The Dovetail has a rich atmosphere fuelled by the Belgian beer that it specialises in.

The Venue
The Dovetail is a testament to what can be done with a modern space that doesn't have the charm and cosiness of history. Its raison d'etre is Belgian beers and so it fits that the tables are misshaped, chunky wooden trestles, and the chairs are each shadowed by large wooden arches. The pub is long and thin with tiled white walls and lush deep green paint. The floor is made of squared stone tiles and looks shiny enough to see your reflection in. Instead of trying to fix itself up with a specific look, it enjoys a hotchpotch appeal with a multitude of different styles creating a genuinely original and enjoyable experience.

The Atmosphere
Like its sister pub, The Dove on Broadway Market, The Dovetail holds a great deal of pulling power - owing not just to its beers, but the cosmopolitan mixture of drinkers. In the middle of Clerkenwell, instead of the City boys it attracts the journalists. The manners and respect that The Dovetail expects from its clientele courses through the atmosphere, turning the pub into a saucepan of atmosphere and emotion, simmering but never boiling over. Some may see this approach as a killjoy ethos as loud groups can often be expelled, but others appreciate that the Dovetail has its certain type of clientele and their evening is protected.

The Food
The Dovetail offers traditional food produced with quality ingredients. The burgers are superb and the range spans from boar to beef. Those visiting at lunchtimes can sample the wonderful creation, directly by the credit crunch soup and a sandwich at an attractive price. The sandwiches are packed with filling and the soup available is hearty and wholesome, the blue cheese and broccoli a particular favourite.

The Drink
The Dovetail serves over a hundred different Belgian beers, ranging from the more recognisable Jupiler to the super strength Duvel. The beers are not just enjoyable to be drunk, it’s the act of choosing that also makes the whole process what it is. While you’re drinking one it’s hard not to dream of what to order next.

A few of the beers from the many available are the Cristal Amber Pilsner, Leffe, Delirium (officially voted world’s best beer), Stella and Kwak. Each beer comes with it’s own glass, some more distinctive than others, even mimicking a scientists test tube.

The Last Word
The vast choice of Belgian beers alone is enough reason to set foot in The Dovetail.

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