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The Anchor Inn, Hastings
Hastings
TN34 3EG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Anchor Inn
Dating from 1798 as a pub (not 1680 as Whatpub would have you believe. That was another Anchor Inn which once stood outside the Old Town wall, near the fish market, but now long gone), this is the oldest or second oldest pub (depending on who you talk to) left in the town of Hastings. There is a main bar room plus a separate dining room area. The main bar room is a series of semi-knocked through rooms that surround the central bar as described below and as Steve puts it, basically a large room with the bar in the middle. One is led to wonder what a much more interesting pub it would be if it had remained as the multi roomed space it originally was. But there are some nice features, such as the inglenook fireplace and wood burner and low beamed ceilings do exude a bit of charm. Then there is an additional dining room space down some steps off this room.
Four hand pumps with Bishops Finger, Spitfire and Whitstable Bay with the fourth unused for my visit. I didn’t really warm to this one but that maybe because this was the third of three Sheps Pubs in close proximity, with 9 pumps out of 12 in operation between them, but only four of their beers to be had, and nothing in here that I hadn’t already seen in the other two. So, I sat here with a disappointed head on and the thought that Shep clearly do not expect punters to visit more than one of their pubs.
Fortunately, my next and last pub visit in Hastings ended the day on a high. Therefore, if you only have time to visit one pub on George Street, then my advice would be to walk past all three of these and go to the Albion at the end of the lane.
On 1st September 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Anchor
Two Shepherd Neame pubs opposite one another, with this one looking more up to date interior wise. This pub is the oldest out of the two and apparently the oldest pub in Old Town Hastings. The main feature in here was the Inglenook fireplace, which was lit on our visit. The pub had a nice relaxed atmosphere and the barmaid was very pleasant. Mostly a diner's pub in my opinion, still there were four ales on handpump, serving Northern Lights, Whitstable Bay, Masterbrew and Bishop's Finger. I went for the October special the Northern Lights a Blueberry IPA, which was very good.
On 5th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Anchor
Situated in the heart of the picturesque Hastings old town, the Anchor is easily overlooked in favour of some of its more alluring and tourist friendly neighbours but it isn’t without its own charm or character. The interior is a series of semi-knocked through rooms that surround a central bar and has a bit of a scruffy feel to it with bare floors, sooty fireplaces and random furniture. 4 hand pumps with a good range of pricey but decent quality Shepherd Neame Ales; Spitfire, Master Brew, Bishops Finger and Whitstable Bay on my visit. The background music is a bit louder and studenty than surrounding pubs but it has to be said that whoever was chucking coins in the jukebox when I was there made a pretty decent and eclectic choice. There is also live music so it’s not generally a place for peace and quiet. If the interior is too shabby or loud for your tastes, there is some limited seating outside where you can people watch and try to guess whether Ye Olde Pump House opposite is really as old as it looks.
On 29th December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Anchor
Although this place is not as interesting as the pub opposite I have to say that there were twice as many (4) ales on during my visit and they were much better kept. The staff were nice enough, but I think that the music was a tad loud for a Mothering Sunday afternoon.
The pub is basically a large room with the bar in the middle and I'd imagine it is very nice in the winter months when the huge inglenook fireplace is utilised.
This isn't the most interesting place, but the beer was up to scratch and I would go back again.
On 31st March 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about The Anchor
Normally I can be somewhat scathing about Shepherd Neame pubs. The reason being their beer selection is tied to the output of the Shepherd Neame brewery, and so few of their pubs serve anything more than Masterbrew and Spitfire (if you're lucky).
The Anchor did three Shepherd Neame lagers and four Shepherd Neame ales. We stopped off for a pint on the way back to the railway station – I had three.
And their jukebox is probably the best for miles around. thisd place warrants a well deserved 8/10.
18 February 2008
Four decent ales on the hand pump, including the Shepherd Neame porter which is excellent. Good food, friendly service. Will certainly be going back.
On 26th February 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Anchor
Reasonable enough Old Town pub - seemed to be mostly locals in rather than tourists. Nice pint of Sheps Porter.
On 31st December 2007
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]