Anchor & Hope, Southwark  

One of the longer established gastropubs, the Anchor & Hope sure packs in a crowd of eager foodies (and their kids). Is it a pub or just a restaurant in disguise? As you can't book a table - diners are allocated on a first come first served basis when they turn up - the bar on each of our visits was, to all intents and purposes, a waiting room for people after a table in the dining area. Whilst it isn't as bad as laying a knife and fork at every table (as some other gastropubs do) the waiting room feel is equally off-putting if you're just here for a couple of drinks. The rather cursory selection of beers on tap is further illustration of this place's reliance on food - although oddly enough, the beer isn't actually that pricey given the gastro atmosphere and on our second visit, Brains SA was on offer at less than three pounds. As for the menu, the ingredients may change with the seasons but the prices don't: this is the sort of place where lasagne costs over a tenner (and that's one of the cheaper options on the menu). On our second visit, we had a most disappointing skate and chips: the skate was more bone than fish. And that was fifteen pounds. If you're of the opinion that gastropubs are more gastro than they are pub, then there's little to change your mind here.

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