The Anchor, London Bridge  fancyapint.com rated pub, rated1 pints - click for an explanation of our ratings

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location:

London Bridge

address:

34 Park St, SE1 9EF

phone:

0871 258 6143*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Bankside pier River Thames boat service
(300m)

London Bridge railway stationLondon Underground station
(530m) - zone 1

London Bridge City Pier River Thames boat service
(560m)

Borough London Underground station
(700m) - zone 1

Southwark London Underground station
(920m) - zone 1

how to find it:

Go south over Southwark Bridge, take the steps down to the riverside walkway and follow it. The pub is next to the railway bridge into Cannon Street Station.

click here for a larger map

nearby attraction(s):

Vinopolis (50m)

Globe Theatre (280m)

The Old Operating Theatre, Museum & Herb Garret (440m)

picture of Anchor
When a pub over-enthusiastically promotes itself as veritably dripping with history it's a sure sign for any pub fan to raise up their guard and this one is no exception; even the most generous and thirsty drinker can't help but be offended by this boozer. Dreadful RnB on the stereo, a palpable deficit of atmosphere and badly kept beer add up to a thoroughly unsatisfying pub experience. On our visit the choice of ales was bemusingly only displayed to the bar staff, with all the pump labels twisted around to face them - a situation that did not assist them in their quest to identify which beers were on that day. After a fashion we were served with two pints of something bad in exchange for over £8. Not a good start. It didn't take long, while we sat on the riverside patio forcing our beers down, to work out that the best course of action was to trot across the bridge to the fine Banker where we were rewarded with a choice of 7 ales and a cracking piece of pie.

reviewed:
04/06/2009
reviewed by dodgy_eye

second opinion:

Have your say! - 3 comments on this pub - click to add your own comment
posted by Billyfish - Monday 21st June, 2010, 11:07am
This place was just hanging onto it's pubbishness in the late 90s when I first went there. Full of interesting little nooks and crannies, decent beer and food I seem to remember and a wonderful location. It has steadily got worse over the years and the new extension on the side (should be illegal to do that to a famous old building I'd have thought) finally completed it's transformation into something Harvester-esque as the boot says. Don't go back there barry, it's soul has been sold, it will make you weep.
posted by theboot - Friday 16th April, 2010, 2:48pm
Couldn't agree more with this review, a tourist-trap shambles of a pub. 'Historic' interiors are all very well but when they smell like a 'Harvester' you know you've got trouble. I drank my poorly kept Greene King IPA (£3.30 a pop) whilst all around me silver-haired ladies and members of tired families stuffed their indifferent faces with standard 'pub fayre' lunches. In various corners dreary office workers forced their tedious 'banter' onto each other. On the 'plus' side there are good views of: the Thames, lost tourists, and East European con men trying to get passers-by to part with money on a simple betting game.
posted by barry - Thursday 20th September, 2007, 1:57am
Oh my!! I used to drink here in the late 60's (1960's), what a great pub it was. I've not been there since.How sad. I know progress can't be stopped but at least keep some of the old English pubs as Englisg pubs, not this grunge of today. My Dad had the Queens Head in SW3.(1952/1974) whats that like today? Was great then!
... add your own comment
click to visit the randomness guidesRandomness - for an alternative point of view, see The Anchor's review on the Randomness guide to London.