By
Rob
The
Dove & Rainbow is a strange pub and, truth be told, I don't know
how I feel about it.
I
think I love it.
And
yet, I think I hate it.
The
only thing I'm sure of, is that there's no middle ground between the
two. This isn't a pub you can categorise as 'just OK', because it's
too unique. You either think it's good, or you don't.
And
today, as I write this blog, I'll reveal which side of the fence I
finally came down on.
The
first thing we noted, as we escaped from The Bankers Draft via the back door, is how out-of-the-way The Dove
& Rainbow is. Although in the centre of town, the pub sits in a
courtyard that's only accessible via long, darkened alleyways, or by
walking through the adjacent Wetherspoons (either option putting you
at serious risk of assault and battery).
I
thought this was great. It gave the pub an almost exclusive feel – as
if you needed secret, Sheffield-based knowledge to find it. But then,
I also thought it was a bit stupid and, alone on a dark night, some
people wouldn't be overly fond of the location.
From
the outside, the pub looked smart. With its gold lettering and black
facade, it wouldn't have seemed out of place in London, among the
other Westminster boozers. But then, it did look a little out of
place in the dingy Sheffield courtyard behind Argos.
Once
inside, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd entered a totally
different venue. The walls were coated in graffiti (of the artistic,
deliberate kind, rather than the 'Janice Loves Cock' variety, which
you might see scrawled across the door of a toilet cubicle), and the
main seating area had a bare, stripped-back feel to it. I liked how
the place looked different from anywhere else nearby, it was
certainly distinctive. But then, as I also discovered in the South Sea, the 'grime' look isn't my first choice when it comes to pub
decor.
To
the right-hand side there was a pool table and, to the left, a stage.
The pub, it transpired, was something of a rock venue. This endeared
the place to me even further. Live music is great, and I appreciate that it caters to a fairly niche clientele. But then, I'm
not a huge fan of heavy rock music – I prefer to chat with my mates in
the pub, which is tricky when you're being deafened by the thundering
rhythms of AC/DC.
The
beer selection was fantastic, with a decent line-up of real ales on offer.
We spotted a home brew – the Dove & Rainbow Cask Ale – and
so, bound by a rule of our own making, we bought two pints. Once again, I was
in two minds: I was pleased that the pub was brewing its own beer. But
then, I didn't really enjoy the taste.
As I
sat there with Andy and Richard, taking in the sights and sounds of
this bizarre, hidden, rock 'n' roll little pub, I finally realised
how I felt.
I
really like The Dove & Rainbow, but I wouldn't go there.
For
me, it was the pub equivalent of red wine: I thought it was nice, and
I could see why people enjoyed it. Objectively, I knew it was good.
But
then, I'd always choose to order a beer instead.
Pub: The Dove & Rainbow (2 Hartshead Square, S1 2FD)
Rating:
7/10
Pint: Dove & Rainbow Cask Ale
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