please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited at lunchtime on a Saturday and received a pleasant and friendly welcome. This was our third pub on the 2022 Henley Ale Trail and we were not disappointed. The sort of pub you would cheerfully have as a local.
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I visited this pub ahead of Worthing RFC's match at Henley.
Firstly, an excellent lunch menu, I opted for Cassoulet with doorstep bread, at only £10, great value!
However, the beer is a little more pricey! I had a Brakspear Top Notch @ 4.3% and my mate a Symonds Cider, £8.60! I should have doubled up on the Cassoulet!
A nice pub however with friendly staff!
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Visited this pub today as part of the 2013 Brakspears Henley Ale Trail. Whilst I like what the new Tenants have done to the Pub I do NOT like the fact that they are trying to recoup the costs from the punters.
Today I have just been charged £3:80 for a Pint of Brakspears Best Bitter & £4:30 for a pint of Ringwood 49er, surely the dearest in Henley! certainly dearer than the previous dearest pub (The Angel).
How can this pub be included on an Ale Trail at these prices? My Local Brakspears Pub only charges £3:35p a Pint. Sorry will not be going Back here!!!
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I visited the refurbished The Anchor in Henley recently with my wife and was delighted to have a welcoming drink and good food in a traditional pub setting with a warm fire on a cold winters evening. A bonus was the attached car park which is a scarce commodity in Henley for visitors to the area. Will definitely return soon, especially when the garden is open for business. Only a short walk to the Thames and town centre.
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After many years of neglect The Anchor was opened again a couple of weeks ago.
I decided to stroll along to see what all the buzz was about and WOW what a change. The warm staff greeting was the first thing that hit me but when I looked around I saw a modern, clean, fresh and warm layout yet still maintaining the feel of a proper local community pub. The bars and restaurant were both busy with the sound of conversation and laughter coming from all corners.
Service was efficient and bar food top draw. I will definitely be going back on a regular basis and can't wait for the wonderful looking garden to be re-opened - weather permitting. Welcome back The Anchor.
Outie - 14 Feb 2013 12:50 |
Popped back into this pub yesterday early afternoon, Henley itself was buzzing but this pub had one Customer (Regular), the Landlord who was slumped in an armchair in the corner (think he had been sampling his own stock all morning), and an aging (but very pleasant) barmaid. Only Brakspears bitter on, and was not much better than the Pint of last week. I do not think they sell enough.
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Went here yesterday mid afternoon as part of the "Brakspears Henley Ale Trail" The only Real Ale they had was Brakspears Bitter which was OK but not the Best I have had. Mid Afternoon and the Pub was very quiet (empty) despite being just yards away from the River Bank and loads of Tourists enjoying yesterdays sun. Nice Patio Garden at rear but the Pub itself is dark and clutterd (Like Grannies living room) with lots of Nik Knacks. Would not go back other than to get the Stamp for the Trail
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fun???, with that sour faced mare running the pub, your not allowed to have fun in the w*ncher
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Rediscovered the Anchor on a small pub crawl around Henley towards the end of last summer. Also spent most of a long weekend there in November based on the first visit. It's a fantastic pub - and what's more a real pub which is becoming increasingly rare these days. We were well looked after by all the staff and enjoyed several days of banter, darts, good food, great booze and fun. They could not have been more accommodating - even gave us a plate free roast potatoes when were having a hair of the dog on the last Sunday session of the weekend.
I cannot understand the negative reviews on here, particularly about the staff, as we have always been made very welcome. Drank there from opening to around 8pm every day of the weekend so we were exposed to all the staff and the comings and goings of the pub. Lagers and Ales kept well and food was great traditonal pub grub - just what was needed to sustain us on the long sessions.
We are off there again in a few weeks for the bank holiday weekend and looking forward to it.
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Visit 2nd October 2010
After visiting a few of the pubs in Henley over a weekend we arrived at the Not so Freindly Anchor Inn. where we bought a pint of Varsity. As being members of CAMRA we do like to try different beers. We were very disapointed to find that the pint of Varsity was undrinkable. It had a very strong vinegary taste to it. I felt only polite to tell the bar staff the reason for not drinking it. I was appauled to be told by the Landlady that there was nothing wrong with the beer. The landlady then went on to tell me that although she does not drink beer the Varsity has a distinctive flavor to it. I try to say that I had never tasted it before, but I was supprised by the taste as it was not nice at all. I think the Landlady thought we wanted something out of it but that was not the case. We just thought that if there was a problem she should know. I was then able to try the Varsity in the Angel on the Bridge and to my pleasent suprise enjoyed it very much. After this visit I agree with some of the other posts If you want a rubbish expensive pint with a stroppy landlady this is the pub for you. One thing for sure we will not be returning.
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Visited Sept6th, sat afternoon, quiet during the day with a pleasant and quiet floral beer garden out back. tried all 4 beers on draft, oxford gold was reasonable, the summer beer was a bit too fruity for my liking, a 3.5% beer by a brewery i'd not heard off was decent and well kept.
Its another brakspars pub - one of 11 in the town - see leaflet for ale trail with free t shirt..yes it does have preserved for tourists written all over it, but its off the beaten track and on a quiet road.
labrador dog in one armchair and a few locals having a banter, the barmaid was 70. i thought the place had a charm that is lacking in most pubs these days. The open windows enable a joint conversation from inside and out which is comical to watch.
Give it a try, you wont find as many absolute tourists as the nearby pub on the river next to the bridge..
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ABout 3 years ago a pal and me had a pint of brakespears so bad at the start of a session we were literally gagging walking down the road while our friend who ordered lager as he didnt trust a pub that was like an old persons front room laughed smuggly
I was out in Henley recently for a few beers and thought I would risk it again - I sat in an empty pub with one of the worst pints of Brakespears I have since the first one having paid �3.30. Lesson learned...I am a stupid Berkshire Hunt
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After a 5 hour haul along the Thames Path from Tilehurst today, and having to wade (well. ok, it was above the ankles) a couple of hundred metres in ice cold flood water just before Shiplake, we were both looking forward to a warm and comfortable siddown - and a pint of best (friend Carol went for the normal orange juice). The Brakespears Bitter was lovely. I also tried the Oxford Gold - not my favourite, but it was in good condition. It was a quiet afternoon (we got there just before 3.00) with several in at the bar and at tables. The old brown dog checked us over, would have had the crisps but was sharply told no (not by us!), and then was up into the arm chair - is he the old codger in the corner? All too soon the squelchy socks and boots got cold, and it was time to get the train .........
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A friendly welcome from the landlord, after I'd been thoroughly checked over by the pub dog, and I found the landlady charming and helpful too taking the trouble to check out the train time for me. This is a proper old pub, low beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tankards and bed pans hang from the beams and numerous bank notes from around the world are fixed to surfaces too. Three main areas, two fronting the street either side of the bar plus what looked like a dining room at the back. Busy decor with horse brasses, rowing photographs, hunting scenes etc, and a collection of toby jugs hanging above the bar. Lighting is subdued. A mix of seating at mainly copper topped cast iron tables but there are a couple of impractically low sofas. The dartboard is another of the unuseable type with furniture in front, there is also a piano, not sure if it is ever used though.
The beer is good here, Brakspears Bitter and Oxford Gold...a much better pint than I had earlier in the day elsewhere, plus Wychwood Bountiful. I asked about the Wychwood as I'm unsure about some of their beers and I was given a taster....it was actually pretty good.
Well worth a look in.
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Didn�t come across any miserable landlady during our visit, but instead was served by who I assume was the landlord. Mainly because he was jovial and friendly whist serving us a large round of Brakespears ales at �3.30 a pint, (not sure I�d use� only� and �3.30 in the same sentence as Father Jack below) , but instantly turned into a grumpy old sod when we had to return one of the Bitters for not being right.
Ignoring this lapse of service skills by the proprietor, the Anchor is an excellent traditional style pub in a side road from the river. It comprises of two smallish bar areas either side of the service area, a back dining room which is like being back in your Nan�s pantry and then beyond this, a very nice secluded courtyard garden area. And I�m not sure if it�s the same farting chocolate Labrador from the original review in 2003, but there is one still here who commands his own chair in the left hand bar.
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Nice pub,the aforementioned miserable landlady was far from miserable on my visit,indeed she was quite humoured by my "F**K THE GAP" t-shirt!!! The grog was pricey agreed,but was only �3.30 on the Monday of regatta week so obvious profiteering went on later in the week then.....
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I come here every year during the Regatta week. The landlady is always miserable (perhaps a bit of proper work once a year doesn't agree with her) and the beer is always expensive (�3.50 per pint yesterday - presumably bumped up to cash in on the crowds). Apprt from those two gripes, it has all the makings of a very nice pub.
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A real find, tucked away in the backstreets off the main drag. Stick with your googlemap and your patience will be rewarded with a proper low-ceilinged and two bar cosy local, full of nik-naks and a real fire. Well described below as having a 'lived-in' feel to it, you do indeed think you've stepped back 40 odd years when entering on a cold winter evening.
It's a Brakspear house with Bitter and Oxford Gold available on my visit, the quality was very good too. Can't recall the price but it didn't seem much different from the other non-JDW outlets in town.
The little old lady plus pet dog running the place seemed slightly concerned that I was on a crawl of Henley town centre and even slightly horrified after I showed them the list of pubs I was aiming to tick off. Bless.
Well worth a visit on this showing.
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Lovely old pub in the former red light district. The landlady is a real charmer. I felt like I had jumped back in time 50 years.
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A Ramshackle pub of character, maybe not to everyone's taste, has a 'lived in' feel to it. Friendly staff and the Brakspear's Oxford Gold was very nice.
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Not the most expensive boozer by far, �3.00 a pint to be honest.The most welcoming pub without a doubt and a really lovely beer garden aswell, almost like sitting in someone's private back garden! 8/10
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The only pub in Henley where you are guaranteed a seat and a nice quiet pint on a weekend evening.
Why? Because its about the most expensive boozer in town. A pint, a large glass of wine, and a bag of finest S&V came to about 9 quid!
Still - you cant fault the atmosphere and its always nice and cosy during the winter. The only modern thing about this pub are the london prices.
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darrendrinker I think you're confusing this with the Angel on the Bridge. The Anchor does not have a garden overlooking the Thames.
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Nice beer garden looking over the Thames but �3.40 a pint for Kronenburg
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It's Horses for courses. I think the landlord and lady of this pub are wonderful as are the staff. Good beer, good garden and tasty food.
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Dear "anonymous - 17 Nov 2005 03:12"
I did notice that they were looking for a new franchisee a few months back so presumably the nasty landlady has gone... a decent pub and worth a visit.
noeth - 17 Nov 2005 20:05 |
I love the inside of this pub, full of trinkets and bottles and all sorts hanging from the walls and ceiling HOWEVER the landlady is very rude. On the three occasions I have been there (the last time being 2 years back) my visit has been spoiled by comments (once of a homophobic nature) made by her to me and the friends I've been with. I hope they now have a new person managing the place because I won't be back until they do. There's a cosy little room at the back which leads on to a quaint pub garden. It's a shame she feels the need to behave like this because she spoils what is a really nice public house.
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A real Pub Pub serving the best Brakspears in town.Friendly Landlord who soon makes strangers feel like locals! Will certainly be back when next in Henley for a longer session.
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Just a word of warning for you ladies (or gentlemen) out there that drink 'white wine and soda'. This pub (unlike most others) charges for it's soda water, however instead of it being dispensed from the drinks gun, they serve theirs by the bottle.It was the smallest bottle of soda water I had seen and was charged �1.20 for it.
You're better off going round the corner to the Wetherspoons pub where they serve their soda water for FREE !!!
anonymous - 21 Sep 2005 13:56 |
Nice little quaint little pub. With a nice big placid chocolate labrador. One of the best pubs in Henley. A locals local but still quite friendly.
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Comfortable, friendly pub. Two real ales: Brakspear Special and Hook Norton Mild. The staff are happy to serve ramblers; there's a bootscraper behind the door if your boots are muddy.
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A proper low-ceilinged public house. It has a farting labrador (chocolate brown, no less) and a lazy pub cat. Roaring fires in winter, rosy-cheeked ramblers, and local poachers. The staff rapidly spot the locals at the bar, and it's always possible to strike up a conversation with anyone at the bar. A proper 'local' with all the good and bad that goes with it. Highly recommended, especially when the landlord is offering pheasants on the cheap!
Ian Seckington - 23 Jul 2003 23:07 |
