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Detail Pages
McCafferty's Bar, N8
N8
N8 7EL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about McCafferty's Bar
Well, a pint of Guinness is definitely the best option now as the Hope and Anchor has been transformed into a McCafferty‘s bar. It was the eighth member of this Irish themed chain when it opened its doors a couple of years ago.
Now a fetching green colour externally, as shown in recent photographs, internally it’s largely one open space wrapping around the central L shaped serving area. But there are raised areas to the corners and booth seating to the long edge to give the inside space some definition. Then when you move beyond the bar towards the garden there is a separate room to the right equipped with a dart board. When you move through the door into the outside space the first two sections are actually under a roof giving you the impression that you’re still actually inside the pub and then from here you enter out into a nice square courtyard garden area set to tables all aligned to give a view of a large external screen at the end of the courtyard.
in fact, in keeping with most Irish bars, this one is also festooned with TV screens in every section of the pub. But although the inside ones were all on but muted for my visit, somehow they were not intrusive, as they blended in with all the rest of the Irish theme branding, pub and brewery memorabilia, and general bric a brac that adorns all the walls and most of the ceiling area towards the back. For example the kettle collection hanging from the ceiling on the bar section is quite impressive if you’re into that type of thing
On the bar, multiple Guinness fonts as you would expect and all the usual keg suspects. However there was Beavertown neck oil, which was probably the most interesting ale option.
This was my first visit to one of the McCafferty bars, so I don’t know if they are all like this, but I have to say I was impressed with this one and thought it was quite an accurate representation of the genre. Yes I know it’s all fake, with the exception of the Irish barmaid, who was authentic, but I can still imagine this is a cracking pub to watch the sport in, especially if there is an Irish team playing.
On 10th August 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Hope & Anchor
Big old pub and had an Irish feel to it.Seen better days maybe.Doombar on handpump but Guinness would have been a better option.
On 10th November 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Hope & Anchor
The Hope & Anchor is a typical looking London pub with a tower on its upper corner.
Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar facing on entry,there is a pool table to the front right,the room extends down the left side,the front left area is raised and has comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs,there are tall tables and chairs to the rear.
There was one real ale on which was London Pride,this was a decent enough drink.
There was a TV showing day time programmes.
Sadly i was the only customer in on a Thursday dinner.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub.
Pub visited 4/8/2016
On 25th September 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Hope and Anchor
The bus I caught from Turnpike Lane didn't go where I thought it was going to go but instead stopped opposite this pub. I took this as an omen and obviously decided to check the pub out. It's a Greene King pub, which had on Hardy and Hanson's Rockin' Rudolph and with a GKIPA clip reversed on another pump. Stifling my disappointment at the unavailability of the IPA I settled for a half of the Rockin' Rudolph at £1.80. It's actually not too bad for a GK beer. There was no sign of any food or menus when I was in at around 12.15 on Wedneday.
The pub looks quite attractive from the exterior with some floral displays clinging to life in a mild but wet January. But inside it's quite ordinary. There's a fairly nondescript mainly brown or beige carpet on the floor; a couple of tall tables/tall stools and sofas; dark brown plastic upholstered banquettes and small round stools, plus some normal tables and chairs. It probably cost a fortune to create the subdued brown look, but it all looked a bit cheap to me. Obviously there are one-armed bandits and games machines here, as well as a pool table and TVs of course, on which live Sky Sports is shown. Poker nights (Wednesday) are also advertised.
Like so many pubs nowadays, this one has been opened up into one fairly anonymous large space. It's clearly an old pub so I'm pleased it's a survivor, but as I'm not a great fan of Greene King ales I'll probably not be paying a return visit.
On 10th January 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Hope and Anchor
This is a decent enough local's pub with a pool table and bar billiards. I found the barmaid to be very friendly and the regulars all seemed like a nice bunch, even to me when I stumbled in at 22:00.
Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen were available, but the Morris Mayhem was off during my visit. I'm not a big fan of either of these ales so I opted for the Guinness which was well served.
The locals had put some good old 70s tunes on the jukebox creating a very nice atmosphere that I would have no problem returning to when next in the area.
On 26th June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5242 recommendations about 5210 pubs]