The Blue Anchor, Hammersmith, W6

Randomness Guide to London - Blue Anchor entry

Randomness Guide to London - Blue Anchor entry

I visited this pub for the second time recently, during a flying visit to London. After a year’s hiatus, I found my feelings about the place were remarkably consistent. It’s undoubtedly a tidy little pub with its wood panelled interior and rowing memorabilia and it has an impressive riverside setting. However, the Kiwi manager seemed as sullen as ever and the barmaids, although friendly, were still rather clueless when trying to describe the beers. The four ales on offer were: Hog’s Back Bitter (HBB), Itchen Valley ‘Fagins’, Skinner’s ‘Betty Stoggs’ and Sambrook’s ‘Wandle’. I tried the HBB and the Fagins and although the quality was adequate, it was not outstanding, something rather galling when paying £3.40 and £3.70 per pint respectively. However, there’s the rub at The Blue Anchor. Rather in the spirit of a Parisian café, you’re paying not just for what you drink, but also the location you drink it in. The allure of drinking on the terrace on a warm summer’s evening means that many are willing to pay a premium to do so and management know that. A year on, I still maintain that although it’s a nice pub, it’s not quite as good as it thinks it is.

Small, old and dark are the best ways to sum this place up. I've never had a problem with the service or the quality of the lager/cider. When the sun is shining the queue for drinks actually goes out of the entrance, but srvice still doesn't usually take that long. I also like the fact that the staff actually ask you if you are drinking inside or out before palming you off with a plastic glass.