by Kenltops on March 28, 2008
Having lived & worked in and around London for nearly 45 years between 1956 & 2000 I first became aware of The Anchor Inn in the mid 1970s, however didn't visit the pub until the late '70s, its terrace overlooking the Thames was being used in the credits scroll down for the ITV series "Minder" starring George Cole as Arthur (of 'er indoors fame!) & Denis Waterman 'is Minder Terry (McCann was it?). Anyway they chatted with pints on the terrace during the wind up credits at the beginning of each show, whilst Denis sang his hit in voice-over. It was a great pub to visit in those days as it served a range of excellent well casked ales and was continually being recommended by CAMRA. Its food was also highly rated around London and I believe was featured in Good Pub Food brochures.I returned in 1998/9 to organise a large annual function. My Organisers had seen The Anchor Inn, as it was then called, featured recently in scenes in Mission Impossible (III), where its star Tom Cruise was roaming all over it and had become endeared to its atmosphere. [Apparently delighting in sliding down its bannisters, at least that was what the Manager advised me occurred whilst they were filming the escapade on the site].The Manager was quite receptive to allowing us to take over the pub for our function. The cost was slightly over our budget - so it wasn't to be, I'm sure our guests would have thoroughly enjoyed the event there. It was still a comfortable place to have a meal and drink some decent real ale and it's atmosphere was still indicative of its beginnings. My visits were few and far between since 2000 when I moved out of London, however The "John Cooper" Quizwalkers allowed us to organise a quiz walk from Anchor Bankside along the riverside walks. East to Tower Bridge crossing river here and westwards to Millennium Pedestrian Bridge crossing to return to Pub for its conclusion. [Stages are set & 25 question/clues are set along the chosen route, teams read the clues and find the answers, handing them in at end to be marked. It takes about 3 hours over a three miles where people can steep in the history of the City.] The only changes noted were its name and the ground floor, bar area, which had been modernised and looking like the "Star Trek - Enterprise Bridge" with all the modern array of taps on the long bar now in place, however snugly resting in between these banks were the real ale pump handles, which they were still loyal to. There was no smoking since the ban, which in my opinion, downgraded its old atmosphere, however the staff were still polite, as they had been in the past, the food locked them up for serving and because foreign visitors were wanting to eat they all queued in lines at main bar, very similar to a Burger King or Big Mac's establishment. Most inappropriate for a riverside tavern, however it doesn't detract from the wait for drinks, nor its continuing popularity. Its Terrace used to be more austere mainly concrete overhanging the river adjacent to the Bridge, now since the smoking ban, it has been laid out in a patio style with wooden tables and umbrellas for the use of both smoking patrons and those that relish the fresh air and river breezes and smells even, watching the somnolent river traffic trading from upriver to Greenwich.It is still a good place to enjoy a pint of real ale and the food on offer is excellently prepared and delivered with a smile. It is touristy now - but that doesn't detract from its obvious historical bent and when you stroll down Clink Street from the Borough Market & London Bridge you can breathe in the atmosphere of Dickensian London and even though you sit in modern "bar" surroundings downstairs you can imagine the riverside folk and the shipping fraternity of the 17th Century being served with frothy mugs of ale and porter and buckets of gin, swilling it over the paved flooring covered, no doubt,, with sawdust from the local wood yards from wood brought in by the cargo ships from Windies & Far East. It is to be recommended as a watering hole as it is located as pivotal to many historic sites - Borough Market - Southwark Cathedral - Bankside Power Station - London Bridge (Station) and it is still the best in the area despite the numerous pubs within easy reach, because it demands attention from all aspects.Ken White - Northamptonshire
http://www.igougo.com/review-r1346499-A_Place_to_Take_Stock_-_Anchor_Bankside.html
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