I think everyone has already hit the mark on this one in saying that it's nothing more than your average pub, really. On the plus side it's huge and the patio is really great in the summer. They have a selection of beers and feature a different (more unusual) beer weekly (?) or daily...
The food is standard pub fare but I've really enjoyed what I've tried here. The half portion of fish n' chips is probably the best bang for your buck and I've heard raves about the sweet potato fries.
I much prefer the Bedford Academy across the street but if it's full or you have a large group, the Duke of York definitely comes in handy.