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Secret Drinker reviews the Eagle Tavern pub in London Road, Dover

A cross between a sewage works and a shrine to Liverpool FC, this dour Dover pub was pretty much devoid of atmosphere.

With walls strewn with a multitude of LFC scarves, and painted in Anfield red, it’s not difficult to work out who the landlord supports. But, I was left thinking that if he could be persuaded to spend time fixing the plumbing instead of following football then the hefty wafts of sewage flooding the bar could be stifled.

The Eagle Tavern in Dover sits on the corner of London Road and Tower Hamlets Road
The Eagle Tavern in Dover sits on the corner of London Road and Tower Hamlets Road

At first sight, the Eagle Tavern on London Road doesn’t look to have much going for it; ignoring the footie frippery, the front bar is fairly tatty, there’s not a great selection of drinks and the fireplace looks as dead as the rest of the pub.

To give the barmaid her due she did grab a bottle of Domestos to tackle the stench from the gents but said in her experience no amount of bleach would touch it. In the end, she quickly gave up and, taking the advice of the punter dressed in a burgundy suit, popped outside for a fag instead.

The shelves of the bar have been stocked to ensure everything on the cocktail list can be created, although there is still plenty of room among the bottles for Liverpool memorabilia
The shelves of the bar have been stocked to ensure everything on the cocktail list can be created, although there is still plenty of room among the bottles for Liverpool memorabilia
There are plenty of Liverpool scarves displayed at every opportunity. A couple of folk did chance their arm on the fruit machine at one point. The door in front of it is the one used for putting the bins out
There are plenty of Liverpool scarves displayed at every opportunity. A couple of folk did chance their arm on the fruit machine at one point. The door in front of it is the one used for putting the bins out

I’d played it safe with a pint of Madri lager for £5, which seemed fairly reasonable and, at the time, I didn’t think much of it, but later realised the pricing model has been set at this rate for all the beers.

Although it’s not surprising the pub was quiet on a Thursday afternoon it was frequented by some interesting characters and I quickly found myself surrounded by a couple of likely fellows, who it turns out, were both ex-publicans in a past life.

The chat switched between US/UK politics to footballers feigning injury and then, most interesting to me, the history of this and other local pubs, many sadly no longer with us.

Inside, the front bar of The Eagle has been designated a shrine to Liverpool FC and I can't help thinking the colour of the exterior decoration is no accident either
Inside, the front bar of The Eagle has been designated a shrine to Liverpool FC and I can't help thinking the colour of the exterior decoration is no accident either
Not exactly a cheery, warm welcome, it didn't look as if the fire had been alight for some time
Not exactly a cheery, warm welcome, it didn't look as if the fire had been alight for some time

Now a big open bar at the front, I’m told the Eagle Tavern used to have a fantastic little snug on the left where you’d have ‘felt safe to bring your mum in for a drink’. A previous owner had the wall knocked out to create a larger, more open pub which was then renamed the Old Irish Times.

I could avoid visiting the gents no longer and was surprised that the smell inside wasn’t quite as bad as the smell leaching into the bar, though the sign stuck on the wall with Blu Tack told the story of the lack of running water – ‘Sink out of use, please use sanitizer’.

Just a swift glance around was enough to confirm that there are other areas of the toilets which also need urgent attention.

And, I must mention the square black stickers added to the white wall tiles, many of which have now peeled off, as I have absolutely no idea what purpose they serve or what the person who applied them was thinking.

A sign on the wall opposite greets you as you leave the gents informing you that you’re stupid whichever direction you choose.

At some point a series of sticky-backed black plastic patches were applied to the tiles in the toilet but many have since peeled off
At some point a series of sticky-backed black plastic patches were applied to the tiles in the toilet but many have since peeled off
The black plastic patches, presumably added to decorate the tiles, have survived better in the area around the drier
The black plastic patches, presumably added to decorate the tiles, have survived better in the area around the drier
It's not just a lack of running water, there are a number of areas in the gents which do could do with some attention
It's not just a lack of running water, there are a number of areas in the gents which do could do with some attention
A page torn out of an A5 notebook, and stuck to the wall of the gents, told the story of a lack of running water,
A page torn out of an A5 notebook, and stuck to the wall of the gents, told the story of a lack of running water,

I, perhaps stupidly, turned right, where I witnessed a steady stream of black bin bags being taken through the bar to the front of the pub ready for collection.

There is also a back bar, equipped with a pair of pool tables and two dartboards, as well as another fruit machine and many more Scouse scarves.

In the front there is a larger fruit machine, a jukebox, two big TV screens (not switched on) and several very bright lightbulbs hung above the bar on what looked like rope nooses.

The first thing you'll see when you exit the gents is this sign and, given the state of the facilities, it might not seem so funny!
The first thing you'll see when you exit the gents is this sign and, given the state of the facilities, it might not seem so funny!

By now, despite the wind and rain, one regular had managed to arrive bang on his usual time, and as soon as he was seated in front of the window by the door his pint of Fosters was delivered by the barmaid. She also said she put the radiator on ahead of his arrival so it had time to warm up. Now, that’s service for you.

All that remains to be explained is the Eagle’s charging policy, which declares ‘cash is king’. Any card payment is set at a £5 minimum – thus a £5 Madri costs £5, a £4.70 Boddingtons costs £5 and a £4.70 Kronenbourg costs £5. I’m not sure how much I would have been charged if I had ordered two pints of Boddingtons.

I’m sure that over the years this has been a grand establishment, renowned for serving decent ales and extending a warm welcome to all visitors.

Sadly, the Eagle Tavern now seems a shadow of what it was years ago and it’s extremely difficult to come up with a single reason to recommend it.

I hadn't tried a pint of Boddingtons for ages so decided to give it a go after the Madri
I hadn't tried a pint of Boddingtons for ages so decided to give it a go after the Madri
The back room, lit by a large central skylight, is large enough to accommodate two pool tables and two dartboards
The back room, lit by a large central skylight, is large enough to accommodate two pool tables and two dartboards
There is a second fruit machine in one corner of the back room
There is a second fruit machine in one corner of the back room

EAGLE TAVERN, 324 LONDON ROAD, DOVER CT17 0SX

Décor: Disregarding the partisan nature of much of the decoration, the rest of the place is tatty and unkempt. The state of the gents is frankly unforgivable and much could be improved here very easily. *

Drink: Boddingtons is the only ale on tap but there are a reasonable number of lagers available. Cocktails were on offer but I chose not to go this route. **

Price: It doesn’t matter what you order, each pint is a fiver if you choose to use a card. Boddingtons £4.70 (£5), Kronenbourg £4.70 (£5), Madri £5. An Up The Eagle fishbowl is a tenner and four pints of cocktail £15. ***

Staff: By her own admission the barmaid is fairly new to her role but, between serving, she did try to keep herself busy with other tidying tasks. **

The bar looked quite well stocked so maybe four pints of cocktail for £15 isn't such a bad deal
The bar looked quite well stocked so maybe four pints of cocktail for £15 isn't such a bad deal
I hadn't sampled it on tap for many a long year but the Boddingtons was served withe the same creamy head I remember
I hadn't sampled it on tap for many a long year but the Boddingtons was served withe the same creamy head I remember
The pub open seven days a week at noon
The pub open seven days a week at noon

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