The Anchor, Borough, London

I thought I’d organise a dinner party this week, and, as always happens when I try to organise a dinner party, a few days beforehand I decided I couldn’t be arsed to cook under social pressure and reinvented haute cuisine chez Mill & Mozz in Balham as relaxed beers in a central pub, with the added bonus of extending the invite to all and sundry.

Because the weather's been on the up, I thought somewhere on the river would be ideal, put my blinkers on and reverted to the Anchor, which is where everyone goes around this time of year when it might be warm enough to sit outside but you need enough space inside in case it’s not.

I was joined (in order of appearance) by Bren & Jim, Rhino, Mozz, Bonnie, and The Hammer (who is, or at least can be, a lady). Original dinner invitees – Wilma and Gandolf – couldn’t make it due to illness and being in New York respectively, and The Hammer didn't get there til 10.00, so in the end I felt fully justified in changing the plan.

It’s a funny thing, the Anchor. It’s like the Landor inverted: whereas everyone is convinced the Landor is a fantastic pub yet post analysis reveals major flaws, the Anchor is generally regarded, especially when one is there, as a shit pub… however on closer reflection I’m struggling to nail the reason why.

There’s just enough tables (even on a busy Wednesday after work). Good choice of beer (Courage Director’s, Adnams Broadside, as well as John Smiths, Guinness etc). Food of a surprisingly adequate standard (which Bren very generously paid for even though he wasn't eating, cheers Bren!). Not too noisy. Great outdoor space for later in the year. And yet… and yet… well it’s just a bit shit really.

I don’t know, maybe it’s the complete lack of any local community feel to it (you can’t run a tab at the bar and it’s unlikely you get served by the same barman twice) – all the punters are drop ins from a river walk or nearby offices (but you can tell this isn’t the regular post work beer haunt, just an occasional one they use for a change) – in fact the place almost gives the impression of being piqued by its own popularity; the staff are demonstrably harassed and I bet would crave a quiet Tuesday night when only old Bill from 2 doors wanders in for his usual.

In fact all of this combined tells me that this is a bar in a pub’s body, its hormones all confused and stressed, and in need of the pub equivalent to a sex change. Actually, the more I think about it, The Anchor would make an excellent, spacious, stylish yet not wanky wine bar. Champagne on the river anyone?...

Comments

[Gandwho]

well, that's the problem - the anchor's been around for a million and ten years, when it was a dirty local in the back end of nowhere. now it finds itself with an enviable river frontage and spendy corporate neighbours and it struggles to pull its feet out of the salt-of-the-earth and into a pair of gucci brogues.

but i'm in danger of engaging on your own pubby level and i must never do that.

NYC (well, NJ) is just marvellous thank you for asking. cold, drizzly, congested ... but some surprisingly excellent restaurants and wine cellars - who knew!? i am dining well and expect to be as fat as Ustinov by about 3 o'clock next tuesday.

i am very much looking forward to the arrival of Bru (what's her pseudonym?) and rhino (i'm thinking horn, huh huh)next week. we is gonna trip.

[Gandwho]

well, that's the problem - the anchor's been around for a million and ten years, when it was a dirty local in the back end of nowhere. now it finds itself with an enviable river frontage and spendy corporate neighbours and it struggles to pull its feet out of the salt-of-the-earth and into a pair of gucci brogues.

but i'm in danger of engaging on your own pubby level and i must never do that.

NYC (well, NJ) is just marvellous thank you for asking. cold, drizzly, congested ... but some surprisingly excellent restaurants and wine cellars - who knew!? i am dining well and expect to be as fat as Ustinov by about 3 o'clock next tuesday.

i am very much looking forward to the arrival of Bru (what's her pseudonym?) and rhino (i'm thinking horn, huh huh)next week. we is gonna trip.

[Gandwho]

ok. i entered it twice. shut up. i hate computers

[Milly]

so good he posted it twice!
good points on the Anchor, I much prefer dirty locals in the back ends of nowhere, I think that's the core of my problem with it.
Bru's The Hammer!
Do you wanna see a picture of Casca? I've just created a photo album - www.millymossop.com/photos/family
I'm terribly proud.

[Milly]

it did occur to me that I could have just deleted one of them for you, but then I made my amusing comment which also cleverly referenced New York, so I had to leave them as they were.
It's good though, makes it look like I've got more readers from the home page.

[Kathleen]

I went to the Anchor on Sunday with Mungo – it was quite soulless I thought. Nice to sit outside, nice to drink Pimms with pomegranate in it (the superfood of alcohol), but horrid to eat chicken in a basket surrounded by loads of tourists and get served by weird Australian clones.