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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th June 2026) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Anchor Inn, Lewes
Barcombe
Postal town: Lewes
BN8 5BS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Anchor Inn
At the end of a long country lane seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the Anchor Inn was very busy with diners during a recent Sunday afternoon visit, the roasts looked ginormous. The pub sits behind a large grass covered front beer garden where lines of picnic tables are faced by an outside bar to the left that operates in the summer months. Up the right-hand side of the pub is a patio with seating and an ice-cream stand, again for the summer months. There’s also a jetty that allows access to lots of rowing boats, which is the major draw of this pub. The pub itself, much smaller inside than one would expect, has a flagstone floor throughout with a few rugs dotted about to soften the place up. Tables and chairs are found in a room to the right of the entrance where a long family table is also found. The bar to the left is split into two either side of a chimney with left and right facing log fireplaces, both of which were roaring away. The right hand-side of the bar has three or four tables in an L-shape around the counter and there is more seating in the slightly raised left-hand side that leads to sunken seating in the far left. There had been a function the night before my visit, there’s a large marquee out the back, so unfortunately the two Harvey’s Best barrels on stillage in a room to the rear of the bar had both been drained. This left draught options of limited premium keg and Camden’s Eazy. I went for a pint of Peroni that wasn’t on great form, I’d say the pipes could do with a clean. I also imagine that it’s a nightmare getting up and down the lane on a hot summer’s day. The service was polite, but I don’t think I’ll be heading out this way again for a revisit.
On 1st June 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6674 recommendations about 6636 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Walton left this review about Anchor Inn
Visited 24/01/25
No cask this time of year so just Harvey's Best or London Pride in bottles. Draught Guinness, Peroni, Grolsch, Camden Eazy Pale, Appleshed cider.
Charming riverside pub with some picnic benches out the front (by the narrow track road that is likely to bring you here. They have an outside bar but not open this time of year. Inside there are two bar areas served by a common bar counter with a wall dividing and a nice log fire burning away in the fire grates on each side. There are a couple of other adjoining rooms with tables set for diners. Stone flooring and regular tables and chairs. Lovely patio area out the back of the pub was pretty windswept on my visit. Boat hire and camping extremely popular here in warmer and lighter parts of the year. Open weekends only this time of year so worth checking if trekking here until probably BST part of year, but a lovely pub and very well worth the trek. It does indeed feel quite remote but is hardly remote in the grander scheme of things.
On 7th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1770 recommendations about 1743 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Anchor Inn
Although only a few miles from Lewes, this Ouse-side pub down a dead-end lane feels like one of the most remote in all of Sussex. Anyway, it's not as traditional inside the compact bar and at least three larger dining rooms as one might expect from the exterior (set behind the extensive beer garden). Nevertheless, you still get a real fire on a cool spring day, plus draught Harvey's (£5.50) served by gravity from a pin on the counter. Boat hire also available!
On 21st April 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9165 recommendations about 9165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Anchor Inn
This is indeed a fine Sussex country pub and restaurant with an excellent end of lane location by the west bank of the River Ouse. Internally it is two small bar areas and two restaurant rooms, but is best visited on a fine weather day when the expansive front and back garden areas can be enjoyed , or you may be lucky enough, as we were, to get one of the riverside tables with their views of the Ouse.
It’s a Harveys house (no surprise there for this part of the world), and normally a couple of ales are available from the barrel. But as I visited late last summer between the two covid lock downs the pub was not serving real ale on tap, but fortunately some of the Harveys range were available in bottles. The food looked good but we didn’t try it so cannot pass comment. Boats are available to be hired from a kiosk in the back garden, hence the full name of the pub web site.
This pub makes a fine mid way stop on a triangular walk from Barcombe village and then a walk along the river to Barcombe Mills before returning to the Royal Oak at Barcombe.
On 22nd February 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2197 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ron Neesam left this review about Anchor Inn
Magnificent riverside setting makes for a great afternoon out. Some guest beers but Harvey's best was superb served direct from a barrel tap. Boating is available at reasonable cost.
On 11th March 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 5 recommendations about 5 pubs]