London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
West London: Fulham and Hammersmith
Blue Anchor, London W6
Traditional pub (Independent)
13 Lower Mall W6 9DJ
T (020) 8748 5774 W www.blueanchorlondon.com
Open 1200-2300 (2230 Sun). Children welcome until early evening.
Cask beers 4 (Nelson, 3 often unusual guests) Cask Marque, Other beers 2 keg, 3 bottles, Also Around 20 wines, a few malts
Food Enhanced pub grub, tapas, sharing plates, pies, Outdoor Riverside terrace, Wifi. Disabled toiliet.
Functions, quiz planned.
The handsome Blue Anchor enjoys one of the most splendid locations in London, right on the river just upstream of Hammersmith Bridge with an extensive terrace on the Thames Path: fans of classic 1970s TV comedy thriller Minder may recognise the bridge and the pub from the end credits. It first appears in written records in 1722 but may well date back much further, as the original village of Hammersmith was on the riverbank. It’s along the route of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race and also claims to be the place where composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934), who once lived in Barnes across the river and taught at St Paul’s Girls School in Hammersmith, stayed while working on the Hammersmith suite in 1930. It’s been much altered, and much of the old fashioned-looking interior with its sombre dark wood, perimeter shelves and rowing junk is relatiely recent, though the vintage disused beer engine visible through the front windows is genuine. The main bar is relatively small but there’s a compact and comfy lounge round the back and a room upstairs with panoramic river views.
Own-branded Blue Anchor ale from the Nelson brewery is the only regular cask beer; the remaining three pumps rotate a range of beers from small and often local producers such as Red Squirrel, Sambrook’s or Weltons. Staropramen and Pilsner Urquell are on keg and a scattering of bottled imports includes Budvar and Hoegaarden. The menu runs from nibbles via “Pie and a Pint” deals to steaks, at reasonable but not bargain basement prices: hickory smoked baby back ribs is a speciality and there’s a number of veggie options. It’s a short walk from another classic riverside pub, the Dove (p223).
Pub trivia. Blue Anchor is a relatively common pub name in places where navigation is or was an important local activity, blue being the traditional colour of hope.
Underground Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith Cycling LCN+44, Putney, Fulham, link to NCN4 Walking Thames Path
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