The Anchor & Hope in Lambeth

Got food poisoning from the chicken liver paté. Watch out.

Robust Rustic food cooked to perfection, the atmosphere is much buzzier at night.

There is a strong case for this being the best food pub in London. Like a well-run Parisian bistro meets British country pub (excellent ales, strong wines), the menu is full of temptations- ever-changing, fresh, technically executed small and large plates. French - British - Mediterranean. All excellent. Lamb and hummus, triple cheese soufflé, best-in-class taramasalata with kalamata olives. Great options on dessert menu (hard to see past the sticky toffee with crystallised ginger ice-cream but the champagne-soaked-rhubarb eton mess gave it a go!) Cocktails good: blood orange negroni and other creative twists on standards. Staff all engaged, knowledgable and with a sense of humour - even when they’re super busy. Which they deserve to be! This should be showing as a 4.9 imho.

Greeted with a warm welcome the attentive waiters went out of their way to make our night a memorable one. A compact and varied menu offered an appetising selection of modern British dishes with Italian and French influences. The cuttlefish starter was rich in flavour and slow cooked enough to be cut with just a fork. A generous and expertly cooked chicken pie looked fantastic and the Porcetta and chickpea was delicious. Wonderful wine menu topped off a perfect meal. Excellent, we’ll come again!

It's absolutely disgusting that smoking is allowed in the outdoor seating area. Considering the high prices, non-smoking customers should be able to enjoy their food and drinks without inconvenience! I do not recommend this place

Good food, fair price, try desserts!

Nice place with own kinda unique style. Dishes are not categorized so you have to assume based on price which is a starter and which is the main. The only downside is that there are only a few mains and the starters are way too pricy. Now you leave the restaurant either broke or hungry.

Very good restaurant with a nice mix of traditional and modern dishes. Cozy atmosphere in an up-and-coming neighborhood. Prices however relatively high.

Good but expensive- too expensive I’d say. Vat and service seemed to be charged also from memory.

Great food, great staff! One of the best brunches I had in London. Thanks, Bella, for the awesome service!

Booked as a solo dinner on a work trip. Everything was amazing, service was prompt and very professional, the food (starter main and dessert) was flavourful and well made and the products used are all high quality. Nice selection of wines (French, Italian...) too. The atmosphere was lovely too, no loud music blasting in your ears and whilst the pub was fully booked I was never made to feel rushed. I'll certainly be back

Delicious food (though worth noting it’s more of a restaurant vs a true gastropub), good service and nice ambiance - the mussels, the sand soles and the beef were all very good albeit a bit expensive (the bread with good butter was also good, though would’ve been better if the bread had been warm). Our servers were very attentive and friendly (though it took a long time to get the bill, and once we had the bill, for someone to come with the card machine). Overall a good albeit expensive meal.

We had an amazing time! Food and drinks were fabulous! Staff so friendly and knowledgeable and made us feel welcome and looked after even though it was a very busy day! Thank you so much!

Had a wonderful birthday lunch. Every plate of food was delicious, the service was great and the wine sublime.

Not cheap but, you get what you pay for. Excellent food and service. Thoroughly enjoyed my meal and will be returning.

Great food, great service, great atmosphere

Delicious food, great service and vibrant, cosy atmosphere. Modern European, British food with lots of flavour and some interesting menu options. Super friendly and attentive staff, good wine options… highly recommended.

Wow. Not your average pub, just like canton arms in spirit but more elevated dishes. Really amazing food & menu 👌

They have a restaurant section separated from the pub but the menu is less substantial than what you would find in most pubs. Mainly light starters which are nevertheless priced as mains. The price isn't the problem though, it is the disappointment as you can't really have a proper meal there despite thinking you are in a 'gastropub'.

A good pub. Good atmosphere. Food is seasonal & was very nice. We shared the lamb shoulder for two. Very decent portion sizes. Lovely wines. Service & team very friendly. It gets busy here so book. Feels more restaurant than pub. Worth going to!

Almost the original gastropub in London (yes, love you too, 'The Eagle'...). Been many times and never disappoints. Could do with a few more craft beers, NEIPAs, hazys and the rest.

Third time here. All plates are so well prepared with sophisticated flavours and it’s a down to earth, rustic place to eat. Great options for vegetarians. Delicious beetroot ginger beer homemade spritz so even alcohol free options were more special than the ordinary. Good to book in but they managed our walk in of 2.

It’s a popular place on a Sunday afternoon and sitting outside on a warm day it’s clear to see why. The staff are fantastic - super attentive, knowledgeable and helpful plus friendly too. There’s a good range of drinks offered with everything served quickly. The food menu is a little more difficult to understand - with descriptions lacking everything seemed like strange combinations. But the food didn’t disappoint when it arrived - portion sizes were good and while there was no ‘faff’ with the presentation everything was very tasty and cooked perfectly. It’s far from a cheap place, but with the quality of service and setting felt justified - I’d recommend.

Came here for Sunday lunch. The staff was remarkably friendly and welcoming. We were travelling to the train after lunch so we carried with us our suitcases. Struggling to get inside, one of the staff members came rushing to the door and took all of our suitcases out of our hands and guided us to the bar for a drink. Great start. We had skate wing with green peppercorn sauce for main and it was the best meal of our weekend - such simplicity. Next time we’ll return with a bit more of an empty stomach to enjoy more jewels from the menu!

Terrible terrible service, really poor food, and we had to wait an hour in between first and main courses (they graciously told us we could stay beyond the time we had putatively booked for). But although that happened twice, it was two to three years ago and not long after the lockdowns ended. I'm inclined to fork out and see if it is as good as it used to be.

Very disappointing for the price. £50 each for lunch with a non-alcoholic drink. We all had venison haunch which sounded like a great big lump of roast meat. It was a mediocre stew with a couple of small lumps of deer that was over as soon as it started. The bread was average, sides were ok. But when you charge £30 for a main, you're signalling it's exceptional. The waiter stank and made going through allergens very complex, rather than just having a clear menu. Plus service charge too.

Had a lovely afternoon with friends. Nice atmosphere. Great service from bar staff with helpful recommendations on wine list. Didn't eat this time but might next time.

Heard good things about the restaurant and decided to come here to try. Food was solid but they got 2 of our 4 dishes wrong. The server repeated the order right but somehow still entered it wrong? Didn’t bother to correct them as we only had 2 hr for the table before the next group comes in. Hopefully they’ll get our order right next time…

Fantastic evening with fabulous food - basically a wonderful experience which I’d thoroughly recommend. And a special mention for Lucy who looked after our busy table as she was a real credit to the establishment - as were the chefs involved. Thank you.

A delicious meal at the Anchor & Hope. A party of four who had the Cassoulet and steak pie to share. Both were excellent and accompanied by this really lovely red. Five stars.

Great service but my anchovy sauce had very little flavour which is the whole point of anchovy.

Great menu, fabulous wine. Lovely treat lunch:

We came her for a pre theatre meal for the Old Vic. Definitely worth booking in advance as it gets quite busy. Service was excellent and we were guided by our server to ensure we had enough time to get to our show. The pheasant and pork mains were well cooked and very tasty. It would be nice to see a larger selection of mains. The tiramisu and the meringue were lovely desserts as well.

We had a wonderful experience; the staff were overly friendly and helpful, and the food delicious!

It initially makes a good impression from the outside and inside. But if you write here that the food could be overpriced, then that is very trivialized. The food is just way too expensive and is not of good or normal quality at all. So there were five of us eating and after ordering it only took 4 minutes for the dishes to be on the table. For a starter, one person didn't want a main course, and four main courses and 1 coke, the asking price was a staggering £173 - a farce for the quantity, taste and preparation.

Dropped into this busy pub for a pint and cocktails. All good

My friends and I had a lovely lunch last Saturday. Quality of food and service were very good. I would however like a wider range of meat dishes for the main course. Choice of wines was good albeit expensive.

We had a lovely pre theatre meal here with family. The food was absolutely delicious, service attentive and professional but not overbearing, environment - cozy. We ordered a lot of things to share. There were lots of delicious veggie options which was a pleasant surprise. We had an apple tart Tatin for desert which we thought was plenty to share between 4. Would recommend.

Absolutely unbelievable food, incredible service and beautiful natural wine. Called in for an intimate dinner with a friend and everything was just perfect. Wouldn’t hesitate to return.

Only stopped for drinks, nice cosy atmosphere on a rainy day, food passing by looked delicious.

Decent pub. Popped in for a pre dinner drink. Good atmosphere.

Charming place. Highly recommended 👌

Anchor & Hope is a firm favourite. Never disappoints!

We went for a birthday celebration mid week. It’s a busy place but service was attentive and speedy. Food was tasty and a good selection of beers and wine. Definitely worth a visit

This British-style pub is within walking distance of Waterloo Station or Southwark Underground Station. The overall atmosphere is very "local" or down-to-earth, and it seems to be perfectly integrated into the nearby neighborhood. This quite local bar is very popular among the locals. It starts to gain popularity just after 5pm on weekdays. It is observed that many of them are regular local customers. As expected, the popularity of this local bar is so high. There's a reason for that: delicious food. During this visit, I didn’t have any idea of ​​what the store’s specialty dishes were, so I simply asked the enthusiastic and friendly server to recommend it. The recommended appetizer of potted shrimp, toast, cucumber, etc. together form an interesting and charming flavor. The main dish is It’s amazing. The accompanying side dishes such as tomato fries are just there. The main character’s stew has a surprising and amazing taste when you eat it. The aroma, the taste... It’s really amazing. It’s really a bite. After taking a sip of praise, I think this is probably one of the most delicious stews I have ever eaten in my life. Regardless of other things, I think this stew alone deserves full marks. I really like the friendly yet delicious dishes provided by Anchor and Hope (the name is also interesting) in a friendly atmosphere. I recommend it without reservation. Ps. During this visit, I saw a kind old couple at a nearby table who looked like local residents. It was quite a sight to see them carrying a calm and relaxed demeanor and enjoying the food in front of them!

Had the worst octopus of my life here. Why was it the texture of rubber. Overpriced …

Food overated but tasty. The prices are horrendous . I went there 10 months ago and the lamb for 2 people was £60, now £72. Booked a table for 7:45 and we were it late and two fish in the menu had gone . Wine is almost all on tap. All horrible. How can you eat good food with horrible wine? Won’t go back .

In London you can get away with a lot of things. There are expensive restaurants full of bored people idling away the months and years before they expire who seem happy to hand over money for average food in smart surroundings. The Anchor & Hope could milk such people if it chose to but clearly aspires to do far more than the minimum required to get the well-heeled living dead to wave a card over a machine. We ate on a Tuesday night and the atmosphere was lively and convivial. The food was good. That’s not damning with faint praise. It was good. We each had a brace of Dover soles, lobster beurre blanc and chips. Fish was perfect, chips were great. I had the muscat crème caramel. I’d happily try to recreate that at home, possibly in a bucket. Large puddings always taste better right? But somehow it was the service that stood out. The staff were confident, knowledgeable, affable, available and seemed keen to help when needed and didn’t pester when not. If I need a go-to for dinner around Waterloo this will be it.

We asked the waiter for recommendations and he recommended the Chicken Pie Delicious, tender and very well crafted.

Imaginative menus and the food lives up to high expectations. Definitely a good place to go!

The grouse lasagna had a small bone like a fish bone in each of the 3 bites which I had. It put me off eating any more. I was told grouse had a lot of small bones, something which I have not come across but in any event should be warned to the customer. However, customer enjoyment does not seem to be a focus. I would have preferred the steak pie but by 6 pm I was told that there were no more specials. This is a pity when the standard menu does not change and the choice is very limited. The cheese soufflé at £23 is underwhelming. The food is overpriced especially the vegetarian options. The glasses of wine and small. It was very noisy and I found it difficult to hear what my companion was saying. I will not be returning. I am amazed at the recent reviews.

Even though we had booked, they had sold out of many dishes on the menu when we arrived. However, in the little that was left we ate an excellent steak pie. High prices for the type of cuisine. Pleasant atmosphere of an old tavern.

Very efficient friendly bar staff and reasonable food except I ordered a dish with a lot of sauce and nothing to mop it up so I asked for some bread. It was a long time coming - stale bread toasted on one side served with margarine. And they charged me £5 for it!

I had grouse lasagna absolutely delicious. And the Queen of Puddings was well named too. A royal feast. Plus our server was lovely too.

The food was outstanding but even more the service. Very attentive waiters, checked in with us as our table arrived in stages, took time to explain all dishes and managed to get a little leftover cuttlefish Venetian style when there was not enough left for a full order. My mom used to make it when I was younger and yours went straight to my heart. Thank you. It was a lovely night, I look forward to coming back.

Super friendly, great service, great beers and amazing food.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner with drinks here last week. It's like a cozy Dinner-Pub with farm to table classic cooking. Flavourful and thoughtfully paired, the menu is just the right size. The service was excellent - down to earth and very welcoming. Reserve a table and ask for one by a window would be my tip!

Had a lovely evening with friends. The menu is full of delightful new things and items to try and for your taste buds to enjoy. Wine served in small carafe as well as by the glass or bottle. I had a wonderful 3 cheese and hazelnut soufflé. We also had some tender stem broccoli, the ingredients having been adapted to accommodate an allergy. Thoroughly recommend.

We came on a whim and are so glad we did. The bread and butter were wonderful. The shared John Dory fish was delicious. Excellent service too. Happy tummies.

The steak pie was excellent. Thank you for a lovely meal. The staff were all friendly, helpful and provided a wonderful experience. Will definitely return and try more dishes.

Really lovely little gem in Waterloo. Great fresh food, lovely cocktails, warm service and cosy ambience with 'good vibes'! I took my friend here for his birthday and we had a fab meal. Fresh Dover Sole and buttered greens! Washed down with the best margaritas!

Stepping into this pub feels like being welcomed into a home where every dish is crafted with love and passion. The homemade food here is simply outstanding, but it’s the lamb shank that truly steals the show. Cooked to perfection, for 7 hours, each tender bite bursts with rich, hearty flavours that linger on the palate, creating a symphony of taste. The combination of succulent meat and expertly balanced seasonings makes this dish a must-try. Beyond the incredible food, the staff’s attentiveness elevates the entire dining experience. They greet you with warm smiles, anticipate your needs, and ensure you feel like the most important guest in the room. Whether you’re here for a casual meal or a special occasion, this pub offers not only fantastic homemade food but also a level of service that makes every visit memorable. An absolute gem that I can't recommend enough!

A true Gem. Nice hearty food, friendly community atmosphere and experienced guenuine service. Would eat here every month if I lived in London. So nice to see that these places still exist.

I love the Anchor and Hope and bring everyone who visits me there. The food is sensational and the service is even better. Just a brilliant all round place.

The worst service I have ever received. Our waiter (Craig) aggressively confronted me - physically blocked my way, got in my face (I am a 5f 5 female) and told me “I couldn’t go to the bar,” - when I went to ask to try the house wine available on tap (after he said he didn’t have time to get it himself). The manager did not take the incident seriously when we reported it and made no apology for his staff. The other staff, however, were very professional and helpful, in particular Daisy who was excellent.

Enjoyed everything about my visit. wonderful service and great cocktail

Been here several times. Dishes are thoughtfully put together with top ingredients and the cooking is always spot on. The wine and cocktail lists are extensive and it is too tempting not to come back to them at each course. Service, like the food is consistently excellent. Highly recommended.

Phenomenal lunch today in what must be the best pub restaurant in London. Equally fantastic service from Chris. All in all, one of the best meals I've had in London in the last 5 years. Highly recommended.

I have been thinking long and hard about leaving a low score and not great review for some time because when we have previously eaten with you the food was exceptional. Fabulous quality produce cooked beautifully and presented simply and elegantly and so we returned and the only thing that was still extremely good but not exceptional was the service. I have read your responses to previous poor reviews, that something should have been said at the time of the meal and any critical feedback given on the day, but actually that is the last thing I wanted to do in front of my guests who I treated to lunch and actually you should know yourself what kind of food you are serving your guests and be your own best critics and ensure everything lives up to ‘your’ standards. The potted shrimps tasted wooly and lacked butter and flavour, the cucumber salad was limp and overwhelmed with dill cream. The toasted sourdough was the best thing on the plate. Your pork and beef dishes where both lack lustre and the dauphinois were watery and sauce on pork not great. Even the horseradish sauce was lacking. I have made a direct comparison to your dauphinois and roast chicken we ate last time with you! I was hugely disappointed and paid well for that disappointment so you won’t be surprised that unfortunately I won’t be coming back or recommending you to my friends and family It gives me no pleasure to leave this review but on the day we ate with you I was sad and I was left hungry and frustrated and slightly aggrieved at a very healthy bill for such a disappointing meal and food that had lost the love the flavour and the passion I once tasted. I hope you get back the magic you once had and of course this is only my (our) opinion and experience but I do hope you take my feedback with the absolute honesty and hope that you can and will continue to strive for excellence

Great gastro pub! Perfect spot for pre-theatre. Lots of delicious smaller plates so not heavy before 3hrs of theatre. Wonderful seeing the same knowledge service team from 10 years ago! Obviously well run

Had an excellent meal before going to The Old Vic.

Went for my birthday on Thursday. Food and service were impeccable. Many thanks to Rob for looking after us

Excellent creative food with quality ingredients in a bistro pub relaxed setting. This is my go to place for dinner pre theatre - we sat down for dinner at 5:30pm as an example , and a short walk from Waterloo railway station

Had been wanting to come here for a while, and it did not disappoint. The food was awesome, the service was great and the atmosphere was really relaxing. Will definitely be back. It would be nice if there was a bit more space for people to have a pre drink if they get there a bit early or the table is not quite ready... but plenty of pubs nearby.

We’d been here for dinner a few years back - it was good back then and just as good now. We shared roast beef with dauphinoise potatoes and buttery cabbage. And then for dessert we had Tiramisu + chocolate pot with ginger stem ice cream. Can’t really fault the food. It’s not cheap but you get what you pay for and the service is good.

Overrated, sadly. The food is hit and miss. Some was very good, other things not. The expensive £60 as many others have mentioned is completely not worth it - soup with a crust. But the biggest issue is the place is so crammed full of people that is is not nice at all, bordering on claustrophobic. We were 8 people at a table which woudld comfortably seat 4 and at a push 6. But 8 was ridiculous and just made the whole evening very uncomfortable. The high prices for mediocre food and too many people crammed in just reek of greed and profit chasing rather than wanting to provide a nice experience. It was nice that the staff helping our table were friendly but couldn't make up for the atmosphere. Won't be going back.

8 hour Lamb shank for 2 was delicious and large. Appetizers were good too. Waitress was unbelievably charming, patient, and attentive. Manager even allowed us to move out of our original table when an adjacent table became overly boisterous. There is a nice outdoor space, but make reservations for it.

Amazing place and super lovely staff 😃 just loved it there.....

Have walked past this place for years and finally went last night - honestly the best meal I have had in London for years - classic food done so well with a twist and such warm friendly service - a true gem of a pub in the heart of London!

Calm and buzzy. And delicious - a modern British gastro pub. I've been here with a group of 10 for dinner and drinks, also for lunch for 2. Menu is interesting and slightly different every time, always and everything is cooked really well. Great vegetarian options, too.

One of the best gastropubs in London. It's not cheap but the food is excellent. I am not usually a dessert person but I try to save room for dessert here as they always have a range of delicious options!

Good service. Not a lot of veggie or vegan options on the menu. The food here is unique.

Basically, the price is a bit expensive. I think experiencing it once is enough. If you eat a lot, you will get bitten, but it still tastes good. I made a reservation during the Sunday roast time as there were a lot of people there, but there weren't as many people as I thought, so I didn't think there was a need to make it.

Food was exceptional, and service was very good, but there wasn't a lot of mid range price choices for wine. I'd definitely eat there again but drink from the pumps or soft drinks.

Lovely spot recommend by a friend who lives in London. The roman courgettes were lovely particularly, also the tomato dish. We had the lamb as well. Make sure you order it or rather reserve it as soon as you are seated I’d say because they ran out soon after. Falls apart as you serve. Tarama was very fluffy and not fishy at all. Service was a little spotty but I guess it is understandable as it was 8-9 of us. The flourless chocolate cake was absolutely great. Very decadent.

I have been going to the Anchor and Hope for years and IMHO I have never had a bad meal. The staff are welcoming and helpful and the food is always top notch. On this occasion I tried the bisque followed by the steamed halibut with spinach. As I was feeling a bit indulgent I finished with a pear and rhubarb tart with clotted cream. I honestly believe the food quality here is better here than many a more prestigious restaurants and the value for money is really good. Would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the Waterloo / Southwark area.

Came in for a dinner meal however, the service was a bit shirty and it the inside atmosphere was hot and loud and not overly welcoming. Ended up not staying for a drink even as the vibe was off.

Restaurant was full for a Sunday lunch. The roast beef was nice, perhaps would have been nice with roast vegetables included, however still good. They had good on the day specials and the service was very friendly. The dessert menu is pretty extensive which is nice.

A lot of the menu options we picked first weren't available (at 7:15pm! 😬) but what we had was nice and the service, while a little slow as it was super busy, was very friendly and helpful.

Great place, with good food and great service! We had a wonderful waiter. Definitely a good place to go!

Great restaurant, the waiter we had was very friendly and he spoke French very well. The proportions were generous and the quality was there. We feasted. I strongly recommend.

Fabulous. No other words required. Just had a superb dinner again.

Food went like this... not the fastest service

Stumbled upon this gem after walking through Leake Street tunnel. The food here was spectacular and a great wait staff. A nice cider from Brittany and many wines by the glass

The beef and suet pie for two people was good – but then again, you'd expect nothing less after paying £60 for it! We sadly cannot afford to return with these prices.

Excellent food and very friendly service. The right balance of giving you space to enjoy while still being on hand for questions, follow-up orders, etc. Lots of vegetarian options and could tell that they've been given the same thought as the meat options. Very extensive dessert list as well - made it very difficult to choose!

Summary: The £60 pie is not worth £60. Some of the staff members need a course on being friendly. This place stopped being the nice comfortable place it used to be. We were five people sitting in a super tight space making it difficult to move. The £60 pie is not worth £60, it’s essentially an overpriced bland stew with a crust. Finally, we asked for the bill and after 15 min of receiving it and nobody coming over to take the payment we got a bit impatient and called the waitress, who was obviously annoyed that we were calling her! Most unfriendly and unwelcoming of hosts. Seriously this place used to be great, now it’s just a standard a restaurant with a cryptic menu pretending to be sophisticated and an ill humoured staff. The most welcoming staff is the friendly lady at the entrance with curly hair, she is amazing and possibly the owner. She makes an extra effort to make you feel at home, other waitresses were fine as well and helpful. But this last one with the card machine offered us a very ugly experience to taint the end of the dinner.

Not worth the hype. I had the pricey £60 pie to share, but it’s not a pie. It’s a stew with crust. This shouldn’t be advertised as a pie. A pie stands on its own encased in crust. So this is certainly not worth £60 for two. Probably one of the most expensive ‘pies’ in London. The meat was very good inside, but it was unseasoned, bland and the gravy was too runny. The atmosphere is also far too claustrophobic. Tables, tables and tables. You can barely squeeze into your seat in some areas of the restaurant. We also had to wait ages to pay and when calling our server, we felt as if we offended her for wanting to get out. I believe this restaurant has probably established itself with a classy and gourmet reputation trying to mirror our European cousins, but I found important parts lacking. For example, in France, they give you a breadbasket for free, but here (British hospitality) you must pay. And that’s the crux. This is expensive food, but the quality doesn’t justify such prices or claustrophobia.

I remembered The Anchor & Hope as one of the best gastro pubs in london. This time is long gone. Food is simply bad. No, very bad. In addition, one of the waiters had very very dirty nails. Last time for us.

Excellent food and wine, and the table service was fabulous. Highly recommend. Thank you