It’s been a brilliant year at the Boyz Award-winning Duke of Wellington with exciting new nights, quizzes, bingo and more. Dave Cross had a catch up with guv’nor Oliver Blatherwick to talk DJs and pandas and bears, oh my!
Hi Oliver, how has 2018 been at the Duke Of Welly?
It’s exactly one year since we reopened our doors after our eight week structural works and it’s been a great year. We got the Welly looking great again and we’ve spent this year bringing in new nights with weekend DJs such as Panda Pop with DJ Heidi Liscious. Also this year Britbears social group have set up camp at the Welly bringing their great social events and quiz. The popularity of our bingo and quiz nights has been growing and growing. We have even been trying acoustic cabaret nights in the upstairs bar on Sundays which have been a great success.
Are you all ready for Christmas and the New Year?
Every day in December is Christmas at the Welly with something on each night to entertain and bring that Christmas cheer, plus those crappy Santa hat giveaways. Our mulled cider has been a great hit and with a dash of spiced rum it certainly warms your chestnuts.
Can you talk us through this coming weekend? Friday 21 and Saturday 22?
This Friday you have DJ Holestar with her disco and pre-millennial trash pop, so don’t bother to request Little Mix or Ariana Grande, as she won’t play it, and we are open to 1am. Saturday, other than it being my birthday, DJ Heidi Liscious will be mashing up those pop classics and shaking her tambourine from 9pm at Panda Pop.
And the Britbears party this Thursday?
The Welly has built up a great relationship with the Britbears team and love hosting their socials and quizzes each month. This Thursday (20 Dec) it’s their Christmas Party in the upstairs bar from 9.30pm, all are welcome and it’s free. They have Dr Woof bringing you the entertainment and a sexy bear Santa, you can sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas. All this and lots of prizes to be won on the night.
Plus you are open on Christmas Day…
Yes, we are one of the crazy ones to open our doors on the big day. It was a great laugh and success last year and we thought we would give it a try again this year. We are open from 4pm-9pm, so come and drop in after your lunch for complimentary mince pies and a glass of fizz.
What about New Year’s Eve?
Last year we had our Polar Bear Party and so this year, with the launch of our new night, we are having DJ Heidi Liscious and the Panda Pop NYE Party… Bears being a running theme at the Welly. It will be a brilliant way to celebrate the New Year with plenty of fun, dancing and booze, open very late!
What about your plans for 2019?
After the long summer and the nightmare of trying to control the growing crowds of our outside drinkers enjoying the weather, I had an idea… 2019 we plan to have our first official street party on Winnett Street. The plan is for May Bank Holiday Sunday. It’s in the early stages so I do not want to give anything away yet but stay tuned as this could be a big one!
The Duke of Wellington, 77 Wardour Street, Soho, W1.
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