The Dove, Hammersmith — Restaurant in London

We've been coming to the Dove for decades, it was our Dad's favourite pub and when he died, 30 years ago this week, we came here as a family to scatter some of his ashes in the Thames, and for the next 29 years we've been coming back to celebrate him around that anniversary. In that time we've had mixed experiences but mostly good. Last night 5 of us came for a meal on our annual pilgrimage. We booked in advance, saying that 2 of us are vegan and one has a life threatening mustard allergy. When we arrived, 8pm, we had to ask what was suitable for vegans and what didn't have mustard in. The waitress didn't know and had to go off and ask. She came back with one main course that was vegan and nothing for the mustard allergy, so he had to have some starters instead. We said we were disappointed at this as we'd told them in advance about the allergy and the vegans, she didn't apologise. She was also very casual about the whole mustard thing, which is a concern when it could kill you! We waited a long time for our drinks to arrive, when they did one pint of beer was totally flat. She replaced it, but again with no apology. The food, which hadn't been anyone's ideal first choice, was good, so that was nice. When they cleared the plates the waitress brought dessert menus, after a minute or 2 we called her over to ask what was vegan (there are no indicators on the menus at all) and joked that at least nothing would have mustard in! She said there was nothing vegan, but also as it was 9.32pm the kitchen we closed and so we couldn't order desserts anyway!! She had only given us menus minutes before. At no point when we took our 8pm table did anyone mention that the kitchen would close at 9.30pm! We had to wait quite a while to order, for our drinks to arrive, for our food. So it would have been difficult to have ordered desserts earlier, but if we'd known we might have tried. When we questioned this she simply said they had all been working 12 hour shifts and were knackered!!! We paid a lot of money for food some of us wouldn't have chosen, and couldn't get a dessert for no fault of our own. I think its also worth mentioning for a busy London pub that serves (not inexpensive) food to not have a vegan pudding option and only one main course is pretty poor in 2023. Anyway, the whole experience really tarnished our moment to celebrate our Dad, and we have all decided, after 30 years, and a few less than great experiences in the last few years, we won't be able to come back to The Dove for our...

Such mixed feelings! I misspent much of my early adult years here.

On one hand: best pub in London, but then I’m a west Londoner and live close by. My grandfather and my uncle drank here back in the 1940s and 1960s. Hogarth drank here! I have been drinking here for 20 years. Met many friends and made life decisions here! Truly beautiful. Great views. The terrace overlooking the river was previously an excellent place to meet random strangers and end up chatting for 6 hours. Food often excellent. Drinks are from the Fullers Book of Pub Drinks, that is to say: no groundbreaking ales but solid / reliable menu and wines for the long-haired ones that are passable. Add to that: one of the only pubs that doesn’t launch an assault on its customers’ ears with obnoxious music (or indeed any music); you can hear yourself think! That means you can think of your own music, and words, which is much more fun. Hurrah.

On the other hand, they - in a move as cynical as something you might expect from neighbouring Hounslow borough council who banned running along the Thames path for reasons of “COVID” then kept the rule in place after COVID ended - The Dove has seemingly used COVID as an excuse to completely change the existential purpose of a pub. Last time I went in FOR A DRINK they said they don’t accept walk-ins. Yes you read correctly: you cannot simply WALK IN and get a pint. Astonishing. Also the terrace is nowadays barely ever open when I try to go in. Always shutting it at 8pm or something ridiculous. Apparently because of COVID.

So tonight I tried to call to “book” (what a horrendous concept) and they didn’t answer the phone. It just rang out end ended with a beeeeeep.

I therefore conclude with the following question: is it even a pub any more?

I sincerely hope that the managers here see fit to return The Dove to being a normal pub - you know, one where you can walk in and buy a beer and sit wherever the hell you like.

Sadly I have not bothered trying to go there for months now, as we live slightly nearer the Old Ship and bothering to go further up the path only to be turned away has more recently not been something I can bring myself to do. Especially given the Old Ship does, admittedly, also have fabulous views over the Thames and an equally decent beer and wine menu (and equally expensive and passable food). Most importantly, I know I can walk-in without having to remember to scan a sodding QR code three days in advance, or whatever you have to do now to walk...

Our first visit to The Dove was fabulous: we sat in the front area near a fireplace and had a great Sunday roast after a long walk in the cold. So when my mom was visiting me in London, The Dove was a natural choice to show her a cosy historical pub, so I booked a table in advance and was looking forward to it Unfortunately, this time we were given the worst table in the back of the pub, in a glass box right near the men's toilet. It was quite a popular destination for the guests, it being a busy Friday night, but I just tried to ignore the smells and sights as much as possible. Instead, I had to focus on keeping the table stable (pardon the pun) as it was really shaky. My mom’s husband sat by the window, and it was very cold, so he ended up putting his coat on. The food was a bit of a hit-and-miss. Cheese plates included four small pieces of cheese and were mostly dominated by accompanying salad, chutney, crackers, apples and grapes. My fish and chips were a huge portion, but the steak and my mom’s squash dish were quite small. Brownies with Chantilly cream and cherries were really good. Overall, I just felt really disappointed with the table squeezed in between the toilet and the cold window. It was definitely not the cosy by-the-fireplace pub experience I wanted for my mom, and I feel I should have chosen something...