The Blue Anchor

Average

14 Apr 08, 17:43 Below expectations

Based aptly at the bottom of not one but two alleyways on London's Chancery Lane, approaching the Blue Anchor does give a prelude to what's in store as you approach it. The 'Anchor successfully portrays itself as a pseudo Old-English pub but once inside the novelty soon wears off. Cramped conditions and a ridiculous waiting time for even the simplest "one pint" order is unacceptable for a pub that's main business is the local barristers & recruitment consultants that are gasping for a drink after a days work. Coming back to the alley situation adds to the problem, for in the few days of summer that we get here in England the alley fills itself with smokers and the people that are simply to hot and cramped to remain inside. Fair enough you would think, until you realise this merely adds to the stress and issue of getting to the bar to order a drink and get back away from the bar with more than 75% of the beverage still in the glass. It is also open for debate whether they clean their pipes often enough. Quite often a pint poured from taps seems to resemble a beer that has been left to go stale in the alleyway. In it's defence the Anchor does have polite and friendly staff. As well as nice, if somewhat slightly over priced, food. It also has a nice warmth and charm to it on a cold midweek winters evening. But unfortunately when it needs to be at it's best on a Friday night it falls way short. A pub that only still has turnover due to the habit of the people of the local area who cant "think" of anywhere else to go. In turn allowing it to become a complacent drinking hole.