Anchor Inn — Restaurant in Borough of Swale

Christmas 2023 return visit: it's been taken over by a couple who've run other Sheps pub for years. It has much more restauranty gastro vibe but retains the main bar bar area (on the right as you go in) for drinkers.

The place is whole lot more pleasant but only Master Brew and Spitfire on cask which was a tad disappointing.

Not really fair to give a full review until lockdown fully relaxed IMO and bear in mind we visited on the first weekend people were allowed inside.

I opened with that paragraph thinking the range of cask beer might be limited due to trade not yet running at 100%. A choice of Master Brew and Whitstable Bay Pale won't ordinarily float my boat.

But the pub retains an authentic olde world maritime-themed charm, old wooden beams and multiple rooms. It felt like sitting in an old sailing ship without the swaying (only stayed for one not-particularly-well-pulled pint) or creaking of the timbers.

Staffed by a friendly seemingly all female crew, they were more adept at sticking to Covid rules than pouring a pint; too slow a draw and more concerned with filling to the very top than giving it any hint of a head.

There's a big garden at back through which we had to walk to enter the pub. So keen are they to ensure a one-way system, it was a challenge to find the permitted entry. It's handy for visitors (mainly tourists?) to...

Hmm, where to start. Having been a dozen or so times over the past 4 years, it may well have now changed hands or simply lost direction a little. The positives are that it's still Dog friendly and is still a nice country style pub, however last night they let themselves down somewhat. Went in with a plan to eat but got the immediate impression that there was a lack of enthusiasm to cook, asked them to clear and clean a table for us and although initially the plates were removed, 10 minutes after sitting down the table was still littered with 7 or 8 glasses, crisp packets that hadn't been cleaned. Despite this the same gentlemen came to take our food order without clearing the table, when we asked why the table hadn't been cleared he said (quote) 'I have been cleaning plates in the Kitchen' - not sure how that became his priority ahead of his customers and hygiene, maybe we had a junior member of staff or someone that lacks basic training but unfortunately the Anchor has now lost our business for the time being...shame as it's been good...

What a gorgeous pub! We popped to Standard Quay for a wander and decided to get some lunch in the Anchor because it looked lovely. We were looking for something light and, as we had a child with us, a children's menu. We were given a piece of A4 with some very tasty sounding, posh meals on that were too heavy for what we wanted and nothing on there, except perhaps some chips, would have suited our son. A waiter appeared after about half an hour to take a food order, but we told him we weren't going to order food after all and our son told him there wasn't anything for children on the menu. He walked away without answering. We ended up with some crisps from the bar - which admittedly were very tasty, but left a little disappointed. Upon arriving home (and getting some signal) we looked up the pub menus and it seems there is not only a great children's menu, but a sandwich menu also. Perhaps we'll try these on our next visit because this really is a lovely pub with many gorgeous old features and we do love a hippy decor and...