I think people that have bad experiences will naturally go out of their way to rate poorly. Whilst I appreciate various problems that people may have had, I would think to treat them as isolated incidents.

Myself, I went to the pub for my birthday some months ago. It was bustling, the food was good and customers were great. I was more interested in my company than the staff, as it's not really the sort of place you'd go drinking on your own. Selection of beers is fantastic, and it's nicely placed just outside of London. I say 5/5; also check out The Dovetail in Clerkenwell - smaller, but equally good.

This used to be my local when I lived in the area, apparently it's under new management (what a shame, where did they get this manager from??)I have to agree, that this is the most unfriendliest pub I have ever been to. We were there on Saturday celebrating a friends birthday & engagement. We too were told that we were not allowed to sing Happy Birthday (because it wasn't that sort of pub???)...by this point the pub was packed out and I don't think anyone else was too bothered by it! In fact the people on the next table joked about the hilarity of the manager being so stuck up! We then stupidly bought a bottle of champagne to toast our happy couple and after the money was exchanged the uptight Manager told us he wouldn't serve us anymore drinks! My friends and I will be not returning and soon enough there may not be anymore punters for him to moan at, as we'll all be at the Cat & Mutton up the road having a sing song!Natasha

Officially the last time i will enter this pub. I have generously given this pub (and its socially inept and down right aggressive staff)more than enough chances to make a better impression on me after an horrifying intial visit(as other reviews-no singing on birthday policy is still alive and kicking), but after my most recent visit never again. Not only was the service bad- aggression, mixed up orders, indifference to customers- but we actually had to stand and argue with 2 waiting staff about an order that was mixed up!'The customer is always right' attutide does not hold at the pub obviously. I can see however that they are a busy pub and there can be a strain on the staff/kitchen but pubs nationwide deal with this same problem with ease and friendliness. This is the only pub i have ever been in that would actually prefer it if there were no customers in it!
Bad bad bad.
(oh and i agree with the bull dog bar staff-terrifying)

I really like the Dove as a nice social place to go to. Lovely looking pub with a good selection of beers.

But after going on Sunday for a friend's birthday meal I was once again reminded never to bother to eat there. I ordered the seafood Waterzooi - a traditional Flemish creamy fish stew. It had 3 mussels, 2 prawns and 4 pieces of salmon in it, and 3 pieces of bread to soak up the sauce. That was it. Think more teeny-tiny starter, then main course for £11! Tasted nice, but an incredible rip off. Especially when I asked for more bread and was charge for the it!

Friends who had the roast beef seemed to fare much better on quantity.

Waffle for pudding was ok, but not homemade and not a hot waffle with icecream, more a lukewarm waffle with icecream. And again overpriced for what it was.

And they used to do a good selection of bowls of mussels, but now you can only have mussels with Thai sauce or tomato & chorizio.

The chippy a few doors down was a much better option in the evening!

i went here last Sunday lunchtime to introduce a Polish friend to a good old Sunday Roast... what a mistake... the whole place smelled of stale beer, service was surly, charge on debit cards (whatever the amount!) and the sunday roast was horrible! Roast potatoes tasted deep-fried, meat was grey and bland, apple sauce was from a jar and i reckon the Yorkshire pudding was from Aldi! For a TENNER!!!Avoid.

This is one of the most UNFRIENDLY pubs I've ever been to.They don't care about anything in there, but making money! So much for the social aspect of pubs!Do NOT go there if you're planning on a nice night out or even worse: celebrating your birthday in there. You're not allowed to sing happy birthday, nor eat a piece of your birthday cake and the bouncer will watch you buy a drink if you want to use the toilet!!!It s****!!!

Wow free Belgian Beer tasting !!!!!!!! I love this place. Just moved here from Bristol and on my first visit would you believe they had organised a beer tasting event. And it was FREE - free beer and free food and a lovely guy called Phil who is a real pro and knows everything there is to know about belgian beers. What a treat.
Only slight downside was very busy, so we all squeezed in together. But what a knight !

As a long standing regular of the Dove I must say I think the posting below is highly dubious, sounds like a 'carry on film' Are we bitter and twisted by any chance?

The Dove is busy and thats because its good. The food is great and the staff for a busy pub do everything they can to be friedly If you are a regular then you know you can't run tabs - what other pub can you ? If someone nicked you food
( what!!!!???) then surely that is the people who nicked its fault and not the guy behind the bar.

Sounds like going out is a bit too much strees and perhaps this busy poplular venue it not the right place for someone of a sensitive nature.