Anchor Bankside Review

Once upon a time, this stretch of the Thames positively thronged with ale houses. The Anchor, rebuilt in 1667 after the Great Fire, is a lone survivor, and for that it deserves reverence. But the new owners, who recently extended and renovated the place, have ruined it with tacky, unsympathetic additions. What an insult to a pub whose London history is as ingrained as the nicotine stains in the ceiling. Samuel Pepys was in here when the Great Fire of London started, and Samuel Johnson popped in regularly, a century later.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Despite my affection for ancient inns, I’m not saying that old is good, new is bad. Were the Anchor to be destroyed by some contemporary calamity, I would not be leading a campaign to have it “authentically” rebuilt. The dangers of pointlessly pandering to the past are exhibited just along the river, at a folly called the Globe Theatre. Its recreation is so accurate that the seats - adequate for titchy Elizabethans - are ridiculously cramped and bum-numbing, there’s no roof (like it never rains in London) and you can hardly sit anywhere without having your vision restricted by a towering oak beam.

But the Anchor did not have to be rebuilt – it was already there. If it ain’t broke, as they say, don’t fix it. Only greed can have motivated this unnecessary enlargment and remodelling, with a new bar built over the old courtyard and an ugly great Premier Lodge bolted on the back. Parts of the pub now resemble the sort of place tracksuited men drink in provincial towns. Others bring to mind – I cringe as I write it – a Harvester.

The original part of the pub is neglected, its bar closed when we visited. Things still look attractive from the outside (clever trick) but once inside, you realise you’ve been suckered into what is now just another tourist money-leach. Tom Cruise has a pint here in Mission Impossible, which is quite fitting – This historic hostelry been reduced to a Hollywood version of the ‘olde English’ boozer.

The riverside terrace is still a pleasant place to quaff on a summer’s afternoon, if you’re doing the South Bank walk (oi!) but in less clement seasons, don’t be tempted to open those cute, curved doors and enter this hideous halfway house, a stark warning of the perils of compromising between tradition and modernity.

"The Anchor Bankside only permits children if they are eating a substantial meal. This can be in the restaraunt, Terrace Bar, or FT hot food servery. Children are not allowed in the main bar for any reason. Bryan Longworth, Bar Manager" Ed Jan 04...read more

Anchor Bankside Description

The Anchor on the side of the river Thames was originally built in 1615. Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London from here and Doctor Johnston wrote part of his dictionary!

As a Taylor Walker pub, we are proud to offer freshly prepared British pub food and high quality drinks. With experienced and friendly staff, whether you are a cask ale fan, love a chilled glass of white wine or a freshly ground cup of coffee, we will serve you in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Join us for a classic British dish such as hand battered cod, chips and mushy or garden peas, a juicy rump steak burger and chips or a roast of the day seven days a week. Our pub food is freshly prepared and includes all your favourites. We also offer a range of sandwiches and jacket potatoes, all served by our welcoming and friendly team.

We have many offers to choose from including our unique fish and chip shop inside The Anchor, for either eat in or take away. We also have a private dining room for a maximum of 18 persons in The Shakespeares Room. Our first floor restaurant offers an A La Carte choice, serving traditional British food and our Terrace Bar overlooks St Pauls and the River Thames....read more

Customer Reviews for Anchor Bankside

Average (based on 5 votes): 5 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Anchor Bankside.

“Read the reviews and can only say that they are wrong, I have visited the Anchor several times and eaten in the restaurant and can only say WOW, what a menu for a pub. Staff are very welcoming even under immense presure as this is a busy pub”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
stephen, london/glasgow (3 years 29 days ago)

“This is an historic pub (part of the building, anyway), which should be a bit of a treasure. We have been going there for years, but I have to say that the current state of the toilets is beyond belief: they look clean, but the smell knocks your socks off! Also, the last time we went (on Sunday 22nd Feb 2009) the end bar was being used by a group who were barring the entrance from the street by putting their chairs in front of it and being abusive to people who tried to enter: we told the staff but they did nothing to stop this. The staff here work hard and are pleasant: they need better management here, and cleaners who know how to clean a toilet properly!”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Suzanne, London (3 years 2 months 20 days ago)

“I must wholeheartedly agree with the review. I'm 35 now, and been going to The Anchor on and off over the last 17 years. It used to have so much charm, but now it's just so sterile and a complete tourist trap. Service is poor at best, averaging at rude, and it's overfull of tourists and daytrippers who have read about The Anchor in the plethora of tourist guides on London. If you can get a seat outside (and that's a big if), it's pleasant to have the Thames floating by, however, the volume of the other drinkers is sure to deafen you, the behaviour of the other drinkers will probably disgust you. As for their food.........stick to the ale (of which the selection has diminished and dwindled over the years).”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Shaun, London (3 years 11 months 14 days ago)

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Additional Information

• Dress Code: Not Specified
• Group: Taylor Walker