Anchor Bankside (Bar)

A beer garden with history. Originally built in 1615, this Thames-side pub is famous because Samuel Pepys saw the Great Fire of London from here and because Dr Johnston scribed a portion of his dictionary at the pub. Nowadays, the pub's midway location between London Bridge (Borough Market is close by) and the cultural South Bank (Tate Modern, Royal Festival Hall, Shakespeare's Globe, and the National Theatre), means plenty of foot traffic. Hence the larger bankside raised beer garden that can seat many a sore-footed tourist. Grab a pint of ale at the outside bar and sit back and enjoy the view over to St Paul's Cathedral.

“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”
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stephen, london/glasgow (10 years 2 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!”
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Suzanne, London (10 years 2 months 24 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).”
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Shaun, London (10 years 11 months 18 days ago)

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