The Duke of Edinburgh: At Apples modern spaceship campus in Cupertino, engineers and designers work year-round on the latest iterations of the companys iconic gadgets, always focused on the future.
In a much more plain building just across Wolfe Road, the pace of change is a bit slower. In fact, not much has changed in four decades at The Duke of Edinburgh, a traditional English pub in the center of Silicon Valley.
Theres nothing quite like The Duke, its so authentic, Jason Foreman, a board member of the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum, told San José Spotlight. You just cant beat it. The owners threw the pub a 40th birthday party earlier this month, celebrating with a DJ, dance floor, food and drinks. Its unclear if the birthday bash could be the last for The Duke, however, due to a developers looming plans for a hotel on the sitebut the pubs longtime patrons and employees say theyre relishing the time they have left.
The pubs biggest claim to fame and its most alluring draw is its authenticity.
Just about everything inside the place came from England. Founded in 1983 by English expats Stan Gamble, David Neale and Robert Gaines Cooper, along with American Bob Blair, the group decided the pub should be built by craftsmen in Suffolk, shipped stateside in two big containers and assembled onsite.
A few men from Suffolk came to help do the joinery, and Gamblea general contractor by tradesaid he essentially built the rest, installing kitchens, bathrooms, seating and decor. Everything was meant to feel like a lavish recreation of the pubs he frequented in England.
We even put the taps on the bar. Normally theyd be in the back, Gamble told San José Spotlight. That was a bit of a pain in the arse to do, but we were trying to make it more authentic.
With deep red flocked wallpaper, matching velvet booths, wrought iron table pedestals, brass handrails, old-fashioned light fixtures and the sturdy mahogany bar, the pub oozes warmth and charm.
I think the ambiance creates an atmosphere whereby people feel relaxed and can have a chat, basically. A chat, gossip, discuss, argue, call it what you will, Gamble said. Gamble is a soft-spoken man with a thick accent who is up there in yearsIm not telling you my age, Im oldand quick with a quip.
He says the pub has essentially been a 40-year hobby that doesnt bring in too much revenue. But the best reason he has to keep it going? I need somewhere to go have a drink, he said with a chuckle.
While Gamble prefers a gin and tonic, the pub serves standbys like Guinness, and it also has some hard to find beers like Old Speckled Hen, an English bitter ale.
The food menu is also largely the same as ever, with pub stalwarts including fish and chips and bangers and mash, as well as some reasonably priced richer dishes, like prime rib and Beef Wellington, helping to bring people back night after night.
But Gambles hobby, which has been shared and adored by so many over the decades, faces the threat of redevelopment. Kimco Realty, an investment firm that owns The Cupertino Village shopping center where The Duke is located, has plans to demolish the simple square building that contains the pub and build a five-story boutique hotel there.
The Cupertino City Council greenlit the idea in 2019, seemingly spelling the end for The Duke. But in the wake of the pandemic and its impact on the hotel industry, and recently rising interest rates making development lending more difficult, the pub has been granted a reprieve. Longtime regular Tim Shetelat, 52, said he has been coming to The Duke for nearly 20 years. He loves the place so much he decided to help out, and began working part-time at the pub about a year ago, preparing house-made Cumberland-style sausages for diners and occasionally tending bar.
Shetelat said he loves how tight-knit The Duke community is, and how it extends outside the four walls into golf tournaments, hangouts and other activities, all starting with relationships built at the pub.
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This has been a pretty special place for a lot of people, over 40 years, he told San José Spotlight.
The Duke is a beloved hangout for regulars like Shetelat, a cozy and inviting standby for occasional visitors, and a unique piece of local lore for first-timers.
On any given night, the pubs most frequent patrons can be found lounging in the booths, talking around the bar, watching a football (soccer) match or throwing a round of darts.
During the 40th birthday celebration, plenty of time was spent with old friends reconnecting and reminiscing about some of the adult soccer matches they played while on teams long sponsored by The Duke.
Though some of the brightness of the ornate interior may have faded since opening night in the fall of 1983a 200
Our Reader’s Queries
Who is now the Duke of Edinburgh?
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC, is a prominent member of the British royal family. Born on March 10, 1964, he is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As the youngest sibling of King Charles III, he holds a special place in the royal hierarchy. With his impressive titles and lineage, Prince Edward is a respected figure in British society.
Does the Duke of Edinburgh love the Queen?
Seventy years ago, Prince Philip expressed his complete and unconditional love for Queen Elizabeth II in a heartfelt letter. Their love endured through all of life’s ups and downs, including marriage, children, victories, and challenges, until the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing in April 2021.
Why did the Duke of Edinburgh change his name?
In 1947, Prince Philip became a naturalised British subject and gave up his Greek and Danish Royal title. As a result, he adopted the family name of Mountbatten.
Why is Prince Edward not a duke?
As per The Telegraph, the decision was entirely his own. Despite being in line to become the Duke of Cambridge, he opted for the title of Lord Wessex, inspired by a character from Shakespeare in Love. A royal courtier revealed that he was drawn to the name and requested the Queen to grant him the title instead.