Following a refurbishment in 2022, the pub's name was changed from Henry Holland to The Duchess, this time in honour, so the pub's website declares, of "the BBC drama The Duchess of Duke Street, loosely based of the life of Rosa Lewis, the eponymous "Duchess" who works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietor of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel."
The pub is high-ceilinged, well furnished with a wood-panelled lounge bar with sash windows, all in elegant style. The first floor restaurant can be hired for functions
The pub is located opposite the Duke Street entrance of Selfridge's and hence not far from the other shops of Oxford Street. There is usually a choice of three cask ales. The interesting menus range from gastro dishes to toasted sandwiches and include brunches and Sunday roasts.
Historic Interest
Originally licensed in 1765. At 11pm on the night of 6 December 1944 the then Red Lion was destroyed by a V2 missile, killing at least 18 people and injuring around 40. It was rebuilt in 1958, when it was renamed after Henry Holland, the late Georgian architect to the then owners, Whitbread. As well as many Whitbread pubs, Holland’s buildings included the Brighton Pavilion.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
This pub retains full-height wood panelling on the walls, and a bar counter with detailed marquetry.
Rebuilt by Whitbread in 1958, this is an unusually intact example of post-war pub-fitting. There is one bar on the ground floor which is distinguished by full-height wood panelling on all the walls. Note the attractive interlinked marquetry band on the counter front and the delicate decoration on the ceiling, giving a nod to the elegant Georgian time of Henry Holland, after whom the pub was originally named. The pub is now named after a TV series from the 1970s. Panelling and plaster decoration reappear in the upstairs restaurant where the servery is a modern insertion. Unfortunately, so too is the bar back downstairs (the finish of the wood and the ornamental detail is rather different from the rest of the woodwork). The door to the stairs and the doors into the restaurant have glazing set in copper strips.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Duchess, London
Changing beers typically include: Fuller's - London Pride , Timothy Taylor - Landlord