Anchor Hotel, Horsham

Another pub on Horsham’s Market Square, this large Greene King pub and former hotel was an obvious next stop on our crawl after we left the nearby Bear. It’s a pretty big pub, with a spacious, opened out interior that is bare boarded for the most-part, except for a checkerboard tiled strip around the servery on the right-hand wall. The pub was dimly lit on a Friday evening, which made navigating the jumble of tables, chairs and stools that fill the main body of the room, a trickier task than it should’ve been. Comfier seating options can be found around the perimeter of the room, including a few Chesterfield sofas to the left. At the rear, a raised seating space with a long row of full height windows on the back wall, has a few more tables, but I can’t imagine this place ever gets so busy that you can’t find somewhere to sit. The bar has a wood panelled counter front painted in a bright colour scheme with a modern mirrored bar back and a huge pillar right in front of the counter’s midpoint, which was a bit tricky to pass when the queues at the bar built up a little. Décor is mostly old photos and paintings plus the usual Greene King corporate promotional tat. Loud music played throughout the course of our visit and there were some TV screens showing what I think was a rolling news channel. I’d read that local guest ales were a feature here, but sadly on this visit, there was only one cask option – Greene King False Nine – along with a real cider and two unused pumps. The False Nine was a little tired and not really my kind of brew, and the bar staff seemed bored and conducted proceedings with minimal effort. I expected to find a heaving pub judging by the noise we could hear on approach, but it was actually half empty and a bit disappointing as a result – such a large space needs a large crowd to make it come alive. I felt that this pub was only one step removed from being a full-on 90’s style drinking barn, thanks to the vast, open interior, loud music and lack of decent beer. The place did seem to have a few cosy spots and I may have just been a little unlucky on the ale front, but I couldn’t find all that much to recommend about this place and would definitely give it a swerve the next time I’m in town. Date of visit – 12th July 2024

As mentioned below a Wetherspooneque type pub with less of a beer choice, didn't do much for me.

Large open plan room, a little bit standard almost Wetherspoons layout. Its ok, beer seems good

Official site of Anchor Hotel - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of Anchor Hotel - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

The Anchor Hotel is a Taylor Walker run establishment located in a pedestrianised area of Horsham Town Centre. On the path out the front are three café tables with seating and a food menu. Being from London myself I am used to the Taylor Walker ‘Great British Pub Menu’ that consists of pub grub mains that are generally priced under a tenner. The interior of the pub is open plan with a long bar that runs along the right hand wall and a few supporting columns. Some stairs at the front of the pub lead up to a seating area that has a big screen for watching sports. I did not venture up there during my recent Saturday afternoon visit. A pool table is found in the raised rear of the pub where access can be gained to a rear patio garden. In the garden is a mixture of picnic furniture, some of which lies under a jumbrella. A standard and premium keg selection was available from the bar which also supports four hand pumps. During my visit one of these was off leaving Hepworth’s prospect, Greene king IPA and Andwell Brewing Company’s King John as the cask ale options. Both of the cubicles in the gent’s toilet at the rear had broken locks. Thankfully I was able to gain access to the disabled toilet where I was able to lock myself in for some privacy. I found the Anchor to be a decent enough pub that I would have no problem revisiting.

This place isn't listed in my old Sussex beer guide for the simple reason that it wasn't a pub then despite the fairly grand exterior. There used to be a K&B Anchor in East Street but that closed down decades ago. Inside it's just one large room that is fairly uninspiring. I didn't note all the beers but did see Portobello Star, Purity UBU, Kingbeer's Horsham Best and a cider. I went for the Horsham Best at £3.75 which seems expensive but I completely forgot about the CAMRA discount. I wasn't overly impressed with this pub but the beer tried was in good condition and I suspect I may have been a bit unlucky with the beer choice.

A large rectangular opened out Taylor Walker outlet, a bit of a barn really, stairs lead up to a front mezzanine area overlooking the square outside. There is a long bar running down a side wall with hops entwined along the bar back, a nice touch, wooden flooring with chequerboard tiled splash area around the counter. Large circular columns, exposed metal ducting, some with beer related quotes and inscriptions etched upon. Also at ceiling level were the mini versions of the flags of the impending World Cup combatants. Whilst on the theme the TV nearest me was showing the play-off final between Burton Albion and Fleetwood, watched indifferently by most obviously except a lone expat Fleetwood fan who kicked every ball and saved every shot, all by himself, poor sod, at least they did win for him. The other TV had a silent news channel on. Other décor and features included a few recessed bookcases, the usual historic prints and a suspended station style clock. As seems to be the Horsham way, a few steps up to the back there were a pair of pool tables plus a fruit machine. Beyond was a quite nice looking outdoor area, unused on a miserable rainy day. The beer range was Firebird Heritage XX, Kings Heritage Horsham Best, 360◦ Sussex#42 and Pride which was "conditioning". Food served, the usual large pubco menus on the tables and deals offered, in fairness, what I saw looked good and prices were fair. A better spot than my previous stop at The Queen's Head even if there is little pub character left, I would drop by again though and possibly enjoy a sirloin steak sandwich £6.95.