The Iron Duke - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in England

We normally like Wetherspoons for its cheap and cheerful food and drink, but our lunch on Saturday was such a huge disappointment. Meals at the Iron Duke have always been a little below Wetherspoons usual standard but nothing like what we experienced on Saturday. I ordered the chicken, brie and chilli jam burger and at first it was brought out as a panini, so I sent it back and then when I got the burger, it had no brie in it. So I sent it back again and eventually got some brie but by now the burger was cold and the brie wasn't able to melt. When I tried eating the burger, the chicken was so dry and tough it was difficult to cut into. The final straw was when my husband found that the bowl his onion rings came in was dirty and covered in someone else's old sauce.

Considering how cheap Wetherspoons food is we don't expect anything fancy (and our expectations are normally exceeded, a lot of the food is delicious), but this time I really felt we had cause for complaint (we hate complaining and try to avoid it at all costs). We had a word with one of the managers and he was super nice and apologetic and offered us a free dessert but by that point we'd had enough really and just wanted to leave.

It's not the first time meals have been served to us at the Iron Duke missing crucial ingredients, a few weeks ago I ordered the chicken, bacon and avocado salad and it arrived with no bacon. Things are often also mixed up or arrive much later than everybody else's food.

Due to all of this I really hope the Iron Duke take note, especially as places to eat out in Wellington are few and far between. We really don't expect much but clean crockery and meals with all the right ingredients would...

I honestly didn't think I would ever post a review like this. 100% top marks. Weatherspoons is what it is, there is no getting away from it. A lot of frozen ready to eat items on the menu etc. But, this is food for us all, the masses, and for most of us, great value. The Iron Duke has a lovely comfortable atmosphere. Staff smiling and ready to help. The ceiling is amazing, look up. We found a table by the window, all nice and clean with menus on, in fact all the empty tables were clean and tidy, and the place was busy. We order drinks and they quickly arrived. My partner ordered a pizza and I ordered the vegan beyond meat burger. It's a frozen pizza base we all know, but more often than not in other 'spoons' it comes out of the kitchen under cooked and floppy. Not at The Iron Duke. It's crispy and looking really tasty. The Beyond burger is the same, comes in frozen, etc. Most of the time, at other 'spoons', the patties arrive looking as if they have been deep fried to an inch of there plant based life, not here. Succulent and juicy, burger bun toasted and salad that was still green 💚 .I nearly forgot, the chips. 100% definitely the best 'spoons' chips I have ever had, they were cooked and piping hot. When a waitress came over to check, I said how pleased we were with the food and how good it was, she actually stopped to listen. Go into The Iron Duke. Definitely worth a try. I will most certainly be back next time I am in Wellington. Well done to...

The Iron Duke, Wellington – A Historic Pub with Great Value and a Cosy Atmosphere

If you’re after a relaxed evening in a pub that blends history, atmosphere, and affordability, The Iron Duke in Wellington is well worth a visit. Located in the town’s original corn market building, it stands proudly in the centre of town, just a short walk from parking—convenient and full of character.

At 7:30pm, the place had that ideal balance: lively but not overwhelming. The spacious layout still felt cosy, making it the kind of spot where you can settle in comfortably. One of the unexpected highlights was reading about the Duke of Wellington while waiting for food—who knew he was born in Ireland? A nice touch that adds a bit of depth to the experience.

Ordering was seamless via QR code, and the food arrived quickly—exactly what you’d expect from Wetherspoons: solid, great value, and satisfying without trying to be something it’s not. It hit the spot and paired well with a couple of drinks to round off the evening.

Would I return? Absolutely. Whether it’s for a late breakfast, lunch, or just a mid-afternoon beer, The Iron Duke makes a strong case for a repeat visit. If you’re in Wellington and fancy a laid-back pub with a touch of history, it’s a solid choice. No fuss,...