The Dove Hackney

Have lived in the area for a couple of years and tired all the other pubs in the area. This one remains my absolute favourite. The atmosphere is alway buzzing. Weekday lunches though much quieter and a perfect place for an intimate lunch. Often see couples smooozzzing in the dimly lit corners. Love the burgers here and the beer selection well what can I say? I still haven't tried them all. They have games and chess and always an eclectic menu with some surprises. Often imitated never bettered I am afraid.

A nice pub, with some good drinks, but a little too busy generally for me. I like it a bit more relaxed, but that's just me.

This is one of the best places in town to have a beer. They have a great selection of beers, and lots on draught. It's a cool old building that has some lovely little features, but the toilets are strange…

Both the Dove and the Dovetail are great places to visit for a pint (you'd be hard pushed to find a bigger selection of English and European beers) and excellent for a roast on Sunday. The whole roast chicken for two to share has defeated my partner and I on many an occasion. Stuffed with lemon, garlic and chilli and served with mountains of veg (including cabbage, which I'm always pleased to see), roast potatoes and parsnips and a jug of gravy, it's like being back at your nan's. The only difference is the conversation of the overbearing trendies on the table next to you. Last time we amused ourselves greatly by watching the people in the flat opposite ‘plant’ daffodils (fully grown flowers rather than bulbs) by shoving the stems into the mud of the window boxes on their window sills. A genius shortcut to perfect blooms or a pretentious way to overspend in Columbia Road flower market? I'll let you decide.