The Dove Inn, Hammersmith - pub details
| [image 2] | [image 3] | [image 4] | [image 5] | [image 6] |
Address: 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, London, W6 9TA [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 159) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Ravenscourt Park (0.3 miles), Stamford Brook (0.5 miles), Hammersmith (0.6 miles)
Kensington Olympia (1.3 miles), Barnes Bridge (1.5 miles), Chiswick (1.6 miles)
Brewery: Fullers
Pub facilities/features:
- Food served, Real ale
- Riverside location
- Outside seating
Are you the Licensee? Click here.
> Current user rating: 6.7/10 (rated by 158 users)
> Hotels nearby: Search
> Local guides: London pub guide, West London pub guide, Hammersmith pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Ravenscourt Arms, Hammersmith (0.2 miles), Old Ship, Hammersmith (0.2 miles), Ruby Grand, Hammersmith (0.2 miles), Hope and Anchor, Hammersmith (0.2 miles), Salutation, Hammersmith (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Dove Inn, Hammersmith
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 136 shown - see all reviews
| So I am not sure if this is the usually done thing but I feel a decent and thought through response to a few recent comments is the right thing to do as a manager who cares about the business, and an active pub lover myself. Firstly, I would like to say I totally respect everyones comments and opinions, good or bad. Since I have been involved in The Dove, just over a year now, it actually has gone from strength to strength on a number of levels. One of which as a business that really exisits (if we're honest) to financially succeed, sales figures and cover count have dramatically increased and this has to be due to increased popularity, even if the pub has redifined it's offer to customers and thought about where and who has that demand for the pub nowadays. It's true to say that the whole pub industry over the last 10 years or so has needed to change due to a change in culture, mainly affecting the local, wet led pubs we have. That is a reason why so many in the UK have needed to shut down as the business and trade can't support them anymore. One of the things that has been clear to me is the increased demand for table bookings from those local to us in West London and more so now, further afield. The phone really does ring all day and the email inbox gets fuller week by week for reservations. This could be a result in us spending more effort and care on improving the quality of our food but also the consistancy. I am aware of crossing a line to a "restaurant" style of venue and I make efforts not to do this, just a pub that offers decent pub food. Because the demand for such a small space has significantly increased, it wouldnt make business sense to ignore this demand. A good point has been made about the increased amount of tourists that frequent the pub. This has been a surprise to us here too, the number of people who had read about the pub in guide books or had it recommeneded to them from others abroad but the main feedback from these customers is that they come and visit that one time they are in London as they want to see a traditional English pub with history and they all leave happy. With this, as well as the increased food direction, it has been us, trying to offer a decent pub experience and then reacting to the demand from which ever customer base wants to visit. I do really understand your points regarding the "tourist trap" but regardless of the reason for the customers visit, we would like to try our best with everyone regardless of if you live next door, or have travelled from New Zealand! The points regarding some of the decor, toilets and seating I do actually agree with. With the building being so old there sometimes needs to be a little flexibility but these points have been discussed with Fullers for some time now and I am glad to say plans are very close for a new toilets refurbishment, upgrade in furniture and some company money spent on DIY to bring certain areas back to it's former glory. I am looking forward to this as much as some customers. The points about the standard of customer service and staff not being behind the bar I will take on the chin and say we will try harder to ensure this area of the business will constantly be improved. If you look in our comments book we have in the pub, so many are about the nice personal experience the staff give but I understand it only takes one or two negatives times to overshadow these so if more training is what is needed, I will take care of that. I hope this long winded piece is seen the best light and our intentions are positive. The Dove does offer so much to a lot of poeple and we will contnue to do the best we can to stay busy all year round. Thanks TheDoveHammersmith - 14 May 2013 10:39 |
| This pub has a great location but is seriously flawed in many ways. The "barstaff" are regularly absent from the bar forcing customers to wait several minutes even when the pub is virtually empty. I don't know what important engagements they disappear to, but it's inexcusable. It's very tempting to just help yourself. The price of beer here is astronomical considering its close proximity to the brewery. Overpriced food too, simply capitalising on the tourist trade. When I used to frequent this place for 3 years, nothing was done to repair the remains of and extractor fan in the gent's with wires and bits of plaster hanging from the ceiling. Sitting in the conservatory area in the winter is a miserable experience. Polluted by stench from the lavatories with nothing more than a metal drain cover above the sewer! It's freezing and illuminated by depressing bright lights and awful colour scheme. A bit like sitting in a British Rail waiting room circa 1984! Sort it out Fullers! I recommend visiting another pub! Highpriest - 7 May 2013 14:39 |
| Came back here for the first time in years and was pleased that it was a still a pub full of character but less pleased that its gone for the tourist trade and is less of a pub and much more of an over priced gastro bore establishment. It was difficult to find anywhere to sit and wasn't helped by allowing people to reserve seats for groups of people who don't turn up while the rest of us stand and stare at a load of empty seats. Was amused to see on this topic that dozens of people came and immediately left as there was nowhere for them to seat so the pub is losing a shed load of trade and money to reserve for what turned out to be a group of dizzy tarts who will go home after half a glass of shit white wine. brenhell - 12 Apr 2013 22:38 |
| Pleasant little Fullers pub which has much of the atmosphere of a country pub, two bars (of which one is the smallest in Britain) and at the time of visit a good range of beers including Black Cab stout and Seafarer (a good new choice between Pride and the often cloying ESB). Food was not tried as it looked expensive and we were on a budget. Years ago I used to climb the stairs to the little 'upper terrace' and sit there of an evening. I hope you still can. I do have some sympathy with the people who have said this is now aimed only at diners; tables did seem to be laid out for dinner (this was a Friday at 7pm i.e. dinnertime), but we did not have a problem just having beer. Re whether this is the oldest pub in the area: it is likely the oldest building in use as a pub, but a relative newcomer pub-wise as it didn't open as such until the late 18th century. rainlight - 31 Dec 2012 13:13 |
| The Dove seems to be dividing people into food/service & beer camps nowadays! I used to love it when I was young & naive...but my last few trips have convinced me it's over-priced, the beer is less than average (especially so near the brewery, for goodness sake), & overall The Dove is nothing special (bar location). renzarov - 11 Sep 2012 14:58 |
see more reviews |
![[image 2]](http://img01.beerintheevening.com/05/055e5e2769e0483bb6fda71222355c00.jpg){kind=link}
![[image 3]](http://img01.beerintheevening.com/e0/e0c0008e221466db08b3bf6e4c35a94e.jpg){kind=link}
![[image 4]](http://img01.beerintheevening.com/be/be7f76d77873ea071e32d161aa6975b5.jpg){kind=link}
![[image 5]](http://img01.beerintheevening.com/85/855200aa8ce90aa0d4368e93dc51ec41.jpg){kind=link}
![[image 6]](http://img01.beerintheevening.com/ec/ec4d97e9b5791ac00d05ed8bd6d7250e.jpg){kind=link}