wall murals with some people that you are sure to recognise. They have courtyard cinema nights on certain Sundays, which are free to see. They have comedy nights on upstairs too. The entry itself is buzzing and the Dark Horse bar is just accross from The Duke of York

I always end up here at some point during the evening either to start off or to finish of the evening. The best thing is the open alleyway which during the summer is a hive of people and has a great atmosphere. Inside is just as good if you are luck to get a seat which is hard at the best of times as this is one of the most popular places in Belfast - it's a real traditional bar with amazing decor of old photos and merchandise from a bygone era. A definite place to visit

Love, love, love The Duke of York, and if you take a dander up the alleys of the Cathedral Quarter you'll see I'm not alone. On a sunny day or lashing out of the heavens there is always people milling about this pretty place. Traditional in appearance (apart from the crazy wall murals in the outdoor smoking area) it never changes, and this is a good thing. You'll always get a drink, you'll always see someone you know, you'll always have a good time. I'm not a beer snob, but they seem to do a good range. I've never seen a cocktail being made, but sure that means you aren't stuck behind someone ordering a load of them (like in The Apartment). The Duke is pretty much the king.

Can't say anything about this place that has not been said. Basically if you like Irish whiskey, your heaven awaits. Great clean bar, staff is on top of their game, and they pour a amazing Guinness. As far as Belfast goes, I did not find a better pub!

Great pub, fab location and split either side of a street. Date night with my wife was amazing. It was a stand up comedy night with our MC David and three fab comedians Sarah, Rebecca and Donny. Great value and not for the easily offended!!!!!! It was held upstairs and the decor was amazing-lots of mirrored pics-very good ambience

Has just about everything you want from a bar, great drink, great music, good location and such a fantastic atmosphere. The only negative is that because it is such a great bar and so popular, it is jammed at the weekends! You Sometimes have to wait a bit for your drink as a result, but it's never that bad to put me off going!

Visited here last night. Great staff. Great drink. Musician was mighty, as well as a local celebrity appearance. Would recommend to anyone in search of an exciting night.

Hands down one of my favorite bars during my stay in Ireland. Nothing like a good taste of local beers and spirit.

This place sums up good night life in Belfast for me, and it's usually a messy one! Nestled down an ally in the cathedral quarter, on a weekend you know you've arrived as there is usually a massive crowd hanging around outside it having a smoke and a pint. Plenty of heaters and benches, and on a summers night you will be happy enough spending the night out here. Once you're inside it's still rammed with people! It's your traditional irish pub, hot, sweaty, the walls are adorned with ornamental irish crap, and the odd trad band is giving it stacks in the order. It's a great bar. The staff are quick to serve, probably because there's no cocktails served here, the only thing that holds things up is the copious amounts of Guinness ordered. Surprisingly not to pricey compared to it's cathedral quarter neighbours! A big problem for the place is there is only 3 girls toilets in the building, not enough for the huge amount of people that come here and it's normally queued down the stairs, a good tip is that across the alley opposite the bar there is serviced toilets in one of the other buildings, I have a hazy memory that they charged you 50p, but that's 50p well spent in my book. I usually end upstairs and pay into their "nightclub" it's really just a small sweaty dark room, with a few disco lights and Jonny Hero playing 80's greatest hits in the corner, to be honest, I've never had a bad night in it! The music is great, the crowd is boisterous and not preten, and you can bust a few moves without judgement!

This. Quite possibly. Could be. The greatest bar of all time. Things that make you want to come to this bar. 1. Sit inside? F**k no. Sit outside on the BENCHES... it's where EVERYONE is sitting. 2. Drink outside? F**k no. Drink outside on the BENCHES. 3. Talk to each other? F**k no. Check out all the amazing murals all over the wall. 4. Rain? F**k no. There's awnings. 5. Main Street? F**k no. Hidden back alley. 6. Cheap? F**k no. But you're on vacation.

Situated on the prettiest street in Belfast, the Duke of York is always packed! Whether it's a traditional folk band or just some great craic you're looking for, the Duke of York won't disappoint. A real taste of a traditional Irish pub that has been given a modern lease of life, not in decor, but in the clientele you'll find there. You can bring your drinks outside (luckily, as the bar area is pretty small) and spill out onto the street, where lights twinkle overhead and the cobble stones add character. Talk a seat on their iconic red benches and enjoy the mild weather while it lasts! There's also a wee alcove area outside you can nip down where there's more red benches and a sort of courtyard with some cool murals you can check out to escape the crowds for a moment of peace.

Every Belfast cab driver will tell you to go to the Crown for a good time. This is probably because they want to keep their local spot for themselves. The Duke of York is the most charming pub in the area. The walls are crowded with memorabilia which is so fun to examine while you sip your pint. The entrance is also incredible. Little white lights strung over the alley is the perfect finishing touch. Definitely check out this gem. It's worth the walk from the city center.

I love the Duke - it's THE BEST bar in Belfast as far as I'm concerned. It's super relaxed with a friendly and warm vibe. The walls and ceilings are completely covered in mirrors, posters and artefacts of a historical nature, relating to Belfast. Occasionally there's great live music on. Duke of York really is delightful on sunny days when you can stand outside in its cobbled street, enjoy a tipple and soak up the atmosphere. Outstanding - this is exactly how a pub should be.

Really cool old Irish bar spent with great company so perhaps I'm jaded but this little bar will forever hold a special place dear to my (non) Irish heart I also love love music and this place had it all!

The Duke of York looks just like it fell straight out of a US film set about an Ireland that never existed. Well, it does, at least in the Duke of York. Full of nostalgic trinkets of all things with an alcohol percentage, it's quite possibly the most homeliest bar in Belfast. The bar itself is small, with low ceilings, room for your Guinness holding hand is always a challenge. But if ever should you knock a fellow patrons drink over, you will be met with a smile and the strange custom found it Ireland of apologising regardless of whos fault it was. The bars busiest night with out a doubt Thursday, where they open the floor to anyone who wants to come and join in with the traditional Irish music circle. The music constantly flows adding to its already novel atmosphere (the bribe of free sandwiches is an added incentive to those who don't appreciate the melodies of the fiddle!)

Well, well, well. You think you know a place and then you discover that you've never been HERE before. I literally felt at home. This amazing pub hidden down Commercial Court (also accessible from Hill Street) is my latest favourite hot spot! You're immediately welcomed by all the blooming vibrant flowers that line the two walls, the slogans on the wall are comical and welcoming. As soon as you enter you can feel the old traditional charm and feel of the place and as you delve further into the depths you uncover hidden treasures throughout the premises. We nearly sat outside but decided to take a spot at the back bar where it was quiet. We discovered a local girl from art college was fixing up the tables. (See the pictures to know what I mean) I love this idea. You see these tables everywhere yet never have I seen them used for this idea. I think it's brilliant. Some of the tables have themes (e.g. The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper, Father Ted, Mario & Sonic, Northern Ireland ... wow. And that's hardly even the start of it ... there's the old tin trays, the clocks (check out the different times Madrid, Paris, Tir na nog, Muff, God knows where, Never never land !) and the old advertising mirrors, the lamps, the W.B. Yeats poem on the wall *Heart* love the ideas this place has. Really stands out from new bars popping up round the place. It's like an old Irish museum. There's ALWAYS something interesting to look at, be it a 1946 football programme (Ireland vs England!) or one of the many old bottles that line the walls or an old stained picture hanging on the wall in an ancient frame. There's such a vast array of interesting items. Definitely another 5* attraction both for 'Belfastians' and for visitors alike.

I have a real soft spot for the Duke, and must have spent dozens of nights here having post-work pints during the couple of years I lived just down the street from it. As other reviewers have said, it's a cosy bar with friendly staff, and the overspill into the alley can be great for meeting people and having a laugh as long as it's not too cold. (That makes me sound like I go to the bar on my own, doesn't it? Bless.) But yep, it is far too packed at weekends for comfort, and, just like White's Tavern, the toilet situation really needs to be sorted out. I'm sure I'm coming across as some sort of toilet-obsessed freak, when in fact i'm just a freak, but it really does start to wreck your night when you have to wait ten or even fifteen mins for a wee every hour or so. And there are only three ladies' loos in the whole bar, for upstairs and downstairs, which is just unacceptable. Even on a practical level the lack of loos makes the bouncers' jobs harder, as I've seen rows breaking out on the stairs when people come out of the club for the loo and push in in front of the six women on the stairs who've been waiting for ten minutes. I used to nip home for a wee when I lived just down the street, and then give my keys to any poor other bursting ladies in our company. So what, I hear you say, these things happen at a busy bar. I agree. But the last time I was at the Duke, I saw that a little side business appears to have opened up, with toilets available just outside the bar off the alleyway. How nice, they've finally sorted out the toilet situation, I thought, before peering myopically closer and realising there was a charge of 50p to use the service. (I don't usually like exclamation marks but I could have put ten on the end of that last sentence.) I don't know whether it's the Duke itself doing this, or some enterprising git taking advantage, but it's Not On. The Duke is spot on for an early evening pint, but now that I don't live down the street any more, I rarely stay when it begins to fill up, and never go on weekends. A regretful two stars for a pub which should be a four or five if it only had a bit more respect for the fact that people who buy beer *might just need to pee*. Sort it out, Duke of York. Gassing that it's a 'listed building' just doesn't cut it in 2010.

For me, the world of bars are all fairly similar, so you need to be judging them on the kind of crowd and vibe that is produced by a place, and the look and aesthetics of a place. For me the Dule of York is a delightful looking place located right in the heart of the cathedral quarter down a little side alley.It i s similkarly nice on the inside, and produces a lovely cosy little vibe for you and your good friends to get your drink on. The crowd is also a good one, as it changes frequently, yet never attracts many trouble makers or loud obnoxious buffoons.This place is ideal for a good realxing night out with your friends to drink to the wee hours whilst shooting the breeze. In summary, this is more like the King of the cathedral quarter, rather than the duke!

Cool section of Belfast, a very busy bar during prime time. Make sure that you talk with the locals about the history of the area and the car bombs set off outside of the bar. Serious history of the struggles here!

Excellent atmosphere, live one man band had the place singing all along. Will recommend.

This pub has so much character! If you're looking for a fun place to spend an evening/night in Belfast, I would highly recommend this spot. The insides are decorated with all sorts of mirrors and beer advertisements that are old and incredibly cool. There's no other word to describe it. The place gets packed pretty early because all the locals know it's a great place to come for a pint or some Bushmills whiskey.

Sat for a few pints with some friends. Look up and around, gaze at the coasters, trays, mirrors, and other memorabilia. Walk around the murals from days gone by. Great selection of beer, scotch and other liquors. Enjoy

Such a fun stop if you are in Belfast! Traditional, Authentic Live Irish music! Can be crowded but was a perfect end to our Northern Ireland trip.

An historic bar with amazing interior. The alleyway it is in is a must see, particularly the murals. The centre point of the Cathedral Quarter

This is Belfast bar-life at its best. If you are lucky and early enough to get a seat, and even if you're not, the atmosphere in this bar is always fantastic. A really mixed crowd of all sorts and ages and persuasions, I've enjoyed many a work night out here because it suits all generations in our group. It's got a distinctly 'oldy worldy' traditional pub feel, with little nooks and cranny's and booths to sit in and get roaringly drunk... There is one long bar in the main room and a smaller bar in the back room (where they sometimes have diddly-dee music) and it's always jam packed on weekends with a great crowd - you can meet all sorts in here - there is a real atmosphere that makes you feel everyone is a friend, I've had some interesting conversations in here I can tell you! They have started doing live bands and music upstairs which is small too, but great fun. This is a must on the list of bars to go to in Belfast if you want a guaranteed good time.

Despite my recent expulsion from this bar quite early in the evening for being with friends who had had a bit too much to drink, I am definitely a fan of this bar. In fact, the idea that people can't be in here rolling about the floor and being loud and brash is definitely a good thing. Hidden away in an alley in the Cathedral quarter, The Duke of York has the feel of an old tavern with the sense of history and nostalgia practically dripping off the walls. A fun bar to go out with a lovely mix of all Belfast natives from young trendies to old, crusty types there is plenty here for everyone. Not expensive, with a great selection of drinks, particularly whiskeys with a great mural of some Northern Irish legends. This is a bar that is proud of Belfast and that Belfast should be proud of. The alley outside is for smokers and allows for some great, summer time banter in the sunny weather. Well worth checking out.

Personally, I really don't like this bar but then I guess it depends what you are after on a night out. On a weekend night it is absolutely packed to the doors and unless you get there really early there is no hope of a seat. In my experience it is full of creepy older men who stare at your boobs and say creepy things. To go outside for a smoke you have to swap your pint glass or whatever for a plastic cup, which is a hassle and sometimes there is a small queue. The outside area is the best bit in my opinion, everyone stands around chatting and drinking and even none smokers hang out here because the inside of the bar is like a sauna. Another thing that I don't like about this bar is the queues for the toilets - the ladies is next to the upstairs disco so you often have two sets of queues on the stairs - dangerous to say the least. The bar itself is really beautifully decorated with old antiques and brass signs everywhere, the outside is particularly nice with lots of red flower baskets and boxes everywhere and lovely red seating. Unfortunately it needs to be more than just good looking to please me and so I won't be rushing back!

Firstly we couldn't find this place. If you are unsure of the Cathedral Quarter in anyway, then chances are you are going to end up lost too. I've never felt as much as a tourist as when we asked a taxi driver having a cigarette how to get to the Duke of York. After walking down a few side alleys which I will not want to walk down again, we eventually stumbled across this bar. The place was very busy and this was only about half 5-ish, so it says something when a bar can be as busy as a student bar would be but be full of people in suits. It is quite a posh bar, complete with a huge array of whiskies which when I grow a moustache and am able to drink whiskey without pulling a face, I will definitely go back. For me however, there were a few too many posers in here. You know the type: they wear a suit jacket but a pair of designer jeans. I'm not a poser, nor do I have time for them. The staff here are nice and they do chat you as they are pouring you your shockingly expensive pint. The place got very busy but as we were in early enough, we had a seat and a table. Definitely well worth coming in for a drink or two. It is quite expensive and it does get very busy. But there is something about this place that makes you want to come back. That is if you can find it first.

Ah, the Duke the Duke. This place has been here forever and I sometimes feel I've been drinking here forever. Not a lot has changed over the years, the bar is always busy, the drinks are always good and the banter is always hilarious. Hidden up a little alleyway, the bar now seems to have more drinkers hanging out in the alley than people inside on a good night. Actually, to call it an alley does it a disservice as it's well kitted out with seats, hanging baskets and just the right amount of vintage knick-knackery. Talking of which the interior itself is pretty impressive and it's nice to just browse the walls and see what exactly is hanging up there. The small room upstairs also boasts a club which is recommended if you like sweating in dark confined spaces. Downstairs is a bit more refined and there's quite a varied mix of people in the place, the usual barflies to more chic sophisticated crowds. It's still quite unspoilt, the usual chav brigade hasn't cottoned on to it in all its years and the laidback atmosphere in the alley is always recommended. Pros: Great for drinking in a group. Cons. Club upstairs is too small.

I'm a big fan of this bar. It has a traditional classical feel to it and always has a great buzz and atmosphere going on. Inside, you could sit at the quaint tables and while away the hours. The barstaff are friendly and helpful and the DOY offers a full range of beers, spirits and ales. The smoking area outside is great craic. It is best enjoyed sitting on one of the benches, shades on and pint in hand basking in the sunlight. The clientele are a real mixed bunch, but there's nerver any trouble. Of course I can't account for the weather but I can say that you will have a great time here.