The Blue Anchor Inn in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

You can't visit Helston without going in here for a Spingo

Blast from the past, 44 years since I've been and it's not changed a bit. Superb!! Love the place.

Not been here for 45 years. A huge mistake. Not your average tourist pub, but just settle into the atmosphere and it's a great place to have a drink without any pretensions.

Amazing pub, full of history. Amazing beer 🍺 !

Fabulous cider..... Fell in love with it. Great beer garden / erection in the back.

Spingo! Best pint of beer ever.

Wonderful traditional pub that serves it's own beer, Spingo, that is excellent. Locals were very friendly and so were the bar staff. Did not have any food. Still a great pub on 2nd visit.

Proper traditional pub. The locals are lovely and so easy to get along with. Nice staff aswell and has a few different vibes as there's a few bars being both indoors and outdoors. Quite frequently have musicians down there having a jam. Great atmosphere

Went in for a drink of home made beers spingo 5. Lovely pint clean good body went down well recommend one didn't have time for food next time I'm in I will

Wonderful staff, incredible patrons playing live music. Wonderful, homely and hospitable place. As a pub should be

The sign saying it was the home of Spingo Beer was just one of the reasons to pop into this pub for a couple of mid day beers while travelling around. The beer is good, the setting is good and there's good service. All good 👍

Lovely beer brewed on site. Welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Interesting pub with history. Several separate rooms plus covered outdoor area. Would have included a picture of the beer, but I was too busy enjoying it!

Have loved the thatched 'Blue' since first visiting in 1978 and still a regular visitor. Relaxed, no frills, very old and reputed to be haunted. Excellent ales brewed on the premises. Skittle alley and regular live music, impromptu sing-alongs, quiz night etc. This place is unique.

We're here under unusual circumstances. We're here for a wake but I must say the staff are first class behind the outside bar. We had proper Cornish pasties and your wonderful real ale brewed on site. Apparently the oldest brewery in Cornwall. Highly recommended a visit, preferably under different circumstances. Spingo ales can be ordered on-line and posted free of charge.

Need to spend more time there! It hasn't changed one bit thank goodness!

This is one of my favourite pubs in the country. Firstly, if it brews its own beer called springo, although other beers are available. It is a fabulous unspoilt gem. I first visited this pub back in the early 1980s, and it doesn't seem to have changed. It's a lovely friendly pub at the heart of the community. Highly recommended.

Can't understand the comment from a visitor two months ago starting, "The place was like a morgue ..." If you do your research on an establishment before visiting, you know what to expect. You strike up conversation (that means talking to others!) and enjoy a few pints of Spingo!

Excellent Pub and friendly staff 👌 A traditional old fashion pub with beer brewed on the premises What more can I say.

Been going to Blue Anchor for years love it great people great beer and fab atmosphere 👌 👍

The place was like a morgue when we walked in. You could hear a pin drop it was just jar quiet. We asked to liven things up with music or song. Unfortunately a really unfriendly guy on the bar, who told us - despite no one being in the pub - we couldn’t play our own music. We walked out and found more life in the Wetherspoons across the road, which is saying something.

Spingo, what more can I say? This been never ceases to amaze me and I'll always come back for more.

Another magic moment in the back bar of the Blue. Perfect pint of middle.

We have surely found our most favourite winter pub in the whole wide world. The friendly welcome was as real and warm as the crackling fire in the grate and the well worn mismatched chairs could probably recount the stories, secrets and laughter of the sitters from many many decades. Each visit during our holiday gave us the most intoxicatingly relaxed and calm feeling and this, as well as the Spingo are the reasons we will be coming back to Helston time and time again.

First time.out to the Blue Anchor. Always good service, great ale and had a band on called Marmalade shed. Brilliant night.

Lovely friendly old place, please don't spoil this treasure, love the middle spingo, I'll be as regular as I can, fairly local live near PZ

As a unique pub with a very long history, and very good beer and service what can you say. It's just the best, especially when the fire is lit in the Winter.

Best tradional ale only pub Best kept beer Best traditional ale 3 big titles from me. This pub is a pilgrimage for tradional real ale lovers

Unique quaint pub with it's own brewery. A must visit. Delicious beer.

As soon as I arrived in Helston, to visit family, I popped in here on a recommendation from a customer in my pub back in Market Deeping! So glad I did as it was full of charm.... that's just the bar staff 😂 Amazing historical old ale pub with proper ales and lovely friendly welcoming staff what more could you ask for... oh and the locals are just as lovely too! Definitely visiting again on my next holiday there x

A lovely medieval pub with an artisan brewery on site. As tradicional as it gets.

Spingo is a must-try!! I came in here on the recommendation of a friend and fell in love!! This is a truly great pub with fab staff who know and care about their beer 👏🏻

Oldest and most interesting pub in the land. The home of the Spingo brewery so if you can't drink, bring a carry out or buy some bottles!

Old. Cozy. Friendly. Check it out.

Helstonbury nusic festival hosted here each year. It was great. Also Spingo ales brewed in-house. Proper Job my beauties ☠️

Have fallen for this pub, great beers and atmosphere, just how a pub should be

What great place, and the beer is brewed on site. What is not to like! If your in the area it's worth a visit just for the spingo special. Brliant ale.

Possibly the best pub in the UK

Brew their own beer called Spingo, the best pint I've ever had! An olde worlde pub from years gone by. A must visit for any beer drinker.

Very friendly bar staff very old building with plenty character to see and lots of small rooms to sit in

Good drinks efficient service cosy a mixture of styles for quality furniture several well furnished rooms friendly staff

Proper old fashioned pub with a great range of own brewed beers and local ciders on tap! Everyone was very friendly!

I think I have rarely met a more surly and unfriendly barman than encountered at the Blue Anchor on Saturday evening 26 November. We didn't stay.

Popped in for a swiftie after a quick twirl round the excellent Helston Museum. We tried three of the pub's own Spingo beers, all of which were good. Bought a selection to go. Very nice, old-fashioned pub, the sort of which are fast disappearing. A piece of history and good-tasting beer to boot. Nice wood fire going to keep out the very windy chill. Shared the tiny bar with some corduroy-clad regulars and a young local couple playing chess - don't see that every day! Tradition in action in front of your very eyes. (The three star rating for food is for the crisps...!)

Excellent: the Blue Anchor is bursting with character, and indeed with characters! The local Spingo beer is a proper ale. The "Middle" is strong and the "Special" is stronger. A pint of each made it even easier to roll back down the hill. Recommended!

Great old fashioned, traditional English pub. Selling excellent real ale called Spingo, which has been brewed on the premises. Its almost a maze, with lots of quiet cosy rooms located all around the pub. I wish it were nearer to my home!!!

Super old pub with many small rooms and several outdoor areas. Brews its own beer, Stingo. You may visit the brewery and skittle alley. Also outdoor stage. Amazing.

Great shop in Helston. Nice to sit outside and fun interior. Friendly service and all in the middle of the main street 👍👍👍

Great beer from their own brewery, environment captivating with old wooden chairs and tables, many hand-made, and friendly, and efficient, service.

Great nostalgic pub. Beers brewed on the premises. Shame on a wet day like today that the fires wasn't lit.

The Spingo ales are well worth trying! It's very much a local, but I was made welcome and enjoyed sampling the different brews.

Very cosy, traditional pub in the centre of Helston. Very friendly host and an absolutely great beers on offer. Highly recommandable!!!

This pub is unique. The front door goes straight into a granite alleyway with 2 snugs on 1 side and 2 bar rooms on the other. Is outside seating in a nicely set out marquee or past this on a patio. The famous Spingo beer is brewed here , but does have others too. Always feels a friendly pub with live music. Xx

Nipped in today with partner, amazingly friendly staff got us off to a great start. We ordered 2 racks of ribs and when they arrived we were impressed with the size. They tasted awesome as did the coleslaw. Very happy with our experience. We aren't local (we live about 250 miles away) and the blue anchor has been recommended by 2 different locals from different places - it lived up to their praises. Very satisfied with the food , staff, portions and priced extremely well - the food wasn't expensive . If you are in the area - definately give them a go, you won't regret it . (Ps was nice to see more than ample parking :) )

What a quirky yet awesome pub!! Secret time warp, great staff and awesome locals! Will be back!! Dog friendly too! Xx

All the way from Stroud to enjoy a pint of Spingo. 10/10 wish we could have another. Many thanks

Great beer, lively atmosphere, friendly staff and locals, a proper pub 🍻👍 Survived the pandemic, things pretty much back to normal 😎

The Blue Anchor....a rarity in these days of pseudo- pubs. Excellent home brewed Spingo beer,real people - both staff and customers. Don't miss it...

Totally awesome pub, great atmosphere and clientele, smashing beer 🍺

I always love visiting this pub. Great atmosphere and great beer.

What a superb pub always wanted to go here lots of small rooms and serving the delicious spingo middle 5% which is brewed on site plus other strengths , the barmaid was a delight as were the gentlemen we spoke to for a couple of hours whilst the fire was roaring away I can't wait to my next visit

Love this place. Best pub on the planet 👌

One of the oldest brewpubs in Cornwall. Historic building and excellent beer.

Proper pub,good beer,lovely welcome, good prices,lots of cosy rooms . What more do you need.

Lovely traditional pub with own brewed ales

My daughter and myself went to the blue anchor helston on Saturday night to see a band. We knew it would be busy as it was free to go no tickets sold .the band were outside and we were packed in like sardines I was worried as people were dancing on tables right by us .if anyone fell they would of landed on us this was wrong surely the pub should of limited people going outside to see band .I expect tills were up that night .however we will not be going again as safety doesn't seem a priority to them .the best part was the band goflb they were brill it's just a shame they let so many people in never again Carol

Great traditional pub, with fantastic beers. Especially the Springo Middle.

This is one of my favourite pubs and I always try to visit when I am in the area. Their Spingo beer is THE BEST, so good that I even named my dog after it. I can't wait to come back and have a couple of Specials.

This is a lovely pub great beer garden

A nice place to sit for an hour in the sun nice beer friendly staff

Great traditional pub, and where else could you get a pint of Spingo.

The wonderful chairs take your pick of The Blue Anchor before settling into a pint of house brewed Spingo, my lovely local 💚

Great pub have drank there for years

Great experience, I don’t usually like beer but Spingo Medium was the way to go! Their beer garden is surprisingly big and I appreciate the fact you can smoke even under the shelter with heat lamps. Great historic place to visit for a couple hours if you’re passing by!

Brilliant evening ,excellent music brilliant service

Lovely pub, lovely staff and fantastic beer

Great beer love the individual little rooms full of old photos .

Lovely atmospheric pub, sat outside and it looked like a jamming session with five fellas playing and singing, brilliant.

The atmosphere at this pub isn't at all pleasant. We went for a quiet drink there as you can sit outside, however, the barman threatened a customer in front of us as we were ordering our drinks. He was very aggressive and scared us so much we just walked out. I hope he didn't hit the poor guy. He didn't hang around to see.

You must visit this pub! One of the most beautiful & interesting historic pubs I've visited in UK: cosy multiple indoor rooms with wood paneling, large outdoor space with covered and uncovered areas. Independent brewery on site making delicious traditional beers. Doesn't serve hot food but in daytime you can bring in a sandwich, pasty or other snack from nearby Tinners bakery. Friendly staff, good coronavirus safety measures.

Great traditional pub with a great friendly atmosphere

The Middle was tasting great - first for a few weeks in the garden...!

Wonderful old world pub, very friendly, always people talk to you in there. Stone floors, old wooden furniture and big fire in winter. Great beers, brewed on the premises, but beware, they are very strong and moreish a must to visit.

About 30 years ago I was collecting a yacht from the River Helford and was 'encouraged' to try a pint at the Blue Anchor before I set sail for Scotland. It was a welcoming warm pub then with sawdust on the stone floor of the public bar and lots of friendly chat and Micky taking from the regulars. I recall I had a couple of pints of rough scrumpy to wash down a 3 litre, turbo diesel oggie - happy days and memories. Keen to help my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren enjoy their current visit to the area I thought I'd rekindle the attachment. Imagine then, if you will, my disappointment at 1230 today (27.10.2020) when I phoned the pub to check that they still sell scrumpy and oggies. NOT ONLY do they not sell scrumpy and oggies - but the very well spoken and polite young man that answered my enquiry HAD NEVER HEARD OF THEM! For goodness sake - what's to become of us .........

Great beer. Cold should be lighting the fires. Sad but no atmosphere. Gents toilet smelt terrible.

as real ale fans my wife and i were keen to visit the blue anchor and we were not disappointed. the beer which is from their own on site brewery was superb, the pub itself is an unspoilt gem, and staff were great.

Been visiting the Anchor since the late 70s and its refreshingly pretty much unchanged during this time. A truly wonderful pub serving its own Spingo ales brewed in the brewhouse behind the pub. I had a IPA (nice) before moving on to the legendary Middle which was excellent.

We were 4 adults and a dog visiting Helston for the first time. What a find! This pub (which is also a working brewery) is obviously very old and full of memorabilia from it's oft tragic past including a complete list of all the hangings thereabouts, with the reasons therefore. Very interesting pub and well worth a visit.

Brilliant place brilliant people 😁

Great British pub great beer a proper local with a great atmosphere. Please help to keep this type of pub going, real ale with real history from the past. Best pint in Cornwall.

Great old pub with terrific brewed inhouse beer. Unchanged in years, last visited in 1980s. No "smart" makeovers just there for keen beer drinkers and maybe live music in rear garden. Stay the same!

A superb pub with great beer, atmosphere and history.

Popped in to get 4 pints to take away, perfect....

Clean,friendly plus great ales.you can pay by card or cash in the top bar but only cash in the heated garden,bring your own food and dog happy

The Blue Anchor, Helston is one of the two best pubs in the world. The only comparable place is La Negrita cantina in Merida, Mexico.

Called in just to see the oldest brewing pub in Britain. Had a couple of great pints. Very much an olde worlde pub so don't expect anything too fancy but the locals were welcoming and the ale first class. And the fire in the bar very welcoming on a February afternoon.

Walked here from Porthleven in December which took about 1.5 hours. Beautiful old pub full of atmosphere. Nice selection of beers. Lots of little separate rooms with a skittle alley and it's own brewery. Lovely place to put your feet up before cabbing back to Porthleven - unless you want to walk back which in the summer is perfectly easy to do but in the winter it's too dark after about 3.30pm

While on holiday in Porthleven in December, we visited the Blue Anchor, a really old pub with flagstones on the floor and old furniture, there are several small snugs, we headed to the back room which had a real fire, I had a mulled wine and hubbie a pint of Spingo Middle. Will return great atmosphere.

If you want chrome and modernity then keep well away from here. If you want a quirky, very old, traditional pub then this is the place for you. It still has old flag stones on the floor and old furniture. They also brew their own beer. Will definitely return here

Popped into the Blue Anchor as it has a long and interesting history and has it's own brewery; indeed you do feel like you've gone back in time as you explore the small rooms and seating areas off the narrow main corridor. The main bar area is also a bit of a tight squeeze, especially as this pub is clearly popular with the locals and quite busy.

I visited the Blue Anchor on the recommendation of this site. All I can say is your reviewers must be completely missing all their senses. I was met at the door by the overwhelming stench of stale beer. The corridor connecting all the "quaint" side rooms and bar was badly lit and filthy, the sticky, very uneven floor was the first indicator of many more problems. The other customers varied between what I can only assume were locals and some very loud, very drunk, very rude youngsters who I later found out were apparently from the nearby military base. The crowning glory of this poor excuse of a piece of history were the toilets, falling apart, filthy, badly lit and the smell of urine was unbearable. I had to leave to find alternative facilities. This pub may have history, but it needs major investment just to make it hygienic enough to be safe and fit for purpose. I will not be back and will not be recommending this pub.