please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I was taken here as a birthday treat.
Service was appalling.
Staffed with youngsters who just didn't seem to know what they were doing.
No starters available.
Had run out of pork.
Had run out of horseradish sauce.
Had run out of some puddings (there's only 3 or 4 options to start with).
Other than taking initial order we were never asked if we wanted more drinks, puddings, etc.
Thoroughly disappointing - left as soon as we could.
Roast beef lunch was reasonable quality though (hence the 1 star rating).
Will never go back.
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A very poor pub in a beautiful setting.
Too busy - 15 minute wait to be served at the small bar - only one person serving. Food took an hour to arrive and was average quality and poor value. Poor beer selection - only Harveys apart from poor quality lagers (Bud on tap? no thanks). Roasts advertised as coming with "giant yorkshire pudding" but these were cut in half!
There are many, many better country pubs in the area, this one gets by only due to its setting. I would avoid, especially on busy days.
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No draught beer on pumps, but well kept Harvey's straight from barrel. Boats fun.
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On returning to the pub....Pleasantly surprised that it's changed for the better.
Teething troubles clearly over.
Still very busy. Food improved and owner has turned things around. Dogs are now welcome where they weren't before, and although boating is still expensive it's a very relaxed garden and decking.. Had to wait to order food, but served pretty quickly.
The old regime seems to have been replaced although the pub is still a victim of it's own popularity. Harveys on tap very welcome.
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Good location, lots of potential ... but only no ale ... no points!!
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Lovely venue for my son's wedding. Food high class, organisation efficient and staff very helpful. Beer good too.
mopsy - 23 Sep 2010 12:27 |
What has happened to this delightful pub? before we had a chance to park we were stopped by an ignorant obnoxious chap who had no idea how to speak to people, we were there to have a few Harveys and wines and enjoy a meal, having read the previous reviews I feel he saved us a lot of money with his very unpleasant attitude, as we moved on to a friendly pub, welcomed with a smile plus good beer and wine and delicious food. Won't be visiting The Anchor at Barcombe again, we did notice it wasn't very busy perhaps this idiot is killing trade.
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Went here on a Sunday afternoon initially for a boat, drink and food. Boats were ridiculously expensive and charge per person! Why (other than to make more profit). Whether I am alone or with another it would still be one boat being used. Maybe next time (unlikely) if the wife and I go with another couple we will take one boat each!
Food was also expensive and looked like it came straight out of the microwave - we settled for crisps and a pint. Staff were unfriendly and not bothered about the litter blowing around the beer garden.
The pub used to be fantastically uncommerciaail a few years ago but is now just the usual cash cow that would fit in in any inner city location
I would recommend going to the Laughing Fish at isfield.
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I hadn't been to this pub for a long time. But went back last weekend (end of July). As soon as we arrived it was onvious that the pub had lost the wasted, lazy charm it used to have. The vegetation has been shorn, hedges are very low, the willow that used to weep over the river is no more, the roof dormers have been replaced with two that are entirely out of keeping with the pubs character and the furniture and fittings just looked very tacky. There are also vaguely threatening signs and obstructive bollards all over the place. "No Picnics", indicating that the the pub did not allow picnics on the the land across the river (which I have since found out is not owned by the pub but by a local farmer who gets a grant for allowing permissive access to it!"). Its past easy comfort and charm had been lost.
At least the river still looks the same, but the price of hiring the boats was unbelievable. We were a party of four adults and four children and we'd have needed a second mortgage to takes the boats out. Needless to say we gave the river trip a miss.
We tried the food. The bar staff seemed quite vacant, with no local knowledge and fairly unhelpful. Half the food was not available. We settled for some fairly standard fair which arrived overcooked, tepid and very unappetising. Still, at least the Harveys was good (very hard to destroy a pint of Harveys!).
We watched the landlord (at least we assumed it was the landlord; short, LA police style shades, tight blue jeans, tucked in white shirt, gold chain and belligerent attitude) berate some people who wanted to put their kayak in the river (from the side owned by the farmer) and then boast to another could about how much money the pub was making. Odd, as it seemed distinctly underused when we were there at a peak time.
We left earlier than we might have and walked up the river, visiting the Laughing Fish at Isfield. Generally we wished we had eaten there instead. Although the Isfield pub does not have the lovely setting of Barcombe's Anchor Inn it is a much friendlier and more comfortable feeling pub, with bar staff who seem to genuinely want you to have a good time.
I'm afraid that Anchor Inn, Barcombe has been well and truly ruined. We won't be going back.
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This is a typical British pup that can utterly mistreat its customers safe in the knowledge that it's fantastic location alone will keep people coming back. The last time I visited was over three years ago and to purchase a drink one had to queue for 40 minutes. I had heard the management had changed and duly cycled up with my family to have a few drinks in the pub and then take a picnic down river. The Harveys is excellent as Harvey almost always is and the interior had been tastefully done up. One still had to queue a very long time to get a drink; even with no queue it took a good 10 minutes to get served. When we were done we set to cross the river with our picnic at which point the land lord stopped my parents and informed them to have a picnic on the land over the river the farmer would charge �25.00 and steered them to a table to eat in the pub. My parents excepted this as he seemed friendly and we duly ordered nearly �100 worth of food. Half of the things we wanted were not available, the blank faced barman didn�t seem to care at all that they could only offer a very small range of food, when I asked if the lamb came from the organic lamb farm next door he stared blankly as if the question was a daft one (is it?) We then waited well over an hour, watching bemused staff wander around the garden clutching plates of food they had no clue where to deliver. If we were not so hungry it would have made an amusing game; guess how many tables the bemused waitress goes to before finding the customer has long since left. When the food finally did arrive it was very poor and stingy. My roast was bone cold and the pate ordered my parents was described as 'very mean'. Chips where half cooked. I then met the farmer of the adjacent land (who I know) and asked him if he charged �25.00 for people to picnic on his land to which he laughed and said 'of course not, anyone can picnic there whenever they like. It is access land anyway' The farmer had heard this before and confirmed that the landlord has been saying this to people for some time. It is one thing to lie to people to get them to spend money on your food but to then fail to deliver food in a timely fashion or to a half reasonable standard is atrocious. I recommend people visiting here; bring a picnic, bring your own beer if necessary and enjoy the countryside without wasting your money in this dreadful pub.
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My partner and I recently visited The Anchor for what will be the last time, we enjoyed a burger and salad , both unappetising and presented with soggy chips and one of the most fantastically unimaginitive salads I have ever come across. My moules mariniere was cold and served in what looked like dishwater, despite it being a lovely afternoon, with a busy garden, the brains of this operation had chosen to burn rubbish in the carpark, the smoke from which his patrons were forced to endure.The beer is good, so perhaps a pub for a pint, following a walk , following a meal elsewhere.
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A group of us went to the Anchor for beer and food recently and it's a fantastic pub in a great location, right by a beautiful stretch of the river Ouse. The new landlord couldn't be nicer. Don't listen to the locals moaning about it being 'poncified' - what they actually mean is that there is now some fabric on the back of the chairs (shock, horror).
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I'm flabbergasted to have read these negative comments on this website. My experience of this new management team is one of top rate service set in an idilic environment. We are visiting this country and found the staff Curtis, helpful, the food delightful and our experience on the river most pleasurable, we are returning to south africa in a week and will have forever fond memories of this pub.
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The last two times I have visited, this evening included, it has been pouring with rain. No problem with the weather if you can sit inside beside in the warm, but both times I had my dog. Dogs are now banned from the pub, which is a shame because this is walking country and, because of its location, ALL the passing trade is on foot, often with a dog in tow.
The pub is ideally suited to having half a restaurant and half a pub. It now has lots of restaurant / bistro type chairs and not a lot of custom.
I stood outside under the front door canopy,in heavy rain, Harveys in hand and even though the staff saw me, I was not invited to sit in the bar even though there was not another soul in the whole pub.
I wasn't too impressed with that.
Country pubs should be for people who use the countryside, not just for townies out for a drive.
You can walk to the Laughing Fish at Isfield by going over the river bridge and heading upstream to the railway bridge. Get onto the disused railway embankment and head eastwards. Follow the footpath until you reach a road, turn left and this will take you to Isfield Station - the Laughing Fish is next door.
If you have a dog you will be welcome and your dog will be given a biscuit. The food is good and there is a good atmosphere.
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We attended a corporate BBQ at this pub last year and it was diabolical. The food was either burnt or raw. The salads were non existant and there were no desserts despite being told that there would be desserts available. The staff were rude and didn't smile once. This pub has since been taken over as I understand it but it doesn't sound as if it's improved. Avoid.
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Myself and my family recently parked at the Anchor Inn, Barcombe in order to launch our kayak. We were hoping to park, launch then return for their bar-b-q (didn't look great but you feel obligated) and most likely a couple of rounds of drinks. 4 adults, 1 child - probably a �40 spend all in all. The manager, Jack, then informed us that we couldn't launch and insinuated that the land all around the pub was theirs. Ok then, no �40 for you but we'll pay the �5 non-patron's parking fee and walk to an adjoining field. No he said, that's not allowed. Why? Because you're not. Fine, I'll drive to Barcombe Mills (15 mins by car/40 mins walk) and my family can paddle down river and meet me there. I left. In my abscence the manager, Jack, reappeared and forbade them to launch from a field that wasn't even his/theirs, making snide remarks about me 'hiding' my car. My nephew and niece's being too polite to object I then had to walk back to the pub to find them. I politely asked the owner, Simon, if indeed he or Jack have any jurisdiction over a field which isn't theirs. After being very disingenuous about what he owned and what he didn't he finally agreed that they had no jurisdiction. No apology was forthcoming and Jack had disappeared. We finally launched from an adjoining field.
Do not on any account frequent this vile pub (go the splendid Cock Inn nearby instead as suggested by another poster). Avoid its odious staff & new owner at all costs unless you're happy to waste a precious sunny afternoon in June whilst your 5 year old daughter is made to walk three miles in a wet suit in hot sunshine carrying a kayak with her cousins across open fields because someone has bought a pub under the mistaken assumption that the title deeds include all of East Sussex. Despicable.
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I have to agree with the last review. The Anchor Inn Barcombe has recently changed hands and the new owner has entirely destroyed the charm it used to have. It is now a tacky, down-market pub with terrible service and hideously tasteless decor. What was once a beautiful, charming and tranquil (if slightly decaying) riverside pub has been turned into horrible chintzy downmarket affair, which even manages to ruin the beauty of its surroundings by pumping out trashy music into the lovely setting.
The staff were useless and rude. It took us over half an hour to get served. Then they got the order wrong and charged us the wrong amount. When we alerted them to this this were quite rude. Arrogant and inept.
It is hard to comprehend just how completely this pub has been destroyed.
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Used to be a charming pub. It's really awful now. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Saturday with two families and children. We waited more than an hour for lunches which included Ploughmans!
Food and boating really expensive. Food worse than average. Overpriced wine.
The setup has gone very spivvy with rude staff who don't quite know what they're doing. My parents were shocked by walkie talkies at the bar, and real rudeness when we asked for chips for the children.
This used to be a simple country pub...Head for The Cock towards Lewes instead....
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This pub is great on a sunny summer's day. Take the kids and go for a swim. You can hire boats to paddle up the river and kids jump off the old railway bridge. It's a fun location.
The beer is good and the food ok.
The inside of the pub is lacking in atmosphere. It is very out of the way, so no passing trade. If you know where to find it you will return time and time again for a summer beer, but evenings are very quiet.
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Lovely location - but you need to be there half an hour before it opens on Sunny weekend to get a table.
And then que for a drink when it opens.
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Lovely setting by a river, and good fun for kids who want to play in the garden, but when we went, the food was poor. When we asked the owner (?) what was good on the menu, and he said 'well, the fish is excellent today', implying it was freshly caught - but when it arrived, it wasn't fresh, just battered and deep fried, served with frozen peas! A portion of bread was �3!! Won't be bothering again - spoilt for choice in Sussex for better country pubs that don't rely on location alone to pull in the punters.
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Went to this pub for lunch on a sunny Friday at the beginning of June. Idyllic surroundings - could have been the model for the Potwell Inn, where Mr Polly finished up. We ate excellent fish and chips and sausage and mash with Harveys in the riverside beer garden. Service was friendly and efficient, though admittedly the place was far from busy. Shall go back as soon as I get a chance.
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We went for sunday lunch here recently and thought the food was very average and very pricey. Sunday roast was poor with very toucgh meat. Poor veggie choices and service was also average. When we requested if we could have a side order of fries (as we were ordering a few fish and chip dinners) we were told chef wouldn't be able to do that. The waitress then came back and told us the chef was in a good mood and so we could have our fries after all! The other thing I didn't like was they took your credit card and just presented you with the card machine without showing you a breakdown of the bill - not standard practice. Lovely location and fantastic place for a drink on a nicve day but definitely would not eat there again.
anonymous - 14 May 2007 19:48 |
Tricky for me to rate this as it is historic pub in a lovely location so could be great on a summers day. We arrived early evening and it was just too cold to sit outside so sat inside. The interior of the pub is not as comfortable as it could be so would not rush back for a quick pint in the winter. However I could easily lose a whole sunny day sitting outside watching the sheep and people punting down the waterways :)
Did not eat but the menu looked good and the diners seemed content.
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Lovely countryside location on river bank
Very chilly welcome
Food less than average - not worth the money
Good beer
Worth going to in summer for early evening beer or sandwich lunch but not otherwise
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Excellent beer, very busy at weekends, be prepared for a very long wait for food - 55 minutes. Watch out for the frozen peas!!
anonymous - 17 Sep 2006 18:12 |
Excellent Location.
Expensive food, prone to delays.
Boats for Hire.
Disused railway to the rear.
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Fantastic food, fantastic location, good staff. Right on the river Ouse, boats to hire. Wonderful for a quintessentially English summer Sunday.
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Went there for first time last night, Location absolutely A1, for a Bank Holiday Saturday, not particularly crowded, just partook of basic menu this time and we both had more than ample portions, well cooked and friendly staff, certainly recommended.
anonymous - 28 May 2006 14:38 |
I love this pub! The food may be a little variable and it's not open much in weekday winder evenings but the location is just georgeous, right next to the river Ouse. The garden is large and open with lots of tables, but beware, half of Brighton can decamp here for saturday and sunday lunchtime so waits for food (the kitchen is very small) and table can be quite painful. Best to go during the week if you possibly can. Good beer, I love being pleasured by a Blonde, and 1.25 pint bottle of great organic beer.
A perfect summer day can be had here, boating (the pub rents out boats for rowing down the river), fishing, walking and playing outdoor games (or chasing sheep if that's your bag.... don't do it if Crispin's in the pub as they are his sheep and he won't like it!)
The fishing outside the Anchor is particularly great, with big carp basking in the sun and downstream 15lb pike regularly taken. In summer fly fishing for dace is recommended up stream.
I've never stayed there as I live very close, but I would otherwise. I can't think of a nicer location to wake up in.
In fact, I'm going to leave work now and go and grab a Blonde and pint of prawns.
anonymous - 28 Mar 2006 16:07 |
Just back from spending a saturday and evening at the anchor inn, staff all extremely friendly, pub warm and welcoming, food fantastic, banofee pie to die for, cooked breakfast in the morning husband loved.
Riverside room basic and quaint quite cold but is begining of march and soon warmed up with heater provided bed extremely comfortable.
took bikes and cycled around good for biking and walking. all in all a great stay can not wait to go back in the summer and sit outside beautiful place.
thankyou to you all for making our short stay a great stay.
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Still a great pub, especially good new organic larger being sold. Still quite expensive, but food portions generous. V.busy on hot days, but still a great spot to go when the wether is nice
anonymous - 31 Aug 2005 22:00 |
What a dreadful place. My boyfriend and I took my parents there for lunch as a thank you this Saturday. We found the food to be totally rubbish, boring, small portions, bad produce - the steak arrived overcooked and 'chef' refused to do us new ones.The manager was rude and called me a liar, only just summoning up the energy to mutter an apology once I had told him that his attutude stinks. Unfriendly, unwelcoming, bad food and service - all a shame, as it is in a really nice spot. We will not be going back and I will be writing to the owners to make sure they know that they're manager is loosing them customers.
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