A Timeless Gem in Soho’s History
At the corner of Broadwick Street and Duck Lane lies The Duck, an unassuming yet legendary establishment that has quietly shaped Soho’s storied past. With its weathered brick facade, intimate interiors, and a reputation for secrets, The Duck is a place known to locals and insiders, not tourists.
From Gin to Legend
Founded in the mid-18th century, The Duck originally served as a handy outlet for the Soho Distillery in Duck Lane. Its ale came fresh from the Soho Brewery, pairing perfectly with the distillery’s fine gin. From the start, it attracted a devoted clientele, blending its reputation for high-quality drinks with an air of discretion that lingers to this day.
Beth: The Timeless Landlady
The heart of The Duck is its landlady, Beth. Her presence at the helm is as much a mystery as it is a certainty. Mentions of a woman matching Beth’s description date back to the days of the Duke of Portland, who owned much of Soho in the 18th century. Older patrons recall her being exactly as she is now—buxom, blonde, and impossibly youthful. She has become an enduring figure, woven into the very fabric of The Duck and its mythology.
Mikki: A Constant Companion
Mikki, The Duck’s irrepressible part-time helper, is another fixture of its history. While her wild hair and eccentric charm are unmistakable today, some older regulars claim to remember her by other names, hinting at a history as elusive as Beth’s. Her vivacious energy adds an irreverent twist to the pub’s otherwise quiet mystique.
Tales and Whispers
The pub’s long-standing reputation isn’t just built on its drinks. It carries with it stories that blur the line between fact and fiction:
The Hidden Room
Patrons have whispered about a concealed space, perhaps little more than a cupboard, located in either the attic or the first-floor function room. Some say only a select few, like Beth and Mikki, can access it.
The Vanishing Pub
Rumors persist of visitors failing to find The Duck at all, despite knowing its exact location. Instead, they encounter an old vinyl record store in its place, leading to speculation that The Duck appears only to those it chooses.
The Mounted Heads
Among its decor is a macabre collection of mounted heads in the first-floor function room. Some suggest they inspired a subplot in Brooke’s fictional tales, where The Duck was renamed The Traitor’s Head after a DJ’s head was mounted as a grim trophy.
An Unchanging Legacy
Over the centuries, The Duck has seen its share of Soho’s evolution, yet it remains untouched by time. A recent addition—a small, intimate beer garden tucked discreetly out back—offers an extension of its charm for those in the know. But the essence of The Duck lies within its walls, where its secrets and stories are shared by the regular patrons.
For some, The Duck is a pub. For others, it’s an enigma. Either way, it stands as an indelible part of Soho’s history, holding its mysteries and traditions close to its timeless heart.