The Anchor, Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead

I found this pub a real breath of fresh air. I was staying at the hotel opposite as I was a guest at a wedding there. My wife & I fancied something to eat and drink and so we walked across the road to the Anchor. We were greeted by a very friendly young lady who served us our drinks. I enquired if they were serving food today as it was a Saturday. Yes was the answer & I was directed to several blackboards which had a long list of typical, good old fashioned 'Pub Grub'. The price range was from £4.95 for sausage egg & chips to £9.90 for a large rib eye steak. Their were also starters & desert on the menu. Our meals were served and the food was fantastic. I had 3 very enjoyable pints of Abbots Ale which was superbly kept. Every time I went to the bar, the service was very friendly & I felt like a local although I had never been to this pub before. I returned a few ours later for another couple of pints. The young lady remembered what I drank. There were loads of local people there by this time. They all knew each others first names and there was lots of friendly banter going on. Even as an outsider, I was included in this friendly banter. This is one of the few good old traditional English pubs left. Good beer, good food, friendly service & a great atmosphere. Perfect!

Couldn't be more different to the White Horse next door, a proper drinkers pub, loud opinionated 20 somethings, kids running around, pool table, dart board, sky TV and a well used, and quite picturesque, smoking area outside. Beers were the Greene King Three, IPA Abbot and OSH. Decent quality and £3.10 a pint.