Anchor Bankside in Southwark

Fantastic Pub! Perfect location! The atmosphere inside the shop is wonderful! Very hot. Decorated for Christmas. People who had fun and were happy. It was full but we were lucky and when we entered a group was leaving and we sat down. You have to go to the bar to order or you have to call an employee to clear the table but it made sense because of the crowd it had. The food was late but it is something we were informed about so I don't consider it a disadvantage. also came sooner than the time we were told. The portions were generous and the dishes beautiful. And the wines we tasted were delicious. For the external appearance, whatever I say is a little. Indeed worth a visit! The vibe was incredible!

Typical pub like many others, very good duck, normal potatoes and very normal fish and chips. The service is practically non-existent, you have to order at the counter and get your own water.

As usual, you have to order at the counter. Service and quality is great. Very quaint pub

Thank you to Connor for being so friendly and accomodation. Beautiful place!

Reserved online in the morning for a table that evening. Upon arrival I was informed that same-day reservations are not “valid”! So why did their website let me make a reservation for the same day (with plenty of notice)? Poor service, I feel like my time was wasted as they could not seat us, would not visit again.

Called in for a quick bite to eat and a pint, the food was lovely. Not usually a fan of mac and cheese but we got it to share and it was great. Wasn’t a fan of the Guinness, doesn’t compare to the black stuff back home in Belfast so I wouldn’t recommend. Nice we pub with very clean mens toilets which is always a good thing!

Nice place, nice staff, very friendly and cosy environment but the food was mediocre at best and wildly overpriced even considering I had 15% off. Portion size was very small for the money, and given it's a Greene king it's trying too hard to be fancier than it is. Not terrible, but don't have too high hopes. Unlikely to come here again

Tasty fish and chips and vegan burger. The atmosphere is cozy. However, prices are high and prices of some drinks were not in the menu which is not fair.

I popped in to catch up with my brother, we had a few beers, no food. It was a cold evening and some of the outside heaters were not working, but we managed to get inside eventually. Very cosy, and such an interesting layout. Very happy with my evening.

Really liked it here! As a history nerd its cool to see best kept places kept up to date. While being such an old historical building walking felt like a traditional pub making the atmosphere feel great! The bartenders were super kind. I had my first peroni, something we don't get in the states. There is a hightop seating area right across the main building to overlook the Thames with another bar and great lighting. A must visit pub IMO!

1 hour to be served, unpleasant server as possible. For a drink it's cool but to eat skip your way and go instead to the borough market which will be a cheaper, certainly better and faster option!

Service is absolutely horrific. Took over an hour and a half to get our food, waitress didn’t check on us once or ask if we needed anything. The atmosphere is really cool but isn’t worth the poor service.

Food was amazing! But we have to wait for the food for like 40min though, very busy Christmas time. The environment is very lively.

Great food, service, and of course atmosphere. Very big place easy to find a place to sit; full of tourist and locals. Really love the vibes!

Even though we had a reservation. They did not honor it. This email clearly means nothing. We were not the only family that got completely screwed. Multiple families had also made reservations and showed up, however the staff simply just said sorry your name is not on our list. They clearly are not capable of managing a simple website that takes reservations. No one even apologized. They just looked at us as if we had done something wrong. Since we had reservations, we paid for transportation to the restaurant. I guess we are just out of that money since the staff isn’t capable of honoring a reservation. Again, not even an apology. What a joke!!! If they aren’t capable of honoring a reservation, imagine how bad the service must be for the folks that do actually get the honor of getting a table. I can’t imagine they would take care of their customers. It’s absolutely hilarious that I received an email confirming the reservation and in the email the restaurant claims they are excited to host my family and that my visit means everything to them. I’ve attached the email to this review. I know the restaurant doesn’t care but maybe someone will see this. We definitely have a completely different understanding in what this means. I know the place is supposedly historic and a cool experience but the way the staff treats people is embarassing. Every other place we have visited in London has been awesome. This place is a trainwreck. Don’t waste your time or your efforts trying to go there.

Mashed potatoes were still frozen inside, but pie was good. At the end of the day we were very rudely bullied out.

Very appreciative of people working Christmas Day. However, from a quality perspective, the meal was lacking. The turkey dinner was obviously pre-cooked, reheated meat (which takes on an obvious chemical taste). I know it was a busy day in the restaurant, but the project management of meals was not good. We had to remind twice to get our "welcome" drink. Then an hour in, we had to ask about our meal. After an hour and a half, we had had soup. An hour later, we got our main. Then while we were eating it, someone came around to ask if we had ordered anything else. Someone came to clean our table about 20 minutes later, and notice we had not had dessert served, so went rushing back to the kitchen to sort that out. We enjoyed each other's company while we waited, but for the price we paid, the quality and organisation were not worth it, and just made the special event feel stressful and as if we were just rushing people who seemed confused. Not sure I would have Christmas Day dinner out again, to be honest.

Lovely, traditional and cozy pub! One of the oldest pubs in the heart of London, close to the Thames. Absolutely recommended! The authentic atmosphere, helpful employees and delicious food... a winner.

Very friendly environment Rushing, unfriendly service. 25 pounds required when booking which must be claimed so as not to lose them… Good hearty food

Good food and good price....you have to order at the bar but it's fine.

Traditional pub with atmosphere, turnover rate is better than expected

Well, I'm very disappointed with looking forward to Christmas Day dinner that was a no-show And the excuse was we are busy.

One of the worst experiences in a restaurant. Christmas Day, the service is CHAOS. They already did it days before with the reservation via email, they charged us £65 more. They served us very bad food, 1 hour 1/4 later. There were some customers who left without waiting for the second and dessert. The service (some) did what they could, another was scratching their nose... I had really never seen anything like it. I don't recommend it at all!

Lovely place to get a drink and admire the view of the Thames

Great pub right on Queenswalk. Just had something to drink.

Ugh. We had reservations for two for a drink. The hassle of explaining to someone that we had a reservation. The lady who served us the beer was not friendly. The beer was very good but was not very good. Few bubbles...we arrived at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m. we were told that the room would close soon. The toilets smell bad. The decor and style of the place are nice. Music too

Lively pub right at the heart of the Southbank.

Disappointing food, unorganised service, and rude service from the woman who I believe to be a manager. Came here with some friends for a reserved lunch, told the barman I had a reservation for a table of 6 people, he just sat me at a random booth and wasn't sure how he expected 6 people to sit there for dinner without clashing elbows? Spoke to the manager and she sat us at our correct table with eating space. I will note that we weren't told about a time limit of our reservation at first, so we had a round of drinks before looking at the menu and ordering food. This manager then places a reserved sign about half an hour/an hour into us sitting down telling us we had to be gone by 2pm, leaving us only about 1hr 30mins/2 hours to order, wait for our roast to cook, and then eat it. It just made us feel rushed. I questioned her on this and she said they only allow a certain amount of time for reservations which is fair enough, but we wasn't aware of the other reservation to begin with so I felt this was unfair. We got our roast and the only thing that was nice was the half chicken and gravy to be honest. The potatoes were as hard as rocks, thought I was gonna chip a tooth. The Yorkshire's were bland and a little overcooked, and the cauliflower cheese tasted cheese-less. At 1:30pm (30 mins before the other reservation) she asked us while we were still eating if we could leave as the other customers had arrived early. I told her this table isn't reserved for them until 2pm so it's not my issue and I would like another 10 mins for us to finish our food. She did give us that extra time, but some of us were just put off just by feeling rushed. So I then asked her if we could get some takeaway boxes for our food that we hadn't eaten yet, and they had no t/a boxes or bags to give in stock. So we ended up wasting a load of food that could easily feed a homeless person. Wouldn't come here again, shocking service.

We came yesterday afternoon with my two children. I don't speak English well, but I still manage to understand that we have to choose our table and order at the bar and that someone will come and serve us. I ordered a fish'n ships and a bacon burger, and a still bottle (the person at the bar understood my request since she asked me the volume and type of still or sparkling water I wanted) . I paid £40 including £4 or £5 for the bottle of water. We were never brought the bottle of water we ordered. Despite my request to the waiter who did not understand and who had to call a second waiter (the only restaurant in London during our stay where we did not understand "water bottle" and who offered me self-service water instead . Zero effort to try to understand us even though we make the effort to speak English. The state of the women's toilets is disgusting, periodic napkins and tampons on the floor, papers of all kinds, never seen before. I left with the impression of having been had.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting The Anchor Bankside for a pre-Christmas family gathering, and I wanted to share our wonderful experience. Our group consisted of 12 people—8 adults and 4 children—and we were met with exceptional service from start to finish. From the very beginning, the team at The Anchor was incredibly responsive and helpful when I made the initial inquiry. The booking process was seamless and straightforward, making the whole experience stress-free. When we arrived on Sunday, 15th December, we were a bit early—about 20 minutes ahead of schedule—but the staff graciously allowed us to be seated at our table without delay, which was a lovely touch. To our surprise and delight, The Anchor had reserved an entire private room, "The Snug," just for our group. This was a fantastic gesture that made the occasion feel even more special. The Snug offered the perfect setting for our family reunion, with a cozy and inviting atmosphere. It featured ample seating, a charming fireplace, and easy access to nearby restrooms. We were particularly impressed by the addition of a private bar and dedicated bar service, which made the experience feel even more exclusive and personalized. The service throughout our visit was exemplary. One highlight was the thoughtful arrangement of individual tabs for each person, which made it incredibly convenient for everyone to pay separately. Our bar server, Ethan, deserves special mention. He went above and beyond to ensure that we had everything we needed, offering friendly, attentive, and efficient service with a smile. His professionalism and warm demeanor truly enhanced our experience, and we couldn't have asked for a better host. This gathering was particularly meaningful to our family, as we travelled from different parts of the world and The Anchor made it a memorable and unforgettable occasion. We are so grateful for how the staff made us feel welcome and well-cared for. Having previously visited The Anchor for a birthday celebration in December 2022, I can confidently say that this recent experience was truly exceptional. We’ve always felt at home here, and I am certain The Anchor will continue to be a favourite venue for our family gatherings in the future. A sincere thank you to all the staff, especially Ethan and the managers who made the arrangements for The Snug. We look forward to many more visits in the future!

Lovely little pub with outdoor seating by the river. The outdoor seating area is great with an outdoor bar and nice selection of Greene King beers

Small London pub with beautiful interior

This place is a fascinating maze!

A superb experience, the place is great and has charm! Very good food, friendly staff There’s a great “Pub” type atmosphere. I recommend with my eyes closed

I think it must have been not....the best Sunday roasts of my life

The Pub!!! The most beautiful of all ❤️💙🤍

Very rude staff, don't bother so many lovely pubs elsewhere

One of the oldest English pubs, it dates back to 1799, a typical place, fast service and good food

We’re rushed by security to leave the pub because 9 pm and kids not allowed. They eve didn’t give us 10-15 min to finish the meal, repeatedly telling 4 times in 2 minutes we have to leave. Discussing behaviour. Only after talking to manager security woman calmed down. Anyway, our Saturday evening was ruined.

I've been here before, nice pub, lovely setting on the Southbank of the Thames. I didn't eat, l had 1 pint of Rocking Rudolph for £6.65!

Catherine is the best. she got my jacket back. give her a million pounds and a raise. x

I got charged £13 for two tiny plastic cups of orange juice and one cup of peanuts. Feels wrong even for central London

I’ve never missed a stop here in my three years going to London! The service, the food, the atmosphere never disappoints! I will come back every single time I am in town.

Food is ok - enough… you serve yourself basically - but the atmosphere is cool

Great food, authentic atmosphere. Loved how much different beer they had and just the general vibe! 😁 Can get pretty busy but you have to order the food and drinks at the bar so there is almost no wait time. 😁

Not disabled friendly at all, despite advertising as such. The only area accessible via wheelchair has tables far too high for someone in a chair.

Great food, got wanted and a very cute table in the window when making a reservation!

Seriously the worst staff ever. The rudest I have ever seen working in a pub

I wish I got to know the name of the server me and my girlfriend spoke with but unfortunately never quite caught it. So to the tall, long red haired man slightly resembling Yung Gravy, your polite demeanor and lovely info on this adoring Shakespearean pub has created such a fond memory of this place for us. Im a poetic fan coming from the states and this pub as well as its servers treated us with an abundant amount of amiability and hospitality. I very much enjoyed the food, drinks, history and beautiful details given of this pulchritudinous quaint pub. Because of the helping & thoughtful experience with the employee we came not once but twice to the pub on our trip, first for the incredible drinks and second for the scrumptious food. The first time without even having a server, he asked if we were alright; after informing him of our Shakespeare fandom he gave amazing help and story’s. The second time though we all stopped for a bite and some drinks but unfortunately didn’t get him as our server, though after 15-20 minutes of waiting for the one we were assigned he had stopped, asked if we were alright and pleasantly recognized us as well as clearing our table and giving help. Such a kind soul. The Anchor Bankside is a great pub and has even greater staff. Thank you very much to the man and for the hospitality. Sincerely - Ashton Lund

An awesome pub with great food and vibes. Highly recommend the steak & ale pie, Mac & cheese and sticky toffee pudding.

I give it 2 of 5. The turn around on the drinks was really slow. The waitress passed, and ignored me, at least 3 times. I had to finish my meal with the water in my bag. Ended up hailing another waiter to pay the bill and adjusting it for the ale I didn't get. Attitude was a bit lackadaisical which detracted from the atmosphere. Not recommended.

Good place for a beer in this lovely and surprisingly large riverside pub. Nice rooftop terrace too.

First time here beer very nice , but the food I had beef and Raclette pie was outstanding .

visited recently, had a great experience with food, drink and staff! in particular a cute brunette curly haired young man who served me most of the night, very friendly and great service, very grateful.

Thought it would be another tourist trap, but it was actually excellent!!. The staff were friendly and the food was really good.

Lovely roast dinner, on a cold day. Nice place, very cosy.

Evening meal in this busy pub. There is a lot of noise and the music is quite loud. The fish & chips were good, but the Angus meat in the sandwich was nerve-racking. Good service.

Great location and a beautiful pub, however the staff need to be shown how to correctly pour Guinness.

Atmosphere was nice. Toilets disgusting.

Good place next to the river to grab drinks with friends and sit outside / on the rooftop

Great pub right on the Thames, friendly staff and serviced some great food, well worth a visit 👍🍺🍔

Popped in for a quick pit stop and had a lovely couple of pints of Ipa,Great pub

The pub itself is lovely, however let down completely by the service. Terrible. Having ordered 2 x Sunday dinners, we asked for English Mustard and Horseradish (staple Sunday lunch condiments) - the first waitress immediately told us they didn’t have those particular condiments (just ketchup and mayonnaise) - we accepted this although found it unbelievable that a pub in central London didn’t have these staple condiments. We then asked another member of staff to which the response was, of course, let me fetch them from the kitchen downstairs. He never returned with said condiments. Either his shift ended and he went home or he just couldn’t be bothered to bring us what we’d asked for. A beef dinner without English Mustard or Horseradish is unacceptable. Terrible and will not return or recommend to anyone. To add to this, we witnessed waiting staff wandering around aimlessly with plates of food, clearly not knowing where the food was going or who had ordered it. The manager needs to pull their finger out and get a grip on the operation.

Being buried alive is probably a more pleasant experience.

Food is ok, not great but edible, top pint of Guiness and over all, a great pub.

Still waiting for the round of pints. Only ordered 3 times.

Anchor Bankside is a very charming pub situated on the banks of the Thames, with beautiful views of the river and London's monuments. Its historic interior and classic atmosphere make it an ideal place for tourists alike. Offers a wide selection of beers. Anchor Bankside is a place that combines history with modernity and is definitely worth a visit.

Decent place, good service. Nice food.

I wen there to eat something because it looked really beautiful from the outside and with loads of people in it. It was a nice pub but the food was disgusting. I ordered a fish and chips it was 18/20 pounds and it was so boring i almost passed out. The blandest food i ate in London by far it was sad, microwaved and lacking basically everything. As i was eating my food i heard a girl saying only the drinks were good and the food was disgusting, and she was very right. Truly disappointing.

Historic pub, excellent location

A good place to go for a drink and dinner. Lots of atmosphere, you can see that it is liked in general.

Nice Bar outside right next to Themse, beautiful at night with all the lights. Pub inside is great aswell, been there twice during our weekend trip 😁

The best pub in London. Food, service, location so close to the Shakespeare's Globe. Excellent.

We had the most amazing time at the anchor Bankside! Ethan and Muna were brilliant bartenders. Lucy was an amazing manager! It was my 24th bday and I booked the “snug bar”; 100% recommend this place. Service was extremely quick and polite and friendly! When we wanted to light candles for bday cake it was extremely easy and the staff were very accommodating. In addition organising the booking was very easy via Csilla, another great member of staff! She cleared up all my queries very efficiently. I couldn’t be happier with my choice of establishment for my bday. Thank you Anchor Bankside and thank you to all the workers! See you again soon!

Unacceptable! We reserved a table this afternoon to come and eat for the evening service. When we arrived, the restaurant was unable to accommodate us because same-day reservations are not taken into account. Go on your way. We will never come back. A shame.

My experience was great! The Anchor is a very traditional pub in London, and has been successful for decades! There are several environments, including rooms reserved for pre-scheduled events. There are tables, and there is no need to reserve. Be careful with the pickpockets on site (I didn't see anything besides police walking around and signs to take care of your belongings). We ate hamburgers and fish and chips, as well as beer, we were well served and we approved of the food! The outside environment was empty, as it was raining that day. I recommend checking out this London icon!

Lovely roof top area for drinks

Well worth it if you can get a seat by the river

The Anchor Bankside in London is a fantastic riverside pub located along the Thames. With both indoor and outdoor seating options, the venue offers a beautiful view of the river and the iconic London skyline. The exterior of the building is especially striking, with its classic charm adding to the welcoming atmosphere. We visited during after-work hours, so it was quite crowded, but thankfully we managed to find a spot. Despite the busy crowd, I really enjoyed the experience—sitting by the river was peaceful and the setting was lovely. The outdoor service can be slow, and the prices are on the higher side, but the atmosphere made it worthwhile. On chillier evenings, be sure to dress warmly, as there are no outdoor heaters. Overall, The Anchor Bankside is a great spot for relaxing by the river, enjoying the view, and having a drink after a long day. Despite a few minor inconveniences, the experience was thoroughly enjoyable, and I would highly recommend it.

The atmosphere here is so nice and pretty, so I definitely recommend going! A true British sensibility. The food is soso

Stunning outside seating right alongside the Thames - gorgeous at night! One problem, the plastic pint cups are really flimsy, so we ended up spilling our pints from grabbing the cups too harshly. Is there an alternative cup which is maybe tougher but still recyclable?

Came here for lunch with relatives visiting from overseas. The service was very good & food was superb. I hsd the chicken & bacon sandwich served on ciabatta which was very good. The nachos sharer & triple cooked chips were amazing. Great location by riverside & a large venue with plenty of seating. Various areas to sit. Quite a few stairs to negotiate. Would recommend this pub.

Nice place for evening time. Good beer, normal prices.

I loved our stop here for lunch, food was great, staff were friendly and helpful. The building itself is amazing although at times it felt like a maze with all the nooks, crannies and staircases, loved it, truly unique. I'd happily go back.

Absolutely awful tourist trap. Tasteless food. Zero service.

We had the most splendid food when we came to visit. They also had fantastic drinks. I absolutely recommend this amazing and historic place. ❤️

Second time I make a booking and they cannot find it. Turns out the website doesn't work but confirms your booking They crammed us into a tiny table. Ordered chicken bacon sandwich- the bread was so old and chewy my jaw still hurts. Overpriced bad quality and bad service

The vibe here is amazing. Went last week on a Thursday, and it was very lively.

Cozy pub spread over several winding floors. Friendly, nice and fast service. Pub was busy, but the food came quickly and was tasty. Despite the very good location, prices are within the normal range

The food and drinks were amazing, I had the sirloin streak, chips with gravy and loaded nachos. The steak was cooked perfectly, the chips were crispy on the outside, absolutely fluffy on the inside and the gravy was to die for. I have lived in Britain for nearly 5 years now and I have never come across a nacho plater like that. The nacho chips were made in house. They were wonderfully made and the guacamole was pristine, it reminded me of my cousins Abuela's from when we were kids. I do not drink but my husband does and his drink was very tasty according to him. We were on the dockside bar and the view was stunning. I could see St. Paul's Cathedral from where we were sat and the view was breathtaking. The staff were friendly, helpful and thoughtful. If we were staying in London longer I would have definitely gone back there to eat. If I could give them 10 stars I would!

Went with a friend who has a dairy allergy, she went up to order specifically to say she is allergic to dairy and ordered the chicken salad. They gave her a HALLOUMI salad. Criminal. They gave her a full refund regardless but the waitresses didn’t seem to care too much, only the manager. The other food myself and another friend got was sub par, definitely a microwave chef, seasoned with the tears dropping off my face. Drinks also went ‘missing’ on the system and didn’t arrive until we finished the food. Only good thing was location and music.

Good historic pub atmosphere. Fatty food. Good welcome. Children's menu with choice.

Nice pub but there is a building site next door.

Excellent pub, deserves its fame, had some of the best fish and chips I tried in London. An environment that internally still maintains that aura of the historic pubs of London. Advised

Make your own tartar sauce. Head office sort it out, stop sending out that bottled rubbish. So easy to be better, cummon. At 18.75 i would expect that

£5.75 for an orange juice and lemonade. Great views from the outdoor seating area but heaters would have been greatly appreciated. Bustling on a Sunday evening

Beer and a snack on the banks of the Thames? A place to eat! Even during the day, the mood is a gangster.

Just passed by for a drink after a long day of walking around London. This place is very touristy and extremely busy. Fortunately, you can find a quiet spot here and there, given the enormous building. Their own Anchor bitter was very tasty

The Anchor Bankside Pub is a beautiful place to eat, drink and enjoy the view of the area. Love it.

Definitely a very cozy pub and nice staff, but the food is nothing to shout about. Some of it was almost inedible.