The Dove, Hammersmith, W6

Visited in June 2010 The Dove is an 18th Century riverside inn on the Middlesex side of the river, easily accessible from Hammersmith Bridge along the river front walk. The well known anthem - Rule Britannia - was allegedly composed here and the pub has had many famous literary visitors over the years, such as Ernest Hemingway, A P Herbert etc. Nowadays, it's a popular tourist destination with that rather inevitable transient feel of pubs of this ilk. Situated in a narrow alleyway, an old heavy duty door leads into the main bar area which has low ceilings, dark old beams and wood panelling. Some of the furniture here looks newish and I'm aware that there was a fire some time last year which did some damage. Over the fireplace here is a framed panel of famous customers who have dropped in in more recent times, including actors and sporting heroes ( eg - Julie Andrews, Godfrey Evans ). Also here is a visitors book with testimonials ( and a few crass idiotic comments ) from people from all over the world. On the right of this main bar is a very small snug bar with room, realistically, for no more than half a dozen drinkers. This bar holds the Guinness World Record for being the smallest bar area and the framed certificate to this effect is proudly displayed. Note also the small brass plaque indicating the height that the waters reached in the floods of January 1928. The pub is listed in CAMRA's book of London Heritage pubs and these two front rooms are the older parts of the pub. The main bar leads into a newer food orientated rear room which is decorated with prints and photographs of the pub and the local area in days of old. Passing through this rear room, we reach a small verandah with fine views of the River Thames. This verandah is popular in fine weather and also, especially on Boat Race day in March. On my recent Sunday lunchtime visit, it was noticeable how much more food orientated the pub as a whole seems to have become. Paper menus were on all the tables in the main bar and the tables on the verandah were laid out for diners. As you might expect, food is not cheap - eg Sunday roasts - £ 13.95p, Cod fillet with chips - £ 11.50p. Unusually, a blackboard outside the pub advertises a take out menu at weekends only which includes New York deli hot dog and Chicago Red hot dog at £ 5 and £ 6 respectively. Perhaps surprisingly, for a small pub like this where space is at a premium, dogs are positively encouraged and water bowls and dog biscuits are readily visible and available. On the beer front, it's a Fullers pub and the usual beers are served from a bank of handpumps, oddly positioned in the angle of the L shaped bar servery. The London Pride - curiously described on a chalkboard by the front door as a "top selling premium amber ale" - was in good form at £ 3.25p. The pub is listed in CAMRA's 2010 Good Beer Guide. This is one of London's most well known pubs and you really should try and get here when you get the chance.

Lovely old pub with bucketloads of history. Cosy in the winter but the small terrace makes it a bit of a scrum in the summer if you want to sit outside. Good beer and the food is excellent too, even if the chef doesn't always check to make sure he's provided each dish exactly as described on the menu!

Randomness Guide to London - Dove entry

Randomness Guide to London - Dove entry