The Duck & Dagger is the new canalside answer to the old Artichoke-shaped question at Steam Mill. It sits right by the canal, does food and drinks with enough polish for a planned lunch but still works as a relaxed walk-in stop, and is especially useful if you want somewhere dog-friendly after a towpath wander without trudging back into the middle of town. More bistro-pub than sawdust local, but that is not a crime.
The Duck & Dagger is the revived canalside pub/restaurant in the old Steam Mill, from the Coach House team, and it has quickly become one of the more useful new food-and-drink stops by the canal. It does British pub food with a bit of polish: Sunday roasts, burgers, fish and chips, soups, desserts, cocktails, wine and beer. More bistro-pub than old boozer, which is fine if lunch wants to feel planned rather than improvised.
Sunday lunch, canal walks, relaxed group lunches, dog-friendly stops, and a proper sit-down meal near Steam Mill/Moxy/station-side plans. Early praise is especially strong around roasts, service and the building
Avoid if you want cheap-and-basic pub food, a purely local-ale destination, or somewhere with years of settled reputation behind it. It is still new enough that consistency deserves watching, and at least one complaint calls the food overpriced or bland
Expect a smartly revived pub/restaurant, outdoor/canalside seating, cocktails, wine, cask/beer, British comfort food and a room that feels more intentional than a random pint stop. Booking looks sensible for Sunday or peak times.
Use the canal properly: towpath, Shot Tower, Steam Mill, station-side wandering, then Duck & Dagger for a meal. It is especially good when weather is kind enough for the canal to feel charming rather than damply educational.
The honest bit: one of the safer new entries because, visitor detail mostly point the same way. Still young, not flawless, but more than just new-venue hype. Good for a proper meal, not just a pint.
People tend to mention the Sunday lunches, canalside setting, friendly service and smart-but-relaxed feel. Check Google for the latest individual reviews before making a special trip.