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The Cove (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker AleGood1
St Austell - Proper JobGood2
St Austell - TributeGood1
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterGood5
Skinner's - Ice BlondePoor1
St Austell - HSDNot Tried0
Skinner's - Cornish BlondeNot Tried0
St Austell - Tinner's AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Cove, Covent Garden, Central London

Visits Details

09 Jun 2009 (James T)
Just enough seating spare, pleasant relaxing post-work atmostphere. Barmaid seemed stressed / annoyed / not interested... Only ale on, which finished within 20 minutes of us arriving. Bit of let down given i'd heard good things about this place... Perhaps it was a one off?
BeerABVScoreNotes
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00ExcellentCould have nailed several pints of this. Good form, full of malt and hops. Nice creamy head.
22 Feb 2009 (Dubbel)
I've been an occasional visitor to the Cove for the best part of 7 years. The good lady likes to sit on the balcony and watch the street 'entertainment' while I get stuck into the Cornish ales from Skinners and St Austell. Wasn't particularly busy mid-afternoon on Sunday, though it is regularly heaving in the summer. We each had a pasty from the shop below, which cost an extra £1.50 for the privilege of putting it on a plate and bringing it upstairs.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Proper Job4.50ExcellentI was disappointed to see this was off when I arrived, having replaced the HSD pump since I was last here. On the way out I spotted that it had been recharged so I quickly sunk a power-half of this golden, hoppy, citrus-infused delight. Understandably popular.
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00GoodIn particularly good form, nutty malts and a refreshing hop finish.
St Austell - Tribute4.20Not Tried
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale4.50Not Tried
Skinner's - Ice Blonde5.00Not Tried
09 Aug 2008 (Blair)
Hideously expensive but almost worth it for the fantastic atmosphere and balcony. I'll still come back, just a great place to chill out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Proper Job4.50AcceptablePoured through a tight sparkler. Malty and creamy, quite refreshing. Did the job.
St Austell - Tribute4.20Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
26 Apr 2008 (Andrew)
The combination of cornish beers and cornish pasties was too much to resist for Martin and Tony. We sat upstairs. Lots of rough wood furniture and low leather seating. From the outside I'd have never have known there was a pub up here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00GoodFruity apple and strawberry with rich hoppy finish
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale4.50Not Tried
St Austell - Tinner's Ale3.70Not Tried
06 May 2006 (Ian)
Sat on the balcony overlooking the performance area of Covent Garden, located above a Cornish pasty shop. Perfect for me, I love both pasties and the Cornish beers this place sells.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00GoodVery suppable copper coloured bitter, good citrus, orangey.
St Austell - Tribute4.20Not Tried
St Austell - HSD5.00Not Tried
Skinner's - Cornish Blonde5.00Not TriedBadged as Ice Blond
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale4.50Not Tried
28 Jan 2006 (Ian)
Here with some friends from Ratebeer.com in the middle of the afternoon. My first time here and I loved it. Sat outside with a heater to keep the January chill out, with 5 Cornish beers. Excellent
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Tribute4.20GoodDeep gold. Nice citric hop, really quite pleasant overall. Good beer with citric hoppy finish and some good white flesh fruit flavours.
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00GoodCopper colour with lasting beige head. Nice hop/malt aroma, some yeast. Bit of an earthy finish. But a nice best bitter and I am biased as I used to drink this a fair bit at The Mogul in Dover.
Skinner's - Cornish Knocker Ale4.50GoodGolden with lasting white head. Lovely hoppy aroma, some nice malt, bit dusty. Yes, good hops, citrus and very dry finish
Skinner's - Ice Blonde5.00PoorOoh this was poor. Not sure what it should be and not sure Skinners, who are normally pretty good, should have made it. Golden with disappearing head and the barmaid had not improved it by adding a slice of lime to the glass. Bizarre, odd and I can’t really say anything else.
St Austell - HSD5.00Not Tried

About The Cove

The pub sign. The Cove, Covent Garden, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent2
Good6
Acceptable1
Poor1

The pub is found in Covent Garden, Central London, WC2E 8HB.

Located above a cornish pasty shop at one end of the central market buildings in the square itself, this is a remarkable little pub. Very small with a bar that sells only Cornish beers. Good balcony where you can sit/stand and watch the performers/shoppers. Very popular.

We have visited this pub 6 times, seen 8 different beers and tried 5 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2E 8HB