Anchor & Hope - The UK’s top Gastropub

The Anchor & Hope in Southwark, London, has been voted the UK’s top gastropub in a prestigious industry poll. The Top 30 Gastropub Awards is organised by PubChef magazine, the food magazine of leading pub trade newspaper the Morning Advertiser.

Choosing the UK’s Top 30 was the responsibility of 400 pub food experts whose backgrounds varied from gastropub operators and chefs themselves, to restaurant critics, food writers, celebrity chefs and industry chefs.

Commenting on this year’s prestigious Top 30 awards, Jo Bruce, editor of Pub Chef said: “New gastropubs are springing up every week and customer demand for top quality food is increasing. This year's list sees a lot of old favourites as well as some great new entries.

“In the past decade gastropubs have moved from being a radical invention to a high street staple. Gastropubs have had an impact everywhere, from M&S to Manhattan and are loved by the British public as they offer them a more informal and accessible place to dine out. With gastropub chefs' often strong focus on regional and local produce, gastropubs reconnnect people with produce and recipes from their area.”

The Anchor & Hope only takes bookings on Sundays and rumour has it that even Gordon Ramsay and Kevin Spacey have been turned away.

The pub has recently introduced a Sunday set menu of three courses for £30 and everyone is served together at 2pm.

One of its strengths is the kitchen’s religious use of seasonal produce – Yorkshire rhubarb in January and asparagus in May and wines are served in quirky tumblers and carafes, rather than highly polished glasses, which adds a certain boho charm.

PubChef editor, Jo Bruce said: “The Anchor & Hope does around 1000 covers a week and their success is down to their great British menu and attention to sourcing ingredients. It’s run by people who are passionate about what they do and that shines through.

“Despite many gastropubs becoming more about fine dining, the Anchor and Hope has retained its bohemian character.”

The Anchor & Hope’s best selling dishes include rib of beef, chips & béarnaise (for two); slow-cooked lamb shoulder and gratin dauphinoise (for five) and duck in a pot for three to four.

The team behind the Anchor and Hope opened a brasserie called Great Queen Street in Covent Garden earlier this year.

The UK's Top 30 Gastro Pub are:

1. Anchor & Hope, Waterloo
2. The Star Inn, Harome
3. The Garrison, Bermondsey
4. The Hinds Head, Bray
5. Three Fishes, Mitton
6. The Eagle, Farringdon
7. Olive Branch, Clipsham
8. The Narrow, Limehouse
9. The Hand and Flowers, Marlow
10. Jolly Sportsman, East Chiltington
11. The Greyhound, Battersea
12. The Crooked Billet, Stoke Row, Henley on Thames
13. Anglesea Arms, London W6
14. Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon, Powys
15. The Gun, Docklands
16. Gurnards Head, Cornwall
17. The Stagg, Titley
18. Pig's Ear, Chelsea
19. The Angel, Hetton
20. The Cow, Westbourne Park
21. The Drunken Duck Inn, Ambleside
22. The Boot, Lapworth
23. The Kingham Plough, Chipping Norton
24. The Pipe and Glass, East Beverley
25. Alford Arms, Frithsden
26. The Highwayman Inn, Burrow, Kirkby Lonsdale
27. Griffin Inn, Flethcing
28. Ginger pig, Hove
29. Rosendale, West Dulwich
30. Rose & Crown, Warwick