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Dove Free House, E8
E8
E8 4QJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Dove Free House
This was until around 1990 the Goring Arms and a first for us a few nights ago.
This former Taylor Walker house is situated along Broadway Market, which is to hipsters what the Vatican is to Catholics, so it’s no surprise that a facsimile of Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam adorns the ceiling, with both God and Adam holding glasses of Leffe, presumably influenced by a similar fresco painted to the ceiling of Oxford's Victoria. Presumably then, this pub is to hipsters what the Sistine Chapel is to the Vatican.
The interior is a hotchpotch of styles and periods: the floor is modern bare boarded with slanted t ‘n’ g panelling to dado height. The walls are a mungy nicotine colour – unpainted since the smoking ban? – with some seemingly Art Deco panelling to the front with complementary sconce lights. There’s Anaglypta to selective areas of the ceiling in a similar colour, with parts of the paper peeling off the walls; there are also some rather ugly exposed metal structural members along with what looks like some exposed concrete. Also on view is a lot of saggy electrical wiring. The impression here is that when any electrical work is done, the existing wiring is left in place; it’s not attractive; furniture is mismatched and eclectic. Décor comprises much Belgian brewery regalia. To the rear right is initially what appears to be a balustered gallery but is in fact the rear of the pub which is accessed down a couple of half stair flights. Here, there’s a very attractive dark wood panelled room with separate areas, a little like booths; it’s quite at variance with the front room. At the bottom is the entrance to the lavs which comprise seven unisex cubicles, open to the rear room; I hope there’s adequate air extraction. Customers were understandably young, certainly younger than us, though this is hardly surprising, given that the area and its amenities are generally geared towards a younger crowd.
There is of course a wide choice of Belgian beers on tap and in bottle with three real ales, a selection unchanged for a good nine years: Crouch Vale’s Brewers Gold, TT Landlord and ELB’s Pale Ale, in great shape and – for London – a very agreeable £4.50 the pint, served up by friendly and efficient staff.
Taken at face value this pub is initially a bit of a disappointment, but the beer is good, very competitively priced and can be enjoyed in a very attractive pub, if consumed to the side or rear.
I would return on passing and would especially include this place on a crawl of the area.
On 19th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Dove Free House
Big place with the bar to the left. Downstairs seating but mainly keg stuff on sale.
On 19th September 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Dove Free House
Located on Broadway market so it can get very busy. It's all a bit continental but nothing wrong with that in this Belgian vibed bar. Bare boarded split level interior. 6 real ales and an extensive keg/bottle selection.
On 26th November 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Dove Free House
Nice Belgian style bar with dark wood and a cosy atmosphere.Decent selection of the more popular Belgian beers on keg.Surprisingly 6 cask beers ELB -pale, landlord ,Brewers gold and 3 from 3 Castles brewery.lovely to sit outside on a warm day with a good pint.
On 20th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Dove Free House
The Dove is a siuated in the middle of the Broadway market.
Once inside the bar in the main room is on the left side,the room is divided into different areas,the room is bare boarded,the seating pew type and normal tables and chairs,the rear area is quite small and there are steps down to another seating area,there is a seperate room to the left which is oblong shaped.
There was a good choice of real als on the bar,i had a drink of ELB Pale Ale which went down well,the other beers i noted were Potbelly Best,Crouch Vale Brewers Gold,Ramseys Sticky Wicket,Taylor Landlord and Taylor Havescake.
I quite liked this comfortable pub,one for a good session.
Pub visited 4/10/2014
On 4th October 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Dove Free House
Another first time pub for me yesterday and another success, a very comfortable feeling place yet the vibrancy of the market street outside carries through to the pub while still maintaining a sense of a traditional pub, ales on hand pump I remember,although there was at least one more were Timothy Taylor Landlord,Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and my choice which was ELB Pale Ale,this was in great shape and would have happily stayed for more if there were not more pubs to visit on the day.I would have no hesitation in a return visit.
On 27th June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Dove Free House
Having seeing previous reviewers’ comments, a visit to this pub was always on the cards. And it didn’t disappoint. They had six ales on during my Saturday afternoon visit, including a few less commonly seen offerings like Oakham JHB and the superb Abbey Bellringer. All the ales were £3.50 a pint I believe. As stated previously, decent lagers also feature prominently, including the notorious Delirium Tremens. The brunch menu was listed on a chalkboard, with smoked chicken BLT at £6.50 and that necessary companion to ale drinking, Canadian buttermilk pancakes, at £4.95.
The pub was very busy as the market was in full swing, but although all the tables in the front bar area were occupied, the bar stretched back a fair way with plenty more seating in the gloomy recesses. The main bar area is furnished with normal tables and chairs, and with what looked like recycled church pews and a few stools. The ceiling here has a parody of Michaelangelo’s famous depiction of God passing the spark of life to Adam – except that here they are both holding glasses of Leffe.
Even with the untypical market customers, this still struck me as a real pub. Six ales, featuring none of the usual suspects, is a real winner in my book. London Fields is a bit of a hike from where I live, but if I find myself in this part of the world again I shall definitely pay a return visit. Also, it makes a pleasant change to get to a top pub before John Bonser!!
On 7th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Dove Free House
This is essentially a Belgian pub transported to one of East London's trendy neighbourhoods. The interior is dominated by dark wood, which, in the evening with muted lighting, helps to create a very cosy and warm ambience. The front room has plenty of seating in an open area, with the bar counter tucked along one side. Beyond the bar is a split level room which offers more seating options and to the left a passageway leads to another room which is reserved for diners only. I didn't see a menu but the food looked pretty good and quite a few people had ordered from a bar snacks menu which seemed to include a few typical Belgian snacks. A number of customers in the back room were playing board games, which I can only presume were supplied by the pub. There are quite a lot of Belgian beer adverts on the walls, as you might expect, and some large mirrors as well.
The bar proudly displayed a very good range of Belgian beers on tap, too many to list here, as well as a comprehensive bottled selection detailed in the beer menus available at the bar. One or two standards lagers were also on tap plus some unusual cider and perry options. Ale fans will be glad to hear that they are also catered for with six handpulls dispensing Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold, TT Landlord and Flowers IPA as regulars and three guests which on my visit were Roosters Leghorn and Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale (the sixth pump having a turned clip). My Glaslyn Ale was in great shape and barely touched the sides as it went down. The bar staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and they dealt with some rowdy customers quickly and efficiently without having to resort to calling the doorman over.
I thought that this was an excellent pub which has lots to offer and so should therefore have broad appeal. I'm very keen to make a return visit sooner rather than later, perhaps to try some food as well. Highly recommended.
On 28th March 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Dove Free House
Good detail in Mr Fastard's review below which I'll aim not to repeat. The interior is welcoming and traditional, a nice place to be.
There's an extensive and interesting menu of both drinks, including a wide range of Continental beers both bottled and draught, and food as well as daily specials on a blackboard. We went for soup and a pint of chips which both went down well.
Beer: Six handpumps: Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Flowers IPA, TT Landlord, RamTam, Best and Golden Best. We tried 2 or 3 of these and all were good.
If I lived close by I'd certainly be a regular and will definitely return if in the area.
On 20th March 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Dove Free House
The clientele may well have been the inspiration for the Private Eye comic strip "It's grim up Noth London " but dont let that deter you from entering this outstanding beer emporium.On the ale front there are six handpumps with Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and TT Landlord always featuring together with Flowers IPA,Moorhouses Witchcraft,Buntingford Victory and Crouch Vale Whole Hop as the guests on my trip.Ale quality top hole.However the lager selection is even more impressive with many rare draughts and an extensive list of Belgian bottled beers.Check out the large drinks menu.The food also looked impressive and the £12 sunday roast smelt sensational,there is an extensive menu.The pub interior is also very pleasing,with bareboarded floors,an open plan area on entering with traditional benches and settles and the bar running along one side.However the pub is larger than it first appears and there are fine nooks and crannies ,a dining only back section and a lower level seating area at the rear leading to the unisex lavs,all frosted door cubicles and very Bruges.It's rightly popular and seating can be at a premium.Fully deserves it GBG listing ,a must visit for continental lager fans an outstanding pub in this trendy part of London Fields,not far from the Regents Canal.
On 25th October 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]