The Blue Anchor, Helston

Quinno _ left this review about The Blue Anchor

Not much to add to the original review, except that it's now listed as ** in the CAMRA Heritage List. This time I went for a pint of Middle (NBSS 2.5) and several pints of Special (3.5); the pub dipped out of the GBG a while ago but has been restored and is in the 2024 edition. Check the shelf behind the bar for bottles of their other brews, as these include their special high abv holiday season ales. A good local craic in the front bar Saturday lunchtime. Food no longer looks to be available. One of those in the ‘try before you die’ bracket for me.

March 2009
The definite 'must-do' pub on my holiday and I wasn't disappointed. The pub is god-knows-how many years old and is a rustic and basic two-bar affair, with smaller and colder drinking rooms to the left hand-side of a long main corridor, leading out to the rear toilets and large marquee. The interior of the main bar may be a bit of a shock for some - it's rather dark and a different world from the high street you've just stepped in from - exposed stone and whitewashed daub walls, cosy settles etc. There's no piped music or TV - just chat, time ticking (and maybe the piano if you're lucky). The locals are friendly enough and are used to beer tourists turning up, so say hello at the bar and you'll get a few words. Tried the brewed-on-site ales including the 6.8% Spingo (brewed 'a little heavier in the winter' I was informed - indeed the bottle I took away was well-over 7%!), the beer wasn't to my taste but was kept fine. Sit back and relax - by the real fire in the back bar if you get extremely lucky as I did. Surprisingly there was also food available - I had already eaten but Mrs Quinno went for the local fish trio and was very happy with what she received - so a thumbs-up there too. It's been in every edition of the Good Beer Guide and long may that continue. A national treasure. Rated 9

On 4^th April 2024 - rating: 9
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