Duke of Wellington

Duke of Wellington

The Welly

Average Reviews

About

Located on Wardour Street in the heart of gay Soho the Welly is a fun, busy pub catering for all. Pop in for a drink and give it some welly!

A friendly bar in the heart of soho catering for men and women of all ages. Our bouncy barmen are more than willing to help you and ensure you have a great night out!

Photos

Reviews

Duke of Wellington
4.0
Based on 1656 reviews
Neil Coakley
08:11 23 Nov 23
A great gay man's pub .Good service can get a little busy if the weather is OK you can have a drink outside.
Acting Up with Vicky Alcock
14:46 19 Nov 23
Went to 'Busy Lady Bingo '- it was absolutely brilliant! Sheila Simmonds is the very best 🌟 Ollie runs this beautiful pub and is so welcoming . Thoroughly recommend a visit.
Piotrek P
09:36 14 Nov 23
Always nice to be back at this traditional English pub right in the heart of Soho. It offers less busy additional seating upstairs with more packed atmosphere on the ground floor. Service always friendly with great choice of beers on tap
Kieran Tidball
17:43 05 Nov 23
Very welcoming environment.Not much food on offer when I went, although I would stress the bar doesn't really do such and their drink selection and atmosphere more than make up for it.
Greg Beirne
18:58 20 Oct 23
Was in a couple of weeks ago on my own while down from Manchester. Great pub, great staff, great people and atmosphere! Always come here!
Una Rouse
16:17 26 Sep 23
Great pub, great service and great atmosphere. Visited about 1pm and although quiet, it was still fun. Drinks were a little pricey, though. We returned later and it was packed and the atmosphere was welcoming and good fun. Would definitely visit again.
Eyup Kureli
22:02 25 Sep 23
It's a great gay pub to socialize in and the staff and security are always very polite. The place where I had the most fun.
John Strom
15:59 07 Sep 23
Wow! Great place to meet friends! So many beers to choose from! Will 100% go back when in London! Gets busy on weekend nights but lots of room to move outside!
Jeremy Fennell
09:07 30 Aug 23
It was - as I've got used to here, extremely LOUD early on a Saturday evening - making conversation (at a high volume) uncomfortable. The staff at the bar found it hard to hear me, even when I increased the pitch of my voice. Downstairs was still louder (and with the bass on the music reverberating through both floors, not surprising). Good/spicy Big Tom.
Eljon Sathwe
18:07 29 Aug 23
Classic gay bar of soho. Fantastic team, atmosphere. Music, well is gay 😓 but it's very comfortable place. May visit if you are on your of gay bars 👌
Bob McCranie
11:14 28 Aug 23
A great LGBTQ bar in London. Drinks are served in large glasses or you can take them out on the patio in plastic ware. Right in the heart of Soho.
Michel
23:28 31 Jul 23
Love this place. Good music, always busy, mixed crowd, friendly staff and most importantly clean toilets.
Darren Churchill
09:16 28 Jul 23
Love this place. Great atmosphere, really love Thursdays and the music that DJ Ben Jamin plays, love that DJ. Great vibe, cool place and people. Great place for a pint and to hang out.
Nicola Osborne
08:38 23 Jul 23
This is such a lovely place. We went on a Friday evening. It had such a great mix of ages and although the majority were men there were women and everyone is so friendly!There was a DJ called Heidi Delicious who was totally fantastic. I have been trying to find her playlists on Spotify or soundcloud because I loved her taste so much! Literally all you could want in a gay pub.
Ian Grace
17:22 18 Jul 23
Love the place, Saturday lunchtime, Sunday afternoon it's always a buzz with a lovely crowd enjoying each other's company (and ignoring their phones). Even when busy bar service is fast and always with a smile 😃
rose Howell
19:31 28 May 23
Dorian is the best bar supervisor. He made us feel so welcome and his personality shone through. Definitely be back again, he made the whole trip worth it
Melvyn Ede
22:45 09 May 23
Decided to visit the Welly after a gap of some time. In the past have found the music far too loud to be able to chat with friends. Much better on this occasion (bank holiday). Had a great evening with friends, good beer/drinks.
Kev Phillips
12:39 27 Feb 23
Love this pub and the staff are so welcoming and very professional I was extremely impressed with the way they handled a difficult situation with a member of the public bringing his child in to use the toilets the member of the public became very argumentive, all the time the barman kept his professional composure and explained to him where the nearest public to toilets where located.I noticed a couple of things the staff was on top of a spilt drink and instantly they were there cleaning it up.Such great members of staff and an absolute asset to your pub
IamLove
19:54 04 Feb 23
I Love this Soho Pub! Always friendly with a good weekend crowd - I popped last Friday and found Ben Jammin on the decks - what a breath of fresh air and blast from the past - I remember him from Heaven years ago! Great music great vibes tasty men!
Mark W
11:03 22 Jan 23
Fab gay bar, drag shows every night. Staff are very friendly and it's a great place for an evening drinking. Miss Martha is the best 😊
Randy J.
21:38 09 Jan 23
i visited this pub while on my first trip to London. Great place to hang out. Bartender Tony was very friendly and poured a great drink. He made us feel welcome
Francois du Toit
15:33 06 Jan 23
I always have a great time at the duke. Super friendly staff who have to sometimes struggle with the massive amount of bears trying to order beer, but they do it smiling.Love that there is an outside to escape the noise from the singing and music inside. It's a good space to have a drink and chat with friends or make some new friends/acquaintances.
Erick Martinez
16:35 03 Oct 22
came for beers w my partner. good atmosphere..no drama or attitude. not cruising that I can tell at least.
Connor (Condawg)
10:42 22 Sep 22
Could be a bit more keen on the price, the staff are mostly a good bunch.Cal & Talat are brilliant and always a great vibe when they're on.I'd say this probably is my "local" since it's a better crowd compared to other similar bars nearby.The toilets leave a little to be desired however.
Will Nuttycombe
22:17 24 Aug 22
Really enjoyable pub. Had a great time. Terrific music! Nice, friendly staff.
Courtney Mills
13:20 12 Aug 22
Duke of Wellington is an amazing atmosphere, all the staff are so lovely and welcoming and it really is a fun night. I come to Busy Lady Bingo every Tuesday and every single time I leave with tears of laughter streaming down my face and a huge smile going from ear to ear. What makes it even better is the friendly staff. They are always so happy to see you and always make sure you have the best night possible! If you’re ever looking for a great night out, duke of wellington is definitely the place to go!
Kerry Cattell
23:38 11 Aug 22
What a place! Had such an amazing night on Tuesday, cheeky little bit of Busy Lady Bingo with Sheila Simmonds too. I have not had so much fun for a long time! Absolutely perfect! The Team behind the bar and the security were brill, so welcoming! I would definitely recommend this pub to anyone who wants a great night out!
Mael Ryan
22:04 10 Aug 22
Very good & down to earth unpretentious gay bar for either a good night out or a relaxing beer and chat with your mates in the afternoon.. whatever your mood it's got it covered .. my favourite anyways
Daniel Chapman-Harris
22:32 30 Jul 22
The Duke is a key part of Soho’s gay scene - offering a great pub location for a quick beer or for an evening with friends. The venue runs different nights and is a popular and busy venue. The quiz is fab, their coverage of sports games os great and the clientele and staff are friendly! Big fan of the Duke and had lots of fun many times, keep it up team and thank you!
Andrea Gambadoro
08:12 26 Jul 22
Always loved this place and it’s been the pub where I go for years and years now. Friendly, with great stuff and beautiful energy.
katarzyna stomska
19:08 16 Jul 22
I have visited this pub with my 2 boys and my lovely friend on Wednesday 6th July.I was surprised that my children were allowed inside this late into the evening. We sat upstairs it was quiet. The waite was super friendly and attentive. The food was EXCELLENT- fresh, flavoursome and overall - I will definitely be back.
Bartek Ochocki
08:57 06 Jul 22
For a long time a didn't feel so comfortable in a pub. Great STAFF , good assortment of drinks. And always great atmosphere
Ronan Walsh
14:31 05 Jul 22
A very friendly welcoming bar, lovely chatty barman named Blair.Will definitely return on my next visit to London.
David Hill
15:09 01 Jul 22
Great bartenders! Wonderful men! Fairly inexpensive. Inclusive of all. Strong drinks.
Kieran Galligan
16:15 17 Jun 22
Me and my organisation had such a fantastic evening at the drag bingo! The staff were very inviting and welcoming, as well as the host (who has also been on Britain's Got Talent!). This was such a hidden gem in the heart of Soho and would definitely recommend you go if you're in the need for some good fun with some great prizes!Definitely will be coming here more, to drink and to bingo!
Johan Naviel
22:15 15 Jun 22
Definitely a must when visiting London! I always have a great time with friends, just had the time to visit while it was warm out and the crowd gathered outside and filled the street with energy!!
Shawn Grant
13:57 24 May 22
Amazing night for Lola’s Quiz, thanks for looking after our two teams of 6! Special shout out to Olly and his team behind the bar. 😃🥳
Carl Dawson
17:57 22 May 22
Me and my partner really love this place, been a good handful of times now. It's a good size pub with more space upstairs for seating and chatting, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Great range of drinks and cocktails to boot as well the fab music and colourful lighting.
Rick R.
11:30 22 May 22
Touristy and plain bad. Service...what service? Atmosphere....fake pub, almost college like feel..aka not very clean. Turn around and find another place!
Emanuela Greco
17:10 19 May 22
Loved Lola’s quiz last night! Super entertaining, incredible atmosphere and perfect for our work team event:) the staff is brilliant, so friendly and welcoming! We’ll definitely come back!! ❤️
Nuno S.
13:29 14 May 22
TAKE THE GAY FLAG DOWNyou don't cater to gay patronage. You simple block regular customers and you allow women and hen Lottie's. Security is the worst I...
Carl Dawson
15:29 04 May 22
Me and my partner really love this place, been a good handful of times now. It's a good size pub with more space upstairs for seating and chatting, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Great range of drinks and cocktails to boot as well the fab music and colourful lighting.
Markus Walter
14:45 12 Mar 22
Great place!Nice, fast and friendly service and the six nations rugby - what more is there on a Saturday afternoon.Thanks for your great service
Maaija Sinclair
21:18 04 Mar 22
Love place. Staff lovely and customers friendly too. Clean toilets reasonably priced beer, what more can I say?
Norman W.
06:07 10 Feb 22
Arrived too early to gain entrance to The Sondheim then you have the perfect chance to visit The Duke of Wellington just around the corner. Great choice of...
Gary Freeman
13:22 07 Feb 22
The Welly is one of my favourite pubs in Soho, always lively and buzzing, great atmosphere. Recently I left my bag there by mistake, they kept it safe until I could collect it, thank you so much. A great team.
ROGER WILMOT
20:13 23 Jan 22
I visit the Welly quite regularly and always enjoy my time there. The bar staff are very friendly and always a lovely crowd.My partner and I got married this week and decided to join a few friends in the Welly afterwards. On hearing about our special day, we were surprised by a complimentary bottle of bubbly by the bar staff. It was a lovely touch. Our thanks to the Welly for really adding to the memories of our special day.
Sean Luby
23:05 21 Jan 22
Came here on a busy Saturday. Despite the crowd, a friendly and helpful Cal served me quickly and with a smile. I had a great night at The Welly and will be back for many more !
Seán Luby
23:03 21 Jan 22
Came here on a busy Friday night. Staff were helpful, good music and lively crowd. Was served by Isla who was very helpful and friendly. My favourite bear bar in London !
Nicholas Welbrock
15:56 16 Jan 22
Great unpretentious gay bar with an authentic and welcoming atmosphere that has somehow avoided the feeling of copy+paste gay Soho. The staff play a huge role in this, always being friendly and interactive with the clientele. In particular, the pink haired Cal is always a delight and a great laugh when he's behind the bar!! All together highly recommend for a pint or a night out!!
Mehdi El Foughali
16:10 11 Jan 22
Really amazing bar, the music is usually very nice, people are respectful and the bartenders are nice! I had the pleasure of being served by Cal, he's an amazing person and he's been very professional and cheerful while serving us our drinks! There is also a quieter first floor which allows people to enjoy a more traditional pub environment which is not usual in the pubs in Soho. Will definitely visit again!
Martina Schwarz
15:04 11 Jan 22
What a gem!The Duke of Wellington is a great place to have a drink (or a few) in Soho.The atmosphere is very inclusive, it seems to be a place where everyone is welcome to be themselves. One of the bartenders did really stand out. Cal with the big biceps was incredibly kind and considerate, he certainly knows how to pull a great pint.I'll definitely be back!
Gabriel Soto
18:51 18 Dec 21
This was my first gay bar I went to in London. It was so fun, with a lively crowd and good bartenders. I really enjoyed myself. I'll definitely go back.
Keith Rickards
14:26 15 Dec 21
Joined a senior friend of mine after pantomime for a drink. It was mid afternoon. Was refused service when we asked for another drink before heading home.. I questioned why. No answer. The only thing I can assume is that we started talking to a small group of straight, suited, guys and I think we were cause in the cross fire of Hetero phobia.
Ethan hunt
06:35 14 Dec 21
Always a joy coming here. The team and managers are just fab. So welcoming and so enjoyable. My regular Monday night club 😁Great vibes and atmosphere
Harvey Deponte
18:42 02 Nov 21
Visited in Sunday after eavesdropping at the previous venue that the Team and Drag were going there (is that stalking ha ha ). Proper pub feel. Great music and atmosphere. Loved the gin selection. The gin game is good in the city. Everyone appeared to be really friendly and the barman was a delight. Great way to end our hallowen weekend.
Claire Sutton
15:38 18 Oct 21
Lovely place to have a cheeky drink, great friendly staff. 10/10 would recommend.
Mark Topps
14:54 18 Oct 21
I met up with some old work colleagues here last week. We had a great time which was made better by a young lady called Isla behind the bar. Looking forward to coming back
Ari
10:53 17 Oct 21
My girlfriend and I went to Duke for a drink last weekend and we absolutely loved it. Nice music, lovely atmosphere, good prices and incredible staff. We were served by Tal who made us feel so welcome and laugh the whole evening. Can’t wait to go back again.
A
10:23 17 Oct 21
Came this weekend and loved the atmosphere and music. Staff were so friendly, especially Tal who served us most of the night. He had such good charm 🙂 I will be back
Mp Mp
10:20 17 Oct 21
Lovely place, really enjoyed my time, staff were amazing Tal was particularly nice, so friendly polite and made the night out that much nicer. Will definitely be coming back! 😊
Mukesh
13:04 09 Oct 21
The Welly and its staff is consistently friendly and welcoming. We love the fact that it's on two floors and they have regular events like the quiz. That's why we return every month for our Saturday socials.
Joseph Wicks
18:26 07 Oct 21
I popped in with my boyfriend for a few drinks. We hadn’t been into Soho for ages and had a fabulous evening! Isla was so friendly and made us feel super welcome. Definitely coming back soon! Thanks!
Russell Vaughan
12:03 10 Sep 21
Love this pub. First time we have been into this place. Very quiet when we first went in but they had just opened. Got very busy towards 5pm. Will revisit this pub next time I'm in London but will go later on as I would love to see it at night. The barstaff were extremely friendly and the pub was very clean as were the toilets and the music was brilliant.
Jaqui D
09:15 05 Sep 21
Been drinking here for probably 20 years! It's my usual port of call for a meet up in Soho, usually a quite bear-y crowd which is fine by me 😉Gets pretty crowded weekends and busy on quiz night on Wednesday too.
Nivin Band
18:22 10 Aug 21
A great atmosphere and location. Drag bingo is a such a laugh and guaranteed fun. All the staff are friendly and special thanks to Daniel who was amazing and looked after us when we were there.
Adam Suhaj
19:17 06 Aug 21
Love this place always a good fun and very nice people in it. The staff is always very nice too. Daniel is an especially nice bartender.
Joby Holland
12:57 01 Aug 21
My favourite pub in London. Great atmosphere and friendly and attentive staff. Brilliant music. Can not recommend highly enough.
Kebabpunk
13:29 26 Jul 21
Very sweet venue with helpful staff: should anyone of you lose an item (cap, in my case) they DO email back when you email them of the whereabouts just because your attention that eve wasn’t on your own stuff but on the fit bloke you were drunkenly eyeing up/snogging.Big thanks 👍HalPS: Got my cap too, had left it at his hotel 😎
Lewis Watson
09:53 25 Jul 21
Fantastic pub, brilliant staff and always so welcoming. Left my bag in there after a night out and they were quick to find it and respond 🙂 can't wait to go back!
Kelly Dowrick
14:11 12 Jul 21
What a blast we had watching the Euro 2020 final here! Great drinks, good prices, friendly bar staff. Particular shout out to Ryan who looked after us all night. Brilliant pub!
Jamie Baker
03:52 05 Jul 21
Had a great night at the Welly with my friends considering it was social distancing, we were made to feel really welcome Table-service was great.And even though all the tables were full and we still got the drinks we ordered very quickly…The manager Oliver is such a good host and is always leading by example.Great manager and friendly staff!
Luke Guymer
20:11 30 Jun 21
Good friendly pub. They run a really entertaining quiz on a Wednesday. Very popular, you need to book a table well in advance.
shaun davies
16:20 27 Jun 21
Having been in London 4 nights. The service and hospitality for the staff in the welly is amazing. Especially Ryan and Blair made us feel welcome. Defo be back
Shane Knight
16:53 24 Jun 21
The queen vic has nothing on this London pub, the moment you walk in you are greeted by a flat capped bearded man who is a delight and full of local knowledge, the music is great and just at the right level to be able to have a chat with your chums
Kyle Lewis-Chamberlain
09:29 24 Jun 21
A massive thank you to Oliver and his team for making our visit go from great to exceptional, If I could give 6 stars I would, a great choice of drinks, amazing service and a fabulously hard working team, this is a must if you’re in soho and want a pub that’s modern, well run yet retains a traditional feel, see you soon.
matthew Evans
07:11 21 Jun 21
A very welcoming gay pub in Soho. Perfect for meeting up with friends. Best quiz in London on a Wednesday!
karlnxn
17:36 20 Jun 21
This pub hosts a great little Quiz on a Wednesday, Great bunch of staff who are chatty and friendly. Highly recommended 🤩
John Connor
15:36 02 Jun 21
I was here last night and I have to say the bar staff were amazing. Really friendly service and nice atmosphere. We arrived late and one of them managed to find a bag for me to carry something home in. Really helpful - thank you guys!
Ismail Uzunoglu
07:11 12 Feb 21
I had so much fun there, people are cool, beer is good, and you can smoke outside. I loved this place.
Oscar B
17:17 03 Nov 20
Last time that we visited was a Wednesday afternoon around a month ago.Bar itself is nice enough as well as one of the staff working at the time. Long Island Iced Tea was pretty good too. Those are the reasons why the score isn’t lower.On the other hand, the other staff member really needs to drop the attitude or stop working in a face to face role.Just some examples:He was visibly very inconvenient that we didn’t have the app to scan and literally threw the registration board at us.Because we needed a couple of minutes to decide what to drink, we had to wait for approximately 15 minutes to order (there was only 2 other tables occupied but he was busy chatting with friends at the door)In summary, typical gay bar diva attitude.
Marco Brombal
20:23 01 Nov 20
Rude bartenders n costumers too, but body-guards was kind (that’s unusal in my expiereince).I went there 1 year ago, and I don’t liked cuz:1. The queue to bar was messy, I aksed to people where does it start, and they shout me:”Stand da line!”2. I aksed a cocktail, and the bartender mumbled me: “we do ‘em on a flor above”, and it happen the same thing on both flor above, lel! No cocktails😂 Here I found out I love ginger beer but everybody eye me as a heretic for my choice
Jane Sheppard
06:56 28 Sep 20
What can say me and my friend went in there yesterday, great customer service , really good copping with COVID !!! All your staff need a pay rise
RISTEÁRD LDN
15:15 22 Aug 20
First time back since they've reopened after lockdown. It's great to be back!!! The staff are super friendly and down to earth. They've really thought through the best way to use the space to allow for social distancing. You can order from an app, or at the bar downstairs. They'll being your drinks to the table as well. Came here on a Saturday afternoon and there were tables available, but if you want to make sure you have a table you should book in advance. It's good to get back out to such a fun pub in Soho.
Abhiram A.
19:32 17 Dec 19
The first time I went to the Duke of Wellington was in Aug 2017. Pretty cool bar where you can be whatever you want, and in whatever disposition. There are...
Mike C.
11:13 29 Jun 18
I'm so mad that the gay pubs in the US aren't as easygoing and inviting as the Duke of Wellington. I mean, first of all let's start with the name, how...
Ryan J.
11:53 09 Jul 16
My favorite gay pub in London! I love coming here, especially after work when it's crowded and busy with the locals. Bar staff are always very friendly and...

Reviews from Google Maps, Yelp and WhereIs.Gay

Features

Map

Today Open now UTC+0

12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Monday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Tuesday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Wednesday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Thursday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Friday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Saturday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Sunday
    12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Claim Listing

Is this your business?

Claim listing is the best way to manage and protect your business.