Since Broadway Market became a little more than just an East London back street with food stalls on a Saturday, The Dove has gone from strength to strength. The whole area has changed rapidly over the last five years but while the market attracts thousands to its mixture of clothing, record and food stalls, the pub has barely changed a bit.
It still retains the traditional look and the only glimpse of an alternative flounce is the huge Leffe mural stuck to the ceiling above the otherwise standard décor of heavy wooden tables on well-worn floorboards. It’s cozy in winter, where you can slip into the over heated depths of the dimly lit quarry at the back (and hear live jazz on Sunday evenings). The large windows at the front capture the light and it’s slightly breezier up here but you can guarantee that come summer most of the drinking will be done on the street outside.
As well as being a free house serving standard lagers, it also packs a massive range of Belgian beers by the bottle and a set on draught, including Palm and Delerium. It’s restaurant area serves up fairly expensive gastro-style cuisine and there’s a range of gourmet burgers and sausages along with traditional Belgian meals in the pub.
Aside from its irritating noise policy there’s not much to fault with The Dove and if this Broadway Market thing does ever die off it will still be going just the way it is.
