The Anchor, Oxford

Dating from at least the mid-19th century and rebuilt in the 1930s for Hall's, this pub is somewhat isolated, all alone at the northern tip of Jericho and features on CAMRA’s list of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Some Regional Importance, which I last visited in late August 2016. On arriving, one thing you notice is the Hall's ceramic plaque as well as the HOB monogrammed ironwork above the doors. Inside, the walls are painted chocolate brown, the floor to the bar area is bare boarded but the neighbouring room, where tables are laid for dining, has a black and white chequerboard floor. The bar room has black leatherette peripheral bench seating and a rather attractive neo-Gothic fireplace. Internal doors with signage appear to be original, as is some polychromatic mosaic detailing. The eating area seemed empty, with a young attractive (hooray?) cadre posing on the beer patio; music was muted as was the lighting; a large dog roamed freely as did very young children. Ales amounted to an unused pump, then Wadworth Burnt Orange and Horizon, £2.40 a half and good. This pub requires a bit of investment to reach and isn’t the most atmospheric of venues, but it’s worth a look, especially as part of a Jericho crawl, though is let down by the large roaming dog and little children running around.