Anchor & Hope, Salisbury

I enjoyed my visit here, its a little rough and ready as mentioned below and the music volume from the extensive jukebox may have put some off but it was ok with me and seemingly everyone else in the reasonably busy pub.I spotted two pool tables in the pub and a third in a covered area in the beer garden. Two beers were on, unfortunately one was Doom Bar but the other was a very decent Robinsons Trooper Red and Black and even better it was on offer at £2.50 a pint.I found it to be a good pub with a good buzz about it, it won't win any beauty contests and could be improved with a wider ale selection, but I would certainly come back.

No Moles beers except a light(er) version of Black Rat cider (brewery page suggests that would only be bottled?), other handpumps had Courage (why oh why?), Spitfire & Sharps Cornish Coaster, and the landlord suggested he hoped to increase the range soon. Indeed the whole pub seemed to be somewhat in transition with evidence of restructuring around a separate pool-table area, and room to front which had its own tv in addition to a plasma to left of bar. Diversions offered in form of games compendium (chess, backgammon etc). Nice leadlight windows at front, beer garden to rear. Not bad, but a work in progress…

A town pub just outside the City centre dating in part form the 15th Century and a GBG pub. The floors are stone, and there is an attractive walled garden. It's a bit worn around the edges, both inside and out, but that adds to the appeal. There are various bar areas decorated in various ways but with a nautical theme running throughout. There's a pool table, a mix of old and new tv screens, tiled, lino and carpeted floors and gaming machines. The bar looks like a random collection of kitchen units nailed together. There is a cluttering of sports trophies and parlour games, and all the furniture is mismatched. The staff are welcoming and the locals lively. There was one ale and one cider on draft, I had the ale, Mole Catcher, and found it to be in perfect condition and at cellar temperature. A highly recommended pub for its beer quality and charm, but don't bring the wife unless she has a robust sense of humour.