The Dove

Home > London > Food and Wine | Pubs

by Mike Whyte (subscribe)

www.mykadelica.com

Published June 12th 2016

Fly away with The Dove

large image

I've been here before, and I decided I had to do it all again. And as I told you previously, I think it still is truly is one of the finest examples of a public house you will ever see.

The composition for 'Rule Britannia' was made here, Kings have visited (Charles II is alleged to have wined and dined his mistress, Nell Gwynne, in this very establishment remember). It is still in the Guinness Book of Records no less, for having the smallest bar room. So still lots of historical reasons for popping along. Not interested in history, but popular culture? Well take a look around you, you never know who's sat on the next table...

I really like the location of The Dove too. Set in a quiet street enclosed by ornate brick walls, this feels more like a village than a suburb of London. If you venture further, you can see a particularly athletic part of the River Thames, where rowers practice in their canoes along a sparking stretch of the river. It's no surprise then that this is one of the perfect pubs to watch the famous Oxford v Cambridge boat race from.

The food here is pretty special too. So much so, that if you haven't actually booked a table in advance, you may not dine (so think about it before setting off). You'll be happy you did, and though I haven't been able to yet, based on the food I've had here in the past, the Sunday Roast should be something really worth investigating.

All in all, a great pub in a lovely location, and one you really won't regret making the journey for - wherever you've travelled from.