Reviews of The Anchor & Hope

Having read the reviews on this site we had been holding off visiting the Anchor & Hope (I do not tolerate rude service) but this Sun decided to give it a go regardless. Phoned at 12 noon to book a table and was talked through the process by a very pleasant chap (set menu and arrive b4 2pm when all is served). We duly arrived a little b4 2pm had drinks, were allocated table, brought nibbles and treated like long lost friends. The service was exemplary and we pushed them to the limits (food queries, changed drinks and spilling a pint across the table: all met with nothing but smiles and good humour). The food was also not surprinsingly very good though not trad sunday roast (go elsewhere if that is what you fancy). So, perhaps the lesson is to avoid the mad weekday queue and enjoy a very pleasant Sun afternoon with great food and great service.

Decided to give it another go after my lsat bad experience of not getting a table after 1 hour. Again arrived and again a queue. Asked how long I would have to wait and was informed with 'No Idea'. Decided to wait, after 90mins no table. However there were empty tables. When i asked about them I was told these were reserved. Decided to leave...

I'm in sympathy with the previous poster. I love the Anchor & Hope, but the person in question can be very rude and seems to be quite obstructive. Given their "No bookings" policy, staff need to be prepared to deal with customers who get a bit fed up when they're told to wait for a table and are given no updates. I've had to wait much longer than I've been told on occasion, but another time I was told I'd have to wait for an hour and was then seated withing five minutes. The approach is haphazard, and a hostile attitude doesn't help.

I had a terrible experience at the Anchor and Hope last night. Having put our name on the waiting list at 6.30pm we were told at 7.40pm that it would be within the hour that we would be seated. So I returned to the bar at 8.30pm and asked politely if we could have an estimate of when we might get a table. The blond woman in charge of bookings started to scream at me that we had already asked twice, and it was going to make no difference to whether we got seated. And that I should just stop hastling her. As I moved off in offence she continued to scream at me across the bar getting louder and louder as I walked away. Quite frankly the food would have to be made of gold to make me want to put up with that kind of rudeness. She was horrible. I won't be going anywhere near that place again.

I was really impressed with the Anchor & Hope. So impressed I had to return the following week! Great quality food, and such a different menu to usual 'pub' fare. This can in no way be compared to pub food - the cooking is of a really high standard and I look forward to returning again and again.

I have been to the Anchor & Hope twice, both times without a reservation. Each time we got a table in easily enough time, despite it being packed, and had more than enough beer and atmosphere to enjoy in the meantime.

The food itself was superb, staff were friendly - and enjoying themselves, which really makes a difference. Really recommended.

This is probably my favourite local restaurant - my only reservation is the inability to make a reservation and their chaotic queueing system. Food once you get it is brillian though - maybe the best in london - and i've been aroud.