The Anchor Tap, London

London, a city of discovery by any means but this former port city holds a gem on the bank of the Thames River. The Anchor Tap public house welcomes one and all, but who just wants a pie and pint? I was looking for a history lesson more than just a few drinks from the bar. Could the Anchor Tap take me closer to Dickensian London? I guess its all about picking a pocket or two? Old London still remains today in one form or another, so London hasn't been given the Hong Kong treatment just yet! 

The Anchor Tap public house can be found on Horsleydown Lane, London with a location that just gets better. Standing in the shadow of London's Tower Bridge this gem of a London pub sits on a quiet narrow street in the heart of the Shad Thames area of Bermondsey, London. I grew up in a busy Irish pub in Wolverhampton so I had high expectations of the Anchor Tap. Location is everything as mentioned previously this 18th century London pub is part of the Tower Bridge Conservation Area. As breweries go by this quintessential London portside pub belongs to the Samuel Smith Brewery, where the ethos of no publicity holds the integrity of the catalog of pubs that belong to Mr. S Smith. Back to the Tap, this South London pubs rubs shoulders with the newly gentrified neighbourhood of Bermondsey with its swish coffee shops and restored warehouses that now house some of London's most desirable apartments, but above all the Anchor Tap attracts a close knit circle of punters that call this pub their 'local'. Mines a Cider!

Shad Thames is a formidable area, with its cobbled lanes that tell many a story from our glowing and prosperous days of the British Empire. So what's this got to do with the Anchor Tap? Take a right from the beer garden to be acquainted with the former heartland of the spice trade, the towering warehouses once housed the headquarters of Butlers Wharf. I enjoyed my pint of Cider then took off to see some of Shad Thames most endearing sights, but I suppose the term 'endearing' probably wasn't used back in the days of London's shipping boom? Tower Bridge looms around the corner of Horsleydown Lane so doing a spot of sightseeing doesn't have to interfere with that tipple at the Anchor Tap. Need I be so careless not to mention that a range of brews that are served at the Anchor Tap, ranging from a pint of Alpine Lager at £2.56 to the Old Brewery Bitter packs a punch at £2.90, but if you're like me I loved a pint or two of Cider for £4.24. I found that the Anchor Tap doesn't break the bank compared to the many other London pubs.

Food glorious food! Like any traditional London pub its imperative that the food served has to be fresh, flavoursome and affordable. From what I saw at the Anchor Tap its approach to serving honest pub food is one of the landlord and landlady's core principles. Serving all of the classics from Fish 'n' Chips, Steak & Old Brewery Pie, Bangers & Mash and Liver & Onions. Main meals range from Bangers & Mash at £5.95 to Fish 'n' Chips at £8.95. Captured to the right is my hearty serving of Fish 'n' Chips that was served with homemade chips and garden peas but mushy peas can be ordered instead of my choice, beggars can be choosers at the Anchor Tap. Being a frugal soul whilst traveling I was pleasantly surprised that my Fish 'n' Chips and one pint of Cider came to £13.19, that's blinding good for London prices! Leave those cravings for a McDonald's or a Starbucks for another day because when in London its a sin not to indulge in some honest British cuisine. It's official that nothing beats Fish 'n' Chips and a pint of Cider! 

I took a seat in the upstairs lounge for food cannot be served at the bar or anywhere downstairs at the Anchor Tap, traditional to the core it didn't take me very long to realize my dining experience would be enjoyed. Word of mouth keeps this Bermondsey pub fresh with new punters but surely in our modern age each customer should be making it their duty to shout all out this pub, or maybe tweet all about it? In a time orderly fashion food is served upstairs in the lounge daily, I don't want to sound ridiculous but it had an air of the East End with the bust of Victoria sitting above the bar I couldn't resist to say 'Get out of my pub!' Catchphrases aside the decor speaks for itself with a cosy and traditional Victorian style that is only a few metres away from Tower Bridge and the once trade rich Pool of London. Take a chance on something traditional and trust in the Anchor Tap. Don't just take my word because seeing is truly believing. London can be more than just the provincial landmarks, let the Anchor Tap be one of those places!

Come on down to the Anchor Tap for a good old knees up! Translated into modern English 'a knees up' basically means a good time. After one of my days sightseeing I returned back to the Anchor Tap to find a lively atmosphere with many of the locals and some new customers enjoying a beverage or two. With drinks flowing and conversations endless the vibe of the Anchor Tap that evening was really warm and welcoming with a uncomplicated air about the whole thing. Take a walk over Tower Bridge to the Anchor Tap to experience a slice of London culture that could make your capital visit memorable for all the right reasons. Do you believe in paranormal activity? Here's a fact that's worth investigating because 'Charlie' a previous landlord of the Anchor Tap roams the pub as a ghost. Ask about the real meaning of 'Horselydown Lane' for there's a scandalous story behind the Anchor Tap's history throughout the industrially rich days of the British Empire. I suggest you read between the lines.

Getting to the Anchor Tap doesn't have to take all day, this London pub is only ten minutes away from two London Underground stations. Take the Jubilee or Northern Lines to London Bridge Station and walk east down Tooley Street where you'll need to take a left onto Horselydown Lane to reach the pub. Otherwise take the Circle or District Lines to Tower Hill then walk across Tower Bridge, take steps down to Shad Thames to find the Anchor Tap. Check the buses as well for there are connections with Covent Garden via the RV1 bus that terminates in the West End and at Tower Gateway. Better still forget the public transport routes by taking a walk down the Thames Path to discover the nearby Butlers Wharf to see where Charles Dickens took inspiration from the warehouses and winding alleys for his novel Oliver Twist, not forgetting Nancy's Steps found at London Bridge because she did love Oliver! Trust in the Anchor Tap, because I did. I'll be sure to pay another visit to the Anchor Tap upon my next visit to London! 

Consider Yourself At Home! Joseph Harrison