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Detail Pages
Anchor & Hope, E5
E5
E5 9HG
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Anchor & Hope
Tiny pub that has a run down feel, although the good beer guide claims it has had a recent make over. There is more seating outside than in - which is fine on a summer day.
Four of the Fullers range on and the ESB was outstanding. Possibly the best I have had. And I love this beer.
There is an Italian Restaurant Concession operating from the side of the pub (at least on weekends).
On 3rd July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Anchor & Hope
Well described below, though it’s fair to say that waterside seating is substantially greater than that available inside what is one of the smallest pubs I’ve visited.
It dates from 1851 with a very basic interior rebuilt in the 1930s, featuring on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs of Some Regional Importance. The floor is dark brown mottled lino, very worn to the oche, the dartboard largely obscured by pub paraphernalia and a redundant games machine (see photo). The interior is V-shaped with a bar at the top of the V’s crook, with a side area to the left with the aforementioned dartboard and open lavs, from which there was a bit of a whiff. Walls are t ‘n’ g to the dado painted burgundy, with plain magnolia walls and ceiling with a few prints, pot plants and a set of antlers by way of décor. High set window frames are metal – probably Crittall – and are high to the point that when seated at one of the basic tables and chairs, you can’t actually see out of them, which is a bit odd. Lighting comes from hipster filament bulbs hanging from long flexes to the ceiling.
Customers seem mixed and may comprise some waterway walkers stopping for a break.
The barman is friendly and perhaps a little eccentric, presiding over a depressing range of Fuller’s beers and a few taps dispensing fizz. I opted for a pint of their Frontier lager (£5.30) which was quite nice.
This was an interesting experience, though not unexpected. It’s really one for the curious as it’s a bit of a trek to get here, but curiosity satisfied, I don’t envisage a return trip.
On 26th August 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Anchor & Hope
This is a compact canal side pub with a basic L-shaped internal layout and arguably more seating outside along the canal than there is within. The pub has a traditional feel to it, with a simple bare boarded room, half panelled walls and a nice compact servery with a tongue and groove counter. The right hand side of the room offers a row of small tables served by low stools with a smart little fireplace on the end wall. Large amounts of CAMRA literature jostles for space in the window sills with various magazines and local listings leaflets. There is a pleasant Fullers mirror on the back wall next to the bar, acting as a clear nod to the pub’s ownership, which is not all that obvious compared to some of their typically branded houses. The room runs a short distance to the rear down the left hand side where a few more tables and stools can be found along with a collection of books and various bits of tat that seemed to have been piled up in a rear corner. TV screens were showing some daytime TV nonsense which only the eye-patch wearing, old-school barmaid was watching, as everyone else was sat outside, although the effect of this was that the music in the pub was turned to full volume so it could be heard from the canal. A large number of rickety picnic benches have been lined up along the towpath, giving some pleasant views of the boats drifting past and there was a gazebo positioned awkwardly at a pinch point, which made for some close encounters with cyclists and joggers for anyone queuing for some food.
Just three ales from the Fullers stable on the bar on a scorching hot summer’s day – London Pride, ESB and Spring Sprinter, with the latter setting me back £4.00 for a pint. The beer was in pretty good shape and it was refreshing to get the beer in a proper glass rather than some plastic vessel.
I’d had visions of this being a picturesque canal-side pub full of boaters, cyclists and families strolling along the towpath, but it turned out to be quite a spit and sawdust old-fashioned pub set up to serve the needs of the residents from the nearby estates. In many ways, this was a big plus point and I can imagine there being a good atmosphere in the compact bar on a cold winter’s evening, equally as enjoyable as the busy crowd lounging outside on this particular visit. A good one for fans of unpretentious local’s pubs with good beer.
On 1st October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Anchor & Hope
This pub enjoys an enviable location right on the River Lea Navigation towpath. It's a lovely spot to stop off for a pint or two of Fuller's ales. An 'A' board outside listed the available ales, helpfully including price per pint and ABVs. Pride is £3.50, ESB £3.70, Wild River £3.60, and a guest of Hyde's Original at £3.60. These are reasonable prices for an out of the way pub like this one, bearing in mind that a river view will often attract a premium. I didn't see any sign of food on Friday afternoon. The only downside is the noise of trains passing along the nearby line, and (possibly some might say) the seemingly endless stream of cyclists using the towpath.
This is a very small single-room pub. It's lino floored, and furnished with a few normal tables, combined with mainly small round stools plus some normal chairs, making it a very basic and traditional pub. Small but perfectly formed I would say. If it's a nice day the best place to sit is outside at one of the picnic benches by the river. It seems to be dog friendly - bowls of water are outside under the 'A' board, plus inside there's a sign saying that dogs should be kept on a lead. I also spotted a Cask Marque sign, and a dartbard on one of the back walls.
This is a cracking, unpretentious little pub. It's just a shame that it's such a devil to get get to - unless you've got a bike or a narrow boat. Nonetheless, I would certainly like to be able to make a return visit.
On 8th October 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Anchor & Hope
A fine location, on the west bank of the Lee Navigation with a view across the marshes (but not exactly quiet as trains frequently rattle across the bridge a short distance downstream and over the nearby points up on the embankment). There is a row of plain benches along the river bank, which is just as well as there isn't much room inside the pub itself. Three Fullers ales on handpump, including one of the best pints of ESB that I have had for a long time (£3.20). Perhaps I was just unlucky, but some of the locals were being a bit of a nuisance (albeit to each other rather than visitors). However, it is certainly a useful stop on the busy towpath route for walkers and cyclists.
On 19th June 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Anchor & Hope
The Anchor and Hope is a smallish one bar Fullers pub sitting on the banks of the River Lee Navigation.
The tables and chairs on the tow path afford a really good view across the Walthamstow marshes opposite.
Inside it’s a no frills traditional décor back street boozer
For me this is a compulsory stop when cycling this route and I've always had a solid pint of Pride and Sunday was no different. So if you are ever in the area , it's worth a visit.
On 30th June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
phil stovell left this review about Anchor & Hope
Best pub I've ever been regular in. Sad to hear of Les Heath's death last year (2003).
On 6th February 2004
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]