7-11 Commercial Court
City Centre
Belfast
BT1 2NB
028 9024 1062
info@dukeofyorkbelfast.com
Traditional Town Pub
The Duke of York is down an alleyway in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, or Half Bap as it used to be known. Signs at the pub proudly locate it in Half Bap, so named for the bread bap shaped roundabout that once stood at the top of nearby Talbot Street.
The Duke is proud that it has remained a traditional pub with old style decor and atmosphere. Longtime landlord Willie Jack has spent years acquiring the huge collection of whisky distillery mirrors and old beer signs from across Ulster that cover the walls, inside and outside.
It’s one of the few pubs in Belfast where you’re able to sample and compare all three classic Irish stouts – I ranked them Murphy’s first, Guinness second and Beamish third. The Duke of York is also famous for its huge selection of Irish whiskies with lots of versions of Jamesons and Bushmills, and single malts from smaller distilleries.
The pub was once famous as a meeting place for journalists, politicians and lawyers, but today you’re more likely to find a busy mix of tourists and locals. Traditional music sessions are frequent though it’s hard to find out exactly when they are. Weekends are your best bet.
The umbrella installation outside in the alleyway is a colourful comment on the weather in Belfast. The neon sign at the Hill Street end reads “There are only seven types of rain in Belfast, Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday…”
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