|
Home > Dorset >
Burton Bradstock > The Dove
The Dove
 |
|
|
Picture source: Hania Franek |
|
|
|
|
The Dove was situated at 101-102
Southover, closing c2000. |
|
|
This
grade-II listed pub closed a couple of years after a new owner had
knocked it all through and attempted to take it upmarket. He attempted to
get planning permission for an existing semi-permanent marquee (in which
he held functions) covering the back terrace after a neighbour* complained
about the noise. When this was refused, he closed the pub, redeveloping it
as two or three houses and pocketed the cash.
*Interestingly the lady neighbour
used to come in once a month to sing (badly) along with an accordionist
called George Hearst. This new owner put a stop to this, then the
complaints about the noise started. Funny that....
Shame.
Pre 1998 it was an excellent free house. On a cul de sac so got less
tourist traffic (not a bad thing!)
|
|
Jonathan Robson |
|
|
|
My grandfather Ernest Samuel Cotton was the publican of this
pub. He died on the beach in 1937. I don't know when he became the landlord
. His wife was Margaret, she moved after his death to Sale. Ernest Samuel
Cotton was a Colour Sergeant Major in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was
married 1918 in Hull where he finished his army career. |
|
Roberta Cotton
(August 2011) |
|
|
|
The pub has been
converted into dwellings and renamed "The Cider House" and "Smugglers
Cottage" respectively. The Dove closed in 2001 after planning permission to
erect an awning in the pub garden for music functions was refused on the
grounds complaints about the noise that would be generated. Planning
permission was granted in 2001 for conversion to two "cottages". The public
bar was at the far end in what is now 100, the dining area in the nearer end
which is now 101. |
|
John Stephen
(November 2015) |
|
|
|
I spent a summer here in 1977 as I was
going out with the then Landlord's son Richard. The pub then had two very
small bars - supposedly public and Lounge but they were nearly identical
except one had a dartboard. It was frequented almost entirely by locals and
not tourists and as I recall did virtually no food - possibly the odd
ploughmans or ham roll but certainly nothing hot. It served real cider and
keg beer and all the local expected me to remember what their "usual" was
and whether it was served in a jug (the dimpled glass) a straight glass or
one of the several "special" glasses/tankards behind the bar. I was awful at
remembering which didn't go down well with some of them but generally they
were a friendly lot. The days were completely quiet except for a short
period between 1 and 2 and my darts got a lot better over the summer as a
result, as I would often be there alone or with Richard for a whole session,
and only serve a dozen or so drinks in total. I remember that upstairs was
infested with spiders off the thatched roof - luckily spiders have never
worried me. |
|
Lesley Palmer (August
2017) |
|
|
I used to holiday at Freshwater caravan park in
the 1980’s and walk over to The Dove almost every night. It was owned and
run by a couple called Pauline and Lewis who also lived in a house on the
same road. They sold local scrumpy and the pub was usually very quiet and an
authentic locals pub. I remember the accordian player George who played
there one a week and to be honest he was pretty good. He used to get a good
crowd in. I remember him singing “Black Velvet Band” when we got him a pint.
Me and my friends were all about 18-20 and we preferred to go there and
drink to any of the other pubs or even the club at Freshwater. Part of the
fun was walking back across the pitch black fields at night to our tents,
half cut, no torches, avoiding the cows.
The year they renewed the thatch roof I did a watercolour painting of it
that still hangs on my wall. |
|
Andy Burns (March 2026) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed
building details: |
|
Attached Public House. c.C17 with raised eaves. Rubble stone walls. Thatch
roof. 3 brick stacks, at left hand gable, and 2 on ridge (20 rebuild). 1˝
storeys. 5-6 windows, Slight wooden casements,
without glazing-bars. Mainly C20. Wooden cills and lintels. At right hand
end, casements have glazing-bars. 5 eyebrow dormers. 3 doors, at regular
intervals from left to right, each plank with 6 glass lights, C20. Each door
has a steep thatch canopy on wooden posts with brick supporting walls, C20.
Marks of two blocked doorways at right hand end. |
|
|
|
|
Do you have any anecdotes, historical
information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here.
|
|
Contacts: (Click on name to make contact via email. Email doesn't open? Right click and copy link into your preferred email app.) |
|
Were you a customer, publican or member
of staff at this pub? Display your email contact details on this page by adding them
here and let past regulars get in touch with you. |
| Name |
Dates |
Comments |
|
Rosalind Christmas |
1950s-1990s |
We had our holidays in an old gypsy
caravan in the field above, my brother and l could go in this pub and
have Smith's crisps and a lemonade with our then parents-childhood
memories of the 50's- l stayed there B&B in the 90's was lovely then-
shame somebody has to ruin it. |
|
Martin Baker |
1980s-1990s |
This was the best pub, in the
village. Yes, it was very small, but this was its very charm! Our family
had a caravan at through the 1950s and We loved the village. Much later,
I made several holiday visits; an elderly 'local' regular who would take
his black Labrador into the pub and we witnessed a thirsty - and knowing
- pet, finishing all the 'alcoholic dregs'. "He takes a rather long way
'ome, on all that beer!", the old chap remarked |
|
Andy & Wendy Williamson |
1983 |
We used to camp in fresh water
caravan park & walk across the fields to get to this beautiful little
pub the dove inn the land lady served the best plough mans lunch ever in
the little garden at the rear with home made bread & pickle etc Gutted
to here it's closed as we always wanted to go back one day :(( Maybe
we'll take a packed lunch and trespass in one of the gardens :) |
|
Keith Franklin |
1963-2001 |
My family started coming on holiday
staying at the old coastguard caravan centre (originally owned by
Captain DeForth) from 1963 and I have been here every year since. We
always walked to the Dove every evening for a drink and crisps. Used to
get Morris dancers and various traditions like rolling cider barrels up
the hill to the cliffs. Shame it closed. |
