‘It’s always been my home’: After 46 years behind the bar, Duke of Wellington owners hope to pass the pint to the right person

After 46 years behind the bar, The Duke of Wellington owner is selling—but hopes the beloved pub's story is far from over. CTV's Hannah Schmidt reports.

One of Waterloo’s longest-running pubs is looking for a new owner, but the woman who has spent nearly five decades behind the bar says she’s determined to ensure its story doesn’t end.

The Duke of Wellington, a British-style pub on King Street South in Uptown Waterloo, has been listed for sale for $599,900.

Owners Desi and Billy Fatkin decided it was time to step back because of ongoing health issues.

Desi has spent nearly her entire working life at the Duke.

“I started there as a server in 1980, and then went on to be the manager, left for a little bit, came back a couple of times, and then I was given the opportunity, 22 years ago, to buy the Duke and jumped at it because this is my home,” she said. “You know, it’s always been my home. I basically grew up here.”

A neighbourhood institution

The Duke first opened in 1980 and very quickly started attracting many newcomers from the United Kingdom looking for a familiar place to gather.

“In the very beginning, the early days, there were a lot of Brits. It was their home away from home,” Desi said. “They would come to the Duke and feel like they were right back in their neighbourhood.”

While the clientele has evolved over the decades, Desi said one thing has remained unchanged.

“We’ve developed such a great, loyal, regular clientele over the years. It’s incredible. It is like a family.”

She said the relationships built inside the pub go far beyond serving food and drinks.

“Our customers are our family,” she said. “We have Christmas dinner with a lot of our customers. You get to know them. They’re not just people coming in and having lunch or dinner.”

General manager Terry Meyer, who has worked at the Duke for a decade, echoed that sentiment.

“It’s the people. It’s a family. Everybody coming together,” Meyer said. “It’s not even like coming to work. It’s not a job. It’s a social event. You just come here and hang out with your friends.”

Starting over after a move

The Duke relocated about five years ago after developers purchased its longtime home at the Atrium complex in Uptown Waterloo.

“We were forced to move,” Desi said. “The developers purchased the Atrium... and their plan was to build a high-rise condominium.”

Desi said moving just a couple of blocks away allowed many longtime customers to follow.

“Most of our customers have found us. Again, loyalty — they just come back and support us.”

She said recreating the atmosphere of the original location was a priority.

“It’s a little bit different vibe. It’s newer and brighter, but we tried to keep it as much a pub as we possibly can,” she said.

‘A good time to sell’

Desi said health challenges affecting both her and her husband ultimately led to the difficult decision to sell.

“We’re getting older, and my husband and I both have health conditions, and it’s a struggle to do the job that we used to do,” she explained. “So we thought now is probably a good time to sell.”

Despite the listing, she stresses the pub is not closing.

“There’s been a lot of misconceptions. We were getting phone calls saying, ‘So when are you closing? We want to get in there one last time,’” Desi said. “People think just because we’re selling that the pub is going to close, and that’s not our intention.”

Instead, she hopes someone passionate about the business will carry it forward.

“We’re not looking for someone to come buy the pub and completely change it,” she said. “We are hoping to find someone that loves the Duke as much as we do and is going to continue on with the legacy.”

She added that she wants the Duke to remain the kind of neighbourhood gathering place it has always been.

“We aren’t looking for anyone to come in and change what we’ve got. We want it to stay the Duke.”

A place full of memories

Over the decades, the pub has welcomed countless regulars along with several high-profile visitors.

“We’ve had a lot of celebrities like Justin Bieber… ZZ Top… the Trailer Park Boys,” Desi said. “We’ve had so many interesting people come through these doors.”

But it’s the everyday customers she says she’ll remember most.

“It’s always fun walking into the pub. You never know what you’re going to get.”

For regular customer Ali Nuri, the atmosphere is what keeps people coming back.

“The people. Everybody’s like family here,” Nuri said. “It feels like a family.”

Meyer hopes whoever takes over recognizes what makes the Duke unique.

“It’s been around for so many years,” he said. “Let’s keep it going. We don’t want to lose it.”