The Hope & Anchor, Bath

A pleasant pub in a very attractive countryside setting, it is set in something of a valley and surrounded by rolling fields. A cycle track on an old railway line runs right past the pub (through their car park in fact) which would make it a great stopping point if taking a cycle ride out through the recently opened Combe Down tunnel from the centre of Bath. Internally it has had something of a renovation since my previous visit, although that was many years ago. There is now an extension at the back of the pub and it has been opened out somewhat internally. Consequently it doesn’t perhaps have quite the same cosy charm that I recall, but it is nonetheless pleasant enough in a slightly more contemporary way. It’s a roughly L-shaped pub, with the main bar area and counter being in the middle section. This had sanded wooden boards on the floor, dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and pale grey paintwork elsewhere. There were also some sections of exposed brickwork, and the bay window gave good views of the railway bridge. A large fish was mounted in a glass display case. Next to this was a cosier room perhaps more intended for dining, with a low beamed ceiling, wallpaper and a stone fireplace at the far end. The extension at the rear had large windows as well as some skylights to let in plenty of light, and the original stone wall at the back of the pub had been left untouched. The food menu consisted of a decent selection of “pub grub” style dishes with options such as steak and ale pie, lasagne, sausage & mask, steak & chips, etc., with most of the main courses being around the £12 mark. My salmon and smoked haddock fishcakes were a generous portion and decent enough, although perhaps a little heavy on the potato and light on the fish. Beers on tap were Otter Aussie Summer and the local Three Daggers Ale, whilst a third pump appeared unused. Ciders were well represented with Lilley’s Apple & Pear, Pheasant Plucker, Honey’s Midford and Iford Peto Press. The latter was a new one on me, and is apparently made just outside Bradford-on-Avon. It certainly went down very well. All in all, a very pleasant pub in a lovely setting, it’s well worth stopping by.

Official site of The Hope and Anchor, contains menu - www.hopeandanchormidford.co.uk

Official site of The Hope and Anchor, contains menu - www.hopeandanchormidford.co.uk