The Blue Anchor, Hammersmith, W6

Randomness Guide to London - Blue Anchor entry

Randomness Guide to London - Blue Anchor entry

I visited this pub for the second time recently, during a flying visit to London. After a year’s hiatus, I found my feelings about the place were remarkably consistent. It’s undoubtedly a tidy little pub with its wood panelled interior and rowing memorabilia and it has an impressive riverside setting. However, the Kiwi manager seemed as sullen as ever and the barmaids, although friendly, were still rather clueless when trying to describe the beers. The four ales on offer were: Hog’s Back Bitter (HBB), Itchen Valley ‘Fagins’, Skinner’s ‘Betty Stoggs’ and Sambrook’s ‘Wandle’. I tried the HBB and the Fagins and although the quality was adequate, it was not outstanding, something rather galling when paying £3.40 and £3.70 per pint respectively. However, there’s the rub at The Blue Anchor. Rather in the spirit of a Parisian café, you’re paying not just for what you drink, but also the location you drink it in. The allure of drinking on the terrace on a warm summer’s evening means that many are willing to pay a premium to do so and management know that. A year on, I still maintain that although it’s a nice pub, it’s not quite as good as it thinks it is.

Small, old and dark are the best ways to sum this place up. I've never had a problem with the service or the quality of the lager/cider. When the sun is shining the queue for drinks actually goes out of the entrance, but srvice still doesn't usually take that long. I also like the fact that the staff actually ask you if you are drinking inside or out before palming you off with a plastic glass.

A pleasant riverside location close to Hammersmith Bridge, with flowering baskets and tables overlooking the Thames. Internally there are wooden floors and panelled walls to the main L shaped area, with a further space behind containing a couple of Chesterfields and low tables. Another room upstairs plus a small terrace provide good river views. Decor is river/ship based as the locale with oars, ships lights, anchors etc. Some interesting framed photographs include one of flooding in the vicinity from 1928, together with a framed newspaper article from the West London Observer dated Friday Jan 13th 1928 concerning the same event. No issues with the beer or service, I did need to ask for my pint to be topped up but this was done with good grace and a smile. Beers were, Sharps Doom Bar, Taylors Landlord, and Brains SA. A pleasant riverside spot, I'd visit again.

It's right on the river near Hammersmith Bridge. With its outside seating with superb river views it can get very crowded during the summer. But on a wet Wednesday lunchtime in early September it was fairly empty – only me and two other old boys enjoying a pint or two. I think it's quite an attractive pub – the appropriately blue painted exterior looks good in this setting, and the interior is also rather nice with what looks like an original Courage bar back(?) on the right. Decoration consists mainly (of course) of rowing related paraphernalia, plus an old £SD cash register on the end of the bar, and what appears to be some wartime helmets on one of the walls. It's bare boarded, which unfortunately does nothing to help suppress noise levels in a pub, and the walls are dark wood panelled. Seating is a mixed bag of high stools at ledges along the front and one side of the pub and at a couple of high tables, banquettes and normal tables and chairs. They had three real ales on when I was in: Sharp's Doom Bar; Sambrook's Wandle; and Skinner's Betty Stogs. I had the superb Betty Stogs, which was £3.30 a pint. I'm used to paying this sort of price in London of course, but if it's a choice between paying £2.80 for GKIPA or £3.30 for an excellent ale like Betty Stogs then I'll readily stump up the extra 50p. The food menu looked pretty straightforward. I had a tuna/ciabbatta sandwich with a salad garnish for £5.95. Again, not cheap, but what would one expect at somewhere with a location like the Blue Anchor? The pub seems to be run by a couple of good humoured Kiwis. The only downside for me was the pop music being played a bit too loudly, which seemed a bit out of keeping with the character of the place. But that's just my subjective opinion – maybe others would like it. I'm certainly happy to drop in again sometime for another pint.

Official site of the Blue Anchor, contains menus and wine list - www.blueanchorlondon.com

This history of this classic riverside pub is uncertain other than it is known to have been licenced since 1722. The riverside location is the major draw here and it generally attracts a customer base from the more affluent and mature end of the market. The interior is fairly small but quite cosy and is kitted out in a fairly basic but traditional style with bare floors, paneling and old fashioned wallpaper. The walls double up as a gallery for local photographers and there are a few assorted tin hats, brass plates and other odds and sods on display but pride of place probably goes to the sawn in half, upturned rowing boat suspended from the ceiling. There were 4 ales available on my last visit and a decent enough selection; Doom Bar, Brains SA, Sambrook Wandle and Hogs Back RIP although prices are pretty hefty. It can get very busy although when the weather allows most people tend to overspill onto the riverside terrace. With a bit of patience, seating usually becomes available inside. The upstairs “River Room” (used for functions only), has its own small terrace with commanding views over the river down to Hammersmith Bridge. Overall this is quite a homely if expensive pub but pleasant for a warm day and is also just a brisk stroll away from the Hammy Apollo but far enough to lose the venue crowds. I wouldn't fancy the chances of getting served on Boat Race day though.

Official site of the Blue Anchor, contains menus and wine list - www.blueanchorlondon.com