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ABOUT

DUKE OF
WELLINGTON

OUR PLACE

Home of fine ales and great food!

The Duke of Wellington is a stunning 12th century building situated just a 5 minute walk from Southampton harbour.

Steeped in history, it's very popular with locals and visitors alike, and the roaring log fires make for a very cosy environment indeed. The Duke serves fine food and a great selection of real ales and wines in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It has a beautifully appointed self contained function room which has become a very popular wedding reception venue, especially as there's a registrar just next door! Rusty, Rob and the team have now made The Duke of Wellington a place that anyone from any walk of life can come and enjoy a great meal, drink or catch up with friends in an amazing and safe environment. 

HISTORY 

The Duke of Wellington on Bugle Street is one of Southamptons most recognisable pubs. According to Historic England, the Duke of Wellington building was constructed using the remains of an existing house, which had been built circa 1220 by Benedict Ace, an early Mayor of Southampton. According to that source, the building was badly damaged by the French and Genoese during their murderous raid in 1338. However, according to the same source, a brewer named Rowland Johnson used the old building to construct his new establishment, which he called ‘Bere House’, in 1494. The building still has its thirteenth century foundations and cellar. Tony Gallaher takes a slightly different view in his excellent book Southampton’s Inns and Taverns. Gallaher states that Rowland Johnson was a Flemish brewer who acquired the building in 1490 and called it ‘Brewe House’. Despite these minor differences, both sources agree that Johnson opened his establishment before the fifteenth century had drawn to a close.

 

he Duke of Wellington was, of course, Arthur Wellesley, who was born in 1769. Two years after his birth, the Bugle Street pub was known as the Shipwrights’ Arms. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the pub changed its name to the Duke of Wellington in order to commemorate the man who defeated Napoleon once and for all.

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The Duke of Wellington also suffered as a result of the Blitz. The top floor of the pub was completely blown away during the bombing of the town. The damaged building was patched up and remained open until 1961, when it was closed for rebuilding. The top floor was painstakingly recreated to the original dimensions and it reopened in 1963.

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The Duke of Wellington in 1941, having been patched up after losing its top floor during the Blitz

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Owtons family butchers have farmed the land at Chalcroft for over 750 years.

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Mum and Dads Kitchen is a family run kitchen based in Portsmouth that supply all of our delicious Gluten free pies.

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