The Anchor and Hope, 59 Winchester St, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1HL. Gmap (shows it on the wrong side of the road!).
The Anchor and Hope is a proper pub. In the words of a local, after asking us what we thought of the place: “It’s a proper working class pub, no pretention, but you won’t get no trouble here”. There are several areas within the pub, from comfy sofas, to tables, a pool area, and a decked beer garden.
Getting down to business, the Anchor and Hope sells real ale generally from Moles Brewery, as well as Black Rat scrumpy cider, pulled straight from the barrel. This week it’s had St Austell Tribute, and Sharp’s Doom Bar, two fantastic Cornish beers, in really good condition.
If you’re hungry, rather than trying to be a gastro pub, the Anchor and Hope focusses on one thing when it comes to food: pizza. 6 different pizzas are on offer, and are available all the time. There’s no restaurant area, just eat your pizza with your beer (or cider!) wherever you’ve settled down in the pub.
It’s a cosy, friendly pub. The bar staff smile and make you feel welcome. If you leave later into the evening, the landlord thanks you for stopping by. This is a gem of a pub, and there aren’t many like it.
If you’re in Salisbury, it’s well worth a visit. If you’re travelling to Salisbury from abroad and you want to see a real English pub, you won’t be disappointed.
According to a friend, there are nearly 60 public houses in Salisbury. So far, we’ve managed to sample about 18 of them. The pubs vary from plush modern bars, to large chain pubs serving lager and football, to real ale pubs with beams and tankards. There’s a pub for all tastes.
