Popular Dover, New Hampshire, Bar Announces Leap Year Closing

Since it opened back in 2015, it's been known as the place "where the game is always on."

Unfortunately, according to a Facebook post made Sunday, February 18, 2024 on its official Facebook page, the game will officially be turned off for good at Thompson Tavern at the end of the month.

Thompson Tavern, Dover, New Hampshire

Formerly the location of the popular Daniel's Sports Bar on Central Ave in downtown Dover, New Hampshire, followed by a very quick stint as an Italian restaurant by day and night club on weekend nights known as The Spaghetti Stain, Thompson Tavern became a must-visit spot downtown as soon it opened January 2015.

Ironically, the owners, Kim and Rick Laughton, were already familiar with the space, as Rick's family actually owned the spot when it was Daniel's.

Thompson Tavern Events

Aside from the usual baseball, basketball, football, and hockey games being shown on the multiple TV's mounted to the wall across the bar -- as well as the big screen TV on the rooftop deck that overlooks all of downtown Dover -- Thompson Tavern became known for other events as well.

It was the go-to spot for UFC Fight Nights and other events, complete with beer tower specials to indulge in during the fights. Local musical acts like Brad Bosse, nationally-known acts like Dueling Pianos, special theme nights (including epic St. Patrick's Day parties), and more routinely were featured at the Tavern.

(Including a highly-popular, world-renowned, forever-missed, weekly trivia night that may or may not have been hosted by the author of this article that included a lot of sarcastic smack talk and some pretty decent prizes as well.)

Thompson Tavern Closing

Which made it a shock to all when, seemingly out of nowhere, Kim and Rick announced that Thompson Tavern will be closing next Thursday, February 29, 2024, with an announcement on Facebook.

Thank you to the ownership, staff (past and present), and customers (also past and present) of Thompson Tavern for making downtown Dover that much more fun throughout the last decade.