The Anchor, Leatherhead

An old fashioned sort of pub with a dark woody interior round the central bar. I don't know what on earth they had been cooking, but the smell was quite overwhelming and seriously detracted from the charm of the place, so we left fairly quickly. Ales on were Surrey Hills Ranmore and London Pride.

Located a little way out of the village centre, this was the nicer of the two pubs we visited in Great Bookham. It deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide. Inside, seating wraps around the central bar, which was presided over by the friendly landlady. However, we had our child in tow and with children not allowed inside, we sat on the pleasant front patio area. This also appears popular with smokers and those with dogs. Just the 2 real ales were on - London Pride & Ranmore.

This is a pleasant pub with a real country feel having a low beamed ceiling, lots of exposed brickwork, a boarded floor and a real log fire burning in an inglenook on an end wall. This was most welcome after an enjoyable but chilly walk around Bookham Common. Toby jugs hang from hooks along the fireplace mantle, there are a few brasses, a case of clay pipes, frames containing wartime medals, brass plates and I noticed a fine picture of the pub on a back wall. A CAMRA mirror reinforces the pub's commitment to real ale of which four were on, shared across five pumps (2+2+1), Doom Bar, Jenning's Cumberland Ale x2, Courage Best and Brakspears Bitter. I went for the Cumberland which was in good nick. Signs of the old Courage era remain along the bar back. They do food but it was probably past serving time when I was in at around 4pm on Sunday as there were no menus out. A TV on a back wall was switched off, no music was playing just the sound of conversation. There is a bit of a garden at the front which also has a pond containing carp, it wasn't really the weather to sit out though, the fireside was much more inviting. I liked this pub very much and a bit more of an adventurous ale range would ensure a high rating indeed. Certainly the pick of the pubs around Bookham.

An olde worlde feel to this pub, with an equal emphasis on food and drink,four beers were on but all were rather unexciting in my view,Doombar,Courage Best,Brakespear Bitter and Jennings Cumberland, the latter was OK if not a touch on the flat side,It did however cost 2 quid for a half,a bit steep for an average beer.It was a nice enough place but wouldn't rush back.

I saw just the three ales on during my visit – Courage Best, London Pride and Harvey’s Bitter. I only had time for a half of the Harvey’s, and although it was as good as usual it did cost £1.75 (£3.50 a pint?) and thus was near the very top end of London/Surrey prices. I didn’t eat here, but the menu didn’t look too pricey – sandwiches were £3.95, and a pub staple of cod, chips and peas was £6.95. I can’t add much to the previous reviewer’s description, except to say that the fireplace on the right had a real log fire on the go which was very welcome on a bitterly cold December day. A nice touch, giving the place a homely feel was the small sprigs of poinsettia on all the tables. During my late lunchtime visit there were only three or four other gentlemen in the pub enjoying a quiet drink and a chat. It’s about a 20 – 25 minute walk from Bookham Station, but there is a bus service along the road that does go to Bookham Station. This pub had very much a country pub atmosphere to it, and I would be delighted to pay a return visit at some time.