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We all know the formula when it comes to transforming neighbourhood pubs. Take a rough boozer, bring in canny management, chuck in a selection of craft beers, throw in some decent food – and hey, presto! This Walthamstow pub has certainly followed this to the letter, albeit with mixed results.
There isn’t a huge array of beers on tap, but what’s there is decent enough, including options from Vedett and Hackney Brewery. The décor is a tad sepulchral and the beer garden is a rather bizarre combination of artificial grass, cheap faux-wicker furniture and candy-coloured summerhouses (which can be privately rented, should you and your mates want a bit of exclusivity). Food comes in the form of pizzas from a wood-fired oven, as part of the venue’s ‘Sourdough Saloon’. These were a bit up and down; a tartufata (the name of the pizza, not just a big plate of sauce) was lifted by delicious scamorza, but a soggy calabrese floundered under the weight of too many toppings.
The Dog & Duck isn’t quite the Cinderella it wants to be, but friendly and chatty staff help add a warm atmosphere. There’s a regular quiz night on Wednesdays, too. A perfectly good spot for locals along a quietish stretch of the Chingford Road.