The Duke’s Head Is Back & Better Than Ever​

The Duke’s Head Is Back & Better
Than Ever

Crawley Down’s The Duke’s Head reopens on Saturday, April 20 to the public, but for a few hours last night (Wednesday, April 17) a team from RH Uncovered was privileged to be amongst the first to see the beautiful new pub’s décor, taste new, fresh dishes and enjoy the warmest and welcoming of service.

From the moment that you walk into Crawley Down’s refurbished, The Duke’s Head you will be wowed by the well-appointed interiors which bring about an in-the-moment look that brings the look of a high-end London eatery to diners from Crawley, Horley and East Grinstead looking for something special.

The pub has undergone a serious makeover in around just a fortnight with a design like you would not believe – new furniture, fabrics, lighting and other cutesy pieces bring a fresh and vibrant vibe to the pub which has been welcoming guest for decades, but now looks incredibly well set for the years ahead. 

The lively and stylish atmosphere and ambiance of The Duke’s Head is matched by its menu – an expansive offering with an array of lunch, dinner and children’s options, all freshly and lovingly prepared by the premium pub’s clearly passionate staff – the menu brings classic dishes with in vogue ones to life.

Among the favourites the RH Uncovered team enjoyed were the tantilising starters which were ideal for sharing – although, the generous portion sizes mean you will only need the one, or at most two to a couple! One such showstopper was the pork belly bao buns with red chilli, pineapple and mango salsa, and Thai-style dipping sauce which looks set to be a real star dish for The Duke’s Head dinner menu.

As well as a taste of the Far East, other starters include flavours from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, with fresh and tasty houmous, lamb koftas served with rich and creamy goats curd, and an astonishingly good box-baked camembert which is accompanied by artisan baked bread for dipping – there are dozens of great meal options for meat and seafood lovers, and vegetarians alike. 

The main course featured timeless gastro pub classics such as mouthwatering chateaubriand steak – cooked to perfection and served with delicious béarnaise sauce and heavenly chunky chips. For those looking for something a little less fussy, The Duke’s Head’s dirty burger was a burger like no other featuring lashings of hearty burger sauce, crispy smoked bacon and rich and sweet Cheddar cheese.

If you do still have room for dessert, the sweet options are there with tried and tested family favourites such as Belgian chocolate brownies, vanilla creme bruleé and apple and blackberry crumble served with custard. Although, tasty, the desserts perhaps fail to meet the extremely high standards set by the starters and main courses, but do not let that put you off – the desserts still perfect complete a meal.

If the food is not enough, wait until you see the bar which boasts a superb collection of fine wines, real ales and lagers, and not forgetting a well-stocked gin bar to make sure your night whatever the occasion can be toasted in style, and for those looking for the next big thing, whisky drinkers will not be let down.

If you are passionate about food and drink, The Duke’s Head is the dining experience for you – if you know what you like, you are likely to find it. If you are unsure, The Duke’s Head’s very knowledgeable service team are on hand to give helpful hints and recommendations from the menu and the bar.

The Duke’s Head is now once again the perfect place to take time out whilst enjoying delicious dishes to suit all tastes and a bar well-stocked with a selection of wines, ales, gins and whiskys to be the envy of other bar and dining facilities locally – go on, book now and enjoy the new look in Crawley Down!

For more information about The Duke’s Head, and to make a reservation, visit: www.thedukesheadcrawley.co.uk