The Dove, Hammersmith, W6

Situated down a narrow alleyway on the Thames Path, the Dove is one of the capital’s top riverside pubs. You enter into the oldest part of the pub – a lovely wooden floor bar area with the servery to the right and some banquette and low pew seating to the left. The seating is arranged around a brick fireplace with a nice image of a dove carrying an olive branch carved into Portland stone above. There’s a lot of dark wood in the room, which helps it retain a traditional feel, despite recent alterations and the walls have been decorated with black and white photos of local scenes, including many of the famous Oxford & Cambridge boat race. The pub is generally regarded as one of the best from which to view this race. To the right of the front entrance is a tiny snug with access to the bar which has room for no more than four or so people. The room holds the official record for being the smallest bar in the world. Steps lead up to the mid-section of the building, which was in use as a dining area on my Sunday evening visit. There is a limited amount of seating here, as well as another fireplace and a lot more black and white photos on the walls. Moving further into the pub, there is a descent to a lower level with comfy sofas and similar such seating, which I imagine in the daytime would give wonderful views of the river through the large end windows, but given that it was pitch black outside, I couldn’t really judge for myself. Doors lead out to a riverside patio. The pub has attracted numerous famous visitors over the years ranging from the likes of King Charles II to Ernest Hemmingway and a board in the main bar explains that James Thompson is reputed to have composed ‘Rule Britannia’ in the pub. There are several hand pumps on the bar, all sited on the corner between the main bar and the snug, so that the pump clips have to be turned at an acute angle to be viewed. As a Fullers pub, there was a good range of their ales available on my visit, comprising London Pride, ESB, Seafarers and new seasonal offering Traitor’s Gate (£3.85). I gave the latter a try and thought it was in good shape and not a bad winter brew. I enjoyed spending a bit of time in the main bar of this pub, soaking up the atmosphere and drinking a well kept pint. And I could just as easily imagine enjoying a summer visit to sit out on the patio and admire the view. As riverside pubs go, this one strikes the right balance between tourist destination and traditional pub.