To get the best out of this site you need Javascript enabled. If you cannot enable Javascript, please use the menu at the page bottom to navigate around the site.

Ipswich Dove Street Inn
Ipswich Dove Street Inn
formerly Tap & Spile, Dove
North East, 52.0564,1.16408
Real Ale is sold here.
76 St Helen's St, IP4 2LA
grid reference TM 170 445
owner/operator: REACH ltd
This popular multi-roomed pub has a tiny front bar, a large, a low ceilinged back room with oak beams & a lively but friendly main bar. A conservatory area was opened at the end of April 2009. The pub also offers covered seating in a large outdoor heated area to rear. A wide range of beers is always available on both hand-pump and on gravity. Beer range varies with regular local Milds, seasonal ales and unusual beers for the local area, including dark Porters, Stouts. Matured Adnams Tally Ho is sometimes featured together with many bitters, ciders & some imported beers. Three popular beer festivals are held each year.
Food varies from hot & cold snacks to pies, curries, stews & vegetarian options. There are summer barbecues. Various buses pass the pub including 2, 5, 15 or 66 (from the town centre or railway station you may need to alight on nearby Woodbridge road). The Dove Street Brewery started brewing during July 2011. The pub now has a large selection of bottled beers from around the world and a wide range of gins.
There's a toilet accessible to disabled customers.
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Accommodation available: In adjacent bed and breakfast accomodation
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served direct from the barrel by gravity
Beer served through handpumps
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Cider (real draught, not keg) available
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Newspapers available
Pub sells beer from local brewers
Smoking area
Sport TV
Traditional pub games available
WiFi available: Free
Railway station about 1.1 miles away (see transport links for details)
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Historical interest
The pub is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
The external features of the pub date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Other parts are much older - the back room was once part of at least one other building that faced onto the side-street.
To be lett and enter'd upon immediately, or Michaelmas next, a Good and well accustomed Inn, known by the name of the Dove in St Helen's Parish, Ipswich, the Stock of Beer and Brewing Utensils, with the Household Goods to be Sold as they shall be appraised by two indifferent Persons…
Landlords
Footnote
Tap & Spile was created as a national chain of themed and heavily branded pubs - created from selected pubs usually owned by the former Pubmaster pub group. Initially these pubs were very popular and able to offer a very wide range of real ales though in later years the beer range was increasingly restricted. In Suffolk there were just 3 T&S branded pubs - in Ipswich, Felixstowe (Walton) and Woodbridge.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
A Pub history group meets regularly at the Ipswich Dove Street Inn - usually on second Monday during winter months - with occasional speakers.
