please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
With so many pubs on Southover Street and in the Hanover district in general, the Dover Castle is where to come if you like Shepherd Neame beers. It has a fairly dark single bar, seemingly with an emphasis on food. Ales were Christmas Ale, No. 18 Yard Rudolph's Reward & Whitstable Bay Pale Ale in our pre-Christmas visit.
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Good pub serving well kept Shepherd Neame beers. Comfortable place to come.
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Went in on Friday night.. looked like it was closing down.. Only half the lights were on, the curtains have gone (taken by the previous landlord I was told) Sad because it used to be a nice boozer.
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I have been living in Hanover for 7 years so have seen the evolution of many a pub round these parts. The Dover was a great pub when I first came here and then lost its way for a bit I.E. Got complacent.
This changed when Simon took it over. He retained the good staff (Vicky, Craig) and redecorated straight away and made it look lovely inside. They are major players in the local community and have been the catalyst behind all the important events in the area. The pub itself is great with a mix of old, middle and young who all get along drinking ale to beer to wine to jager bombs. The pub has as strong ethos of local organic food on the menu which is highlighted by fact that they have an organic market in the garden which has been a real boast to the area. (However I hear the chef pinches some veg every now and then!!!). This alongside local bands ranging from Irish ,reggae, gypsy, salsa, blues and someone playing spoons one night adds to a great ambience.
As you can tell I am fan so give it try but make sure you do not all turn up at once because I still want a seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
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LOVELY ATMOSPHERE, VERGING ON RESTAURANT. INTERESTING SELECTION OF BEERS, SAMUEL ADAMS' BOSTON LAGER IS FORMIDABLE. fOOD IS EXCELLENT QUALITY AND A REASONABLE PRICE. THE ONE HITCH WAS A QUITE LAZY YOUNG BARMAID WITH DARK HAIR BUT THE OTHER GUYS WERE GREAT.
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Best pub food in Brighton, bar none. Nice garden, good clean interior and friendly bar staff. Lovely place.
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Went here last weekend with my girlfriend and had a lovely meal. I don't know of any other place where you've got such a great choice of fresh fish (seems to be what the kitchen focuses on), particularly not in combination with generous portions and reasonable prices. I had a seabass (you get the whole fish baked in the oven) with sauteed potatoes, and my girlfriend decided to try the red fish (served as fillet) with chips. Both were cooked to perfection. The only drawback was perhaps the long-ish wait on a moderately busy evening - but if you want a good, freshly cooked meal, this one's worth it.
A highly recommended pub - great food and a good drinks selection.
cyb20 - 14 Mar 2009 09:28 |
Went in monday night with a friend for what was going to be a couple of pints, but 1 look of the menu meant otherwise, we saw the chef and what a lovely man, talk us through the menu and recommended the thai curry.
So i had the chicken and my friend had the fish. We where both lost for words, 1 of the best curries we'd ever had, lots of flavours and well presented!
As the evening went on the pub got busier buit with both foodies and drinkers. And i hear the owner is a lovely man as well all in all and fine meal 10/10. Will be back soon
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Great pub
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It's not on the Ale Trail this year.
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Called in for a quick one on the ale traile and enjoyed my Shepherd Neame. Very quiet for a Saturday.
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Really disappointed with my last visit here. Suspect they're under new management and it's got something to do with Shepherds Neame because the menu has been drastically simplified and the food is below par. To add to the comment below (lamb was all fat, roasts were Aunt Bessies) a flattened Yorkshire pudding took up half the plate for good measure! Yet the prices were far too high! Never again!
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Have been here a few times and i really dont like it. The atmosphere in the evenings is that of pretention and trust fund babies (though that could simply be because it's in Hanover) and i went for a sunday roast there, which i had been told good things about, but it was awful. The meat was lamb or pork (couldnt tell you)and all fat, the roasts were 'aunt bessies' and the veg was confusing! (rocket and red cabbage i think?!) will never be going back. Would be ok for a quick pint.
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The best thing about this pub is the food and there lies the problem. The best thing about a pub should be its beer quality or its ambience (or preferably both). The clientele is an odd mix but, contrary to other reviewers, I found the staff friendly enough and on my most recent visit at least the music wasn't as noisy as on previous occasions. Unfortunately the beer is pretty bland stuff and expensive too (unlike the food which is good quality and value). The place is worth a visit, especially if you are hungry, but I don't think it deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide.
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I visited last on a Saturday night and while I did not think the interior decor was in keeping with the age of the pub, it did have a really good feel about it, a good, mixed age crowd and seemed very friendly.
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Worried to read jess9's comment. On a flying visit, we found it comfortable and a good mixture of old and new. Although the interior is modern, it's not been so de-pubbed as to be inhospitable. The hillside townscape is pleasing and the advertised 3pm closure was conveniently forgotten. BTW, some pubs on this hill are opting for opening after lunchtime.
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Worth it just for the extensive food menu. Large portions too. highly recommended. Holsten on tap.
(the table with the crater has gone)
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This used to be one of the best pubs in the Hanover area unfortunately no more. Sadly once again as with many pubs in Brighton the rude and surly nature of the manager has ensured that i will not be returning in the near future. The beer is watery as was mentioned in a previous comment and the attitude seems to be like it or lump it.And no it isn't weird hair it is crap hair. Good food tho especially for veggies
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Up on the left side of the hill is this chilled-out pub, with its relaxed, almost bohemian atmosphere. It comprises one main, large room � eclectic d�cor, with un-scrubbed wooden floors, tables and chairs � and a conservatory to the left that leads to a back open-air area decorated with art work. The beers are from Shepherd Neame, namely Spitfire, Early Bird (a seasonal, spring ale) and Master Brew. While I was pondering my choice, the barman informed me of the ABV of all three (a pleasant change from those places where the bar staff don�t even know the names of the beers they serve), and my pint of Master Brew (�2.20) was in good condition, thus justifying this pub�s consistent GBG listing since 2002. (Spring 2004)
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Lets hope that none of the people rating this pub are personal friends of the manager. That would surely bring a biased view on the place. But I'm sure that is not the case.
Oh, and its a great little pub. has it still got the wonkey table with crater? haven't been there for a while. Can't think why though.....I quite fancy a reggae roast.
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great pub, friendly, alive atmosphere and suprisingly good artwork on the walls as well.
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Top local boozer, good crowd, good food, music, beer all the basics. Stands out as a good pub in a stretch of town with loads of them. Right about the hair though.
Lenny - 6 Feb 2004 13:48 |
doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out that this is a great pub with a nice local crowd, good weekend djs and a healthy support for local live music.........although i am a rocket scientist
simon - 5 Feb 2004 17:30 |
I have been to the Dover Castle on many occasions, and am saddened to hear these comments as the staff have always bent over backwards to help, and the manager is a gent. Funny hair, but still a gent....
Charlie - 5 Feb 2004 14:39 |
Shepherd Neame tied house and that's not my favourite brewery but nice patio.
Adrian - 25 Nov 2003 13:40 |
I am 55 years old and have been patronising the pubs of Brighton (& Hove) for the last 15 years, since I moved here from West Hawkesbury. I was utterly shocked by my treatment in the Dover Castle on Monday of last week. After I had bought a pint of Hurleyman's lager, at an extremely extortionate price, I asked the barman why the beer tasted so watery, thinking perhaps there was a problem with the duction pipes. I was then rudely told "you get what you pay for". Having reconciled myself to this abusive treatment I supped my pint at the bar and was outraged to hear the landlord of the establishment, if so he may be termed, making offensive jokes about the reproductive organs of African males. I can only advise readers to avoid this pub. There's better pints and better conversation elsewhere.
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Smart pub in the Hanover area of Brighton. Good quality, friendly staff. There's a large patio out back - great on hot summer evenings. They do food, but their standards have slipped a bit. The music can be quite loud, especially at their Sunday lunchtime reggae sessions.
Ian - 8 Oct 2003 22:37 |
