Dovecote Inn in Babergh

Came for the first time in a while. Same owners as last time which is a good thing as worried it had gone through a few owners. Green hop festival was excellent with lots of local choice of breweries plus a few non green hop. Had liver and onions and scampi and chips. Proper pub food done well. Good desserts too. Very friendly staff and locals. Will come more often

If you like your real ales and beers chosen for their qualities, not their profit margin then this is a definite destination. I only had bar snacks so don't know about the menu.

Always a warm welcome, excellent beer, properly kept, very good food.

Pub chosen as halfway between us & friends we were meeting. Brilliant pub! Excellent beers & ciders poured straight out of the barrels (gravity). Food was very good. Staff likeable, friendly & witty - husband (bar) & wife (kitchen/waitress) deserve success. Never been before; definitely returning soon - a gem.

A cute little pub. Good choice of beverages. Lovely food.

Amazing little gem tucked away in the country side. Very friendly atmosphere. They sell all sorts of locally produced ales and beers.

After I bootfair my friend and I decided to venture to find a pub that was nice in there. I found this Pub which I found delightful real olde worlde pub lots of character big beer garden lovely seating area. toilets immaculate and the Sunday menu very good price for what you got Sam was very friendly. Bar man nice meeting him. When our lunch came very quickly, which was good, but the pub was not busy when we arrived my gravy was very very watery. I asked if it would be possible to thicken the gravy up but the cook told Sam that that’s how it came. As a chef myself if this was my Restaurant, I would have thickened the gravy up , especially as I was a new customer and could bring more business to the pub. I know it was a hot day and Cook was in the kitchen which is a very hot place, but Hospitality is Hospitality. Now on a positive note the veg was cooked al dente which is how I like it, but boiled I would’ve preferred steamed however the nut roast was lovely too and my friend ate a beef roast dinner which he enjoyed.

Most welcoming and friendly pub in Kent. Food is superb as well.

Nice quant pub good parking and gardens, could offer more choices of lager but the ales were lovely. A nice little place to stop by and have a drink!

A delight to be back here. Sandwiches were lovely and great value. Food menu was lovely. Ales were lovely. Staff were lovely. In Fact everything was lovely! Recommended!

Great place. Worthy of many visits

The Dovecote is fast becoming my regular haunt. You always receive a very warm welcome at the well stocked bar. There is a fast rotating selection of guest ales, considerately attended to by the enthusiastic owner, Simon, who is always very knowledgeable and so interesting to chat to if not too busy. There is a quality selection of spirits on offer with some lovely wines available either by the glass or bottle along with some specialist, often local, lagers and ciders at the pumps. The food is always excellent, often with daily specials and organising regular special food events. The one thing I would dearly like to see are some tapas type starters which would be so nice to enjoy with a drink or two either in the bar or outside in their relaxing patio area. There is however a great selection of snacks including a traditional pickled egg and something for your pet dog even if they are well behaved. There is an extremely popular quiz and regular music nights. I also see they have vintage car days out in the large car park too, where I have even seen a posse of horse riders enjoying a break from their trek. Set in a quiet leafy lane this is a superb destination pub, be it by car, bicycle, horse or foot. I look forward to supporting this Free House for many years to come. Thank you for being there.

Excellent food and good service from staff

Only stopped off for a drink on the way home ,seemed a friendly pub

We met up with some local friends here for a Sunday Roast while we’re over from Australia. The team here are absolutely amazing! They really made us all feel welcomed. The food was to die for, I love that the trimmings are all served share style. But the meat and Yorkshire pudding was on your own plate. Very flavoursome, great serving size. I’ll be visiting again before I leave to go home! Highly recommended!

The most disgusting food I have ever had at a pub in the IK

Sunday roast very average, not seasoned, veggies just boiled nothing special very plain , beef dry. Maybe other stuff on the menu are testier but I wouldn’t have roast again. Service was ok.

What a beautiful and friendly pub. We pop round since we have been before ( a long time ago unfortunately since we don’t live locally). Great choice of beers and friendly clientele who talk to us. I enjoyed the local Sauvignon Blanc. A must if you are in the area. Thank you 😊

Nice little find. Didnt eat today but no doubt we will be back soon for food, very welcoming with nice log burner. Lovely garden for the summer

Excellent experience today, great beers, friendly staff and owners. We will certainly return for a meal soon.

Decent food. Friendly people. Child friendly.

Very welcoming pub with plenty of outside seating for a pint in the sunshine.

Lovely family run, cosy ‘proper’ pub. Good selection of bitters, lagers, wine and everything in between. Lindsay and Simon have done a fantastic job bringing the pub back from the dead and turning it into a roaring success. Photo is a sample of the menu in February.

Lovely friendly country pub with very welcoming staff. Fantastic choice of food which was lovely, especially after a beautiful walk in the countryside.

A really friendly pub with great choice of beer, good food and friendly service, we will go back again.

Took my family out for a country drive outing, and we came across the country pub called the Dovecote, so we called in and had a lovely home cooked lunch which we all enjoyed and will go again. Karl.

Was staying in an Airbnb and had a little walk around then drove to The Dovecote Inn. From the outside, it looks super cosy and a bit of a hidden gem which it exactly was just that! Nice warm welcome, plenty of drinks to choose from and loved the feel and style inside. I came here for lunch and if I'm around the area I will most certainly be coming in or at least a recommendation to others who I know will appreciate this! Easy to park, lots of spaces at the back, can imagine in the summer it is a nice place to sit outside. Reckon evenings at the weekends would be nice also! Solid A***** LDT x

What a great find! We've been to this pub many times over the years but were so pleased that the new owners are making such a success of it. The only downside we think is it needs is some softer lighting but, the food is really good, particularly the homemade chicken pie. The homemade apple crumble and custard is also well worth trying....the extra custard was much appreciated, thank you! A warm, unpretentious welcome awaits at this pub and we'd highly recommend it!

A traditional pub. A wonderful beer festival from really local breweries. Well done. We didn't eat but menu looks good.

What a great find. Fabulous food, lovely welcome from new landlord. Proper job pub! We will definitely be back.

An impromptu mid week meal. The burger was very good 👍 nice people just doing nice things.

We did not eat on this occasion but were delighted with the friendly staff, drinks served how we like them, and happy atmosphere. Our friends were very pleased with their food. Nice location and plenty of room to park your car.

Fantastic Sunday roast, excellent friendly local service and couldn’t do more to accommodate us. Recommend the snug for a family meal. Staff were brilliant

When there for a birthday party. Didnt have any food but the czech larger was great. Linsey and Simon are great people x

Easily one of my favourite unfussy but oh so lovely pubs, pity it is so far from where I live. Still it was worth the 8km walk from Tonbridge. Simon and his wife seem to know all the locals and are warm and welcoming. Plenty of ales on tap, a few ciders too ALL straight from the barrels behind the bar (gravity fed). When it comes to the food, those smells from the kitchen are authentic and perhaps the most wondrous gravy in the world, I kid you not, if I could I'd order a bowl of the stuff with a chunk of bread.

New management seem to be on to a winner

Good English style local country pub with good selection of beers. Fascinating "art" in the gents toilet!

This pub is a great country pub, simple pub food, great choice of ales from the barrel and now new lagers on tap. Great outdoor space, kids can run around on the grass and not bother other people

I love this pub. The beer is kept very well and it's always a welcoming atmosphere. Very worth a visit 🙂

It is a delightful country pub. Staff were very helpful and attentive.

Nice garden areas for drinking in the sunshine. Sadly the Sunday roast wasn't good at all. All 4 if us felt it was a poor offering. The meat quality differed greatly from plate to plate, as did portion sizes, the carrots were raw, and every dish served was tepid or cold. We weren't asked how the food was, so we didn't say anything and just notched it up to experience. Sadly we'll just stick to drinks next time and have lunch elsewhere.

Popped in for a meal this evening. Fantastic service and very friendly owners. Portion size was generous and food was great quality, all looked home made rather than microwave food. Will definitely be back.

Very welcoming .. And the food looked amazing will be back 😊

A cracking pub, good beer and food. Loads of parking.

Visited on a Wednesday lunchtime to investigate the beers on offer and to familiarise myself with the new landlord. Simon and Lindsey have only been running the pub since the beginning of April. It was nice to see five real ales on offer and even nicer to hear they are selling well. Three of the beers were West Kent CAMRA LocAle's and there was also a real cider. They also do food and there are separate lunchtime and evening menu's. We had a very reasonable scampi and chips when we visited.

March 2023 - new owners and management so reviews before this may not be relevant.

Nice selection of beers. A nice reception and a great pub quiz!

Enjoyed the meal here, food is good. The owners are lovely and there are a good selection of beers and more. A nice Summer day here would be an enjoyable time, so definitely will be back!

Great food and service all at a reasonable price. Recommended.

A definite 5 stars. Fantastic decor, great Sunday roast amazing desert and very tasty pint of Guinness. Very friendly staff made to feel very welcome. Will definitely be going back.

A homely, welcoming pub, with friendly staff and customers.

It was a joy to have been able to return to our favourite pub , service, food, prices and the returning old owners were suçh friendly couple.

A lovely place to eat. Great food and atmosphere.

Wonderful country pub with very friendly staff and excellent food and service. Been many times and never been disappointed. Shelley, Nicki and Fi work their socks off. Highly recommend a visit.

Great food and a lovely atmosphere...

Excellent food, beer and welcome.

A splendid lunchtime pint out in the sun.

Beautiful local place with incredible decor and lovely staff. Delicious food as well!

Had a lovely afternoon sipping beer listening to the band. Great venue and fab sausage sandwich!

Lugar gostoso e aconchegante. Ótima comida.

Food is superb and great presentation, staff friendly and welcoming, decor is beautiful.

First time in years we had a drink here. nice old world style pub going to have Sunday lunch soon with all my family.

Excellent food very warm and friendly ☺️

A little gem tucked away, walked inside and was pleasantly surprised by internal decor - superb and well done to the owners. We went on a cheese night and spread was brilliant 🤩

Very nice people...very cosy atmosphere

Good dog friendly pub. Busy lunchtimes for food. Lovely chatty staff. Very welcoming.

Had a very nice lunch with friends. Food excellent. All three of us keen to come back again. I like the ever changing menu with old favourites but also some nice and different dishes. In fact, back age in a couple of days to introduce the Dovecote to some other friends.

Best all round boozer in the area - good ale selection, quality food , music, quizzes . Home from home !!

Another top night in our favourite local..

Decent food , decent staff, decent ale , decent night out

Great food and excellent friendly service.

A friendly village pub, which we visited for a funeral reception-I hope to return one day soon

My daughter and son in law took me there last night. Very cool environment, older worldy tinged with beautiful chandeliers and contemporary art. Has a lovely warm and friendly feel enhanced by the staff who were attentive. Menu for the day was very good , a mix of meats salads fish dishes and a vegetarian choice.the cheeseboard looked amazing and would definitely come back if just for that! Very very accommodating of my 9 week old grandson 🤗

Great Sunday lunch for our large party today. Lovely staff.

Great friendly put/restaurant, clean and good food.

I’ve been a local here now for 30 years and cannot sing there praises enough , They work hard to give you the best and the best is what you get . The wife and I sent some of our guests there for a Sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago on very short notice and they returned to us saying that it’s the best Sunday roast that they had ever had and a smashing pub , It says it for itself Well done Nick and Shellie

A beautiful little gem of a pub. Had an amazing sunday roast. Staff were very helpful and really friendly. Definitely be going back soon.

What a gem of a place we've found here 👌 fab decor, ales were decent , food was decent, the only complaint would be the sauces 🤷‍♂️ those sauce sachets don't do it for me, but hopefully that's covid related and won't last long I'll be back

My Mother, Sister & I went for Sunday lunch and to celebrate my Sisters birthday. We ordered our drinks and then a roast, when it arrived the carrots, beans & Couliflower were very over cooked, when we asked if we could have a replacement we were given bowls of the same over cooked veg. We were then over charged, the lady wasn't very pleasant, and could do with some customer service training. It's such a shame it used to be my favourite place to eat and was always so friendly, unfortunately not today and we won't be returning.

Great food, with a lovely atmosphere. Can't fault the service.

Popped in for lunch on 29/8 what a gem food was so fresh and tasty, the beer was good and the welcome from all the staff was 1st class well worth a visit.

Friendly staff, great food and lovely decor. Highly recommend the pies.

Well we stopped off for dinner and a chat it proved to be a good thing as we where looked after by a very nice polite young lad took our orders then our meals where bought out by the landlord. And I have to say we all enjoyed them very much well cooked and presented and very nice size meals too and we where checked on just once too see if all was ok or if there was anything else we required so I have to report the dovecote gets A ratings from me thank you 🙏🏻

Only went in for a drink made very welcome and served a great pint and a perfect wine lovely suroundings just what we have been missing thank you

Great pun inside and out, good service friendly staff definitely recommend.

Had a lovely meal with friends there

This is a really nice pub. The food is very good and the lady who served us could not have been better. I would call in again if in the area.

Excellent freshly cooked food and excellent service

After recommendation by a friend, we decided to sample the delights of the Dovecote, and we were not disappointed. As it was the warmest day of the summer we dined outside and enjoyed beautful, tasty food, exquisitely presented - both main course and dessert. I'd have liked to have given 4.5 stars as, if I was being critical at all, the service could have been a bit better, but as the inn had only been opened 9 days 5 stars is more accurate!

Friendly staff and comfortable surroundings

Very nice pub beer and food very good

I have nothing positive at all to say about our lunch experience in this pub. The lamb shank was swimming in a layer of fat over the gravy which was swamped with peas. Everything on their menu is microwaved or deep fried and nothing was fresh including the chocolate ice-cream which was of the cheapest variety (at expensive pub prices) and tasted like it had been kept in the deep freeze for far too long. The landlord was rude, the atmosphere non-existent and I shall never visit this pub again.

Went for one beer, had a few sips to realise it was off, then replaced for new which was just as vile! To top it off the glasses look like a 20year old fish tank that’s never been cleaned! Upon leaving I was sick as soon as I got to my car in the car park! Not good!

Holds wonderful memories from 50 years ago

My husband and I stopped here on the way back from a weekend away.It was a spur of the moment visit and we weren't disappointed. It is a charming old pub with lots of character.The staff were lovely and friendly.We both had roast dinner which was well priced and was a really lovely meal.We dont live too far away from it and would definitely drive out to visit again.

Work Christmas meal. Why didn’t I know this place was here. Great traditional pub, superb food and excellent hospitality. Will definitely return, but need to remember to starve myself first, as the portion sizes are huge!

Lovely traditional meal, so many options, kept everyone happy, lovely pub atmosphere, excellent staff with a good sense of humour and very accommodating. Lovely log fire!! Perfect for a home cooked roast with generous portions. Booking was easy and hassle free! Excellent evening! Thank you!

Not very adventurous menu but fine for popping out during the week or a lunchtime. Food tasty and well presented. The decor is a somewhat dark and serving a little hit and miss.

Visited here 1 year ago and had a lovely meal. We had friends visiting today from Essex, so we thought where better than here for a nice lunch. No one was disappointed! Good food, nice wine and local ales. Staff were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. We'll try not to leave it another year before we come back!!

Good selection of real ales and lovely food