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.

A pleasant riverside location close to Hammersmith Bridge, with flowering baskets and tables overlooking the Thames. Internally there are wooden floors and panelled walls to the main L shaped area, with a further space behind containing a couple of Chesterfields and low tables. Another room upstairs plus a small terrace provide good river views. Decor is river/ship based as the locale with oars, ships lights, anchors etc. Some interesting framed photographs include one of flooding in the vicinity from 1928, together with a framed newspaper article from the West London Observer dated Friday Jan 13th 1928 concerning the same event. No issues with the beer or service, I did need to ask for my pint to be topped up but this was done with good grace and a smile. Beers were, Sharps Doom Bar, Taylors Landlord, and Brains SA. A pleasant riverside spot, I'd visit again.