This early Victorian backstreet community free house is located just five minutes from the town centre. The Dove has six hand pumps plus jugged ales brought up direct from the cellar. Also a good selection of real ciders. Truly traditional and basic, just how pubs used to be - no lager, TV's, pool or gaming machines. The staff here are very knowledgeable about their ever-changing range of local ales, hence a winner of CAMRA Regional Pub of the Year, twice.
Historic Interest
Built in 1835 by William Steggles. Sold to Edward Greene 9 Jan 1872 by Maria Steggles for £518. Opened at the same time as the Thingoe Union workhouse. Also listed at 26 Union Terrace (1865) 28 Hospital Road (1865) & 36 Hospital Road (1948 & earlier) A report in the Bury Post** on 04 Nov in 1925 states that : A sad story was unfolded in a small room at the back of The Dove Inn, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds on Sat eve, when Borough Coroner ( Mr. Geo. Carter) held an inquest concerning the death of Alfred Russell, 52, the licensee of the inn. The deceased man was found about 7 p.m. on the previous day (Fri 30 Oct) hanging from a piece of rope attached to a cloths peg on his bedroom door...Summing up, the Coroner remarked that it was a very sad case indeed. “There is no doubt whatever” he went on, “that the deceased man was labouring under great trouble of mind on account of his wife being an inmate of the asylum. There is also some evidence that he was worried by money matters, & the loss of trade. These things combined to unsettle his mind, & I have no doubt preyed on his mind to such extent, that he determined to commit suicide. At the inquest Supt. Brinkley, D.C.C. & P.Sergt. Fiske were the police officers present & Mr. J Burton represented Greene King & Sons, the landlords of the inn. This pub changed into the current beer themed venue in late Aug 2009. It was sold by Greene King to Horace Stallan Ltd 31 March 2017 after 145 years in Greene King ownership.
This Pub serves many changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Dove, Bury St. Edmunds