The Anchor and Hope

One of London's original gastropubs, on The Cut between the Old and Young Vic, with big-hearted modern British cooking and a no-bookings dinner queue.

★ 4.4 $$$ Waterloo, London Pre-theatre dinner, long lunches, a pint while you wait for a table

Published February 3, 2026 · Last reviewed March 10, 2026 · by the barsforKings editorial team

The Pitch

The Anchor and Hope sits on The Cut in Waterloo, between the Old Vic and the Young Vic, which sets the rhythm of the place. It is widely credited as one of the very first modern London gastropubs, and the kitchen still cooks the generous, modern British food that built the reputation. The Top 50 Gastropubs list has long included it.

The catch, and the charm, is the no-bookings rule for dinner. You arrive, you put your name down, and you wait in the bar with a pint until a table opens, which can take around an hour on a busy night. Come for a long lunch, a pre-theatre sitting, or a patient evening over good cooking. Skip it if you need a guaranteed dinner reservation, because that is the one thing it will not give you.

At a Glance

Address36 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LP

NeighbourhoodWaterloo, London

Nearest transitSouthwark (Jubilee line) and Waterloo, both about 5 minutes

Price Range$$$

Drinks specialtyCask ale, a short serious wine list, modern British food

ReservationsNo bookings for dinner; arrive early and wait in the bar. Lunch and Sunday are bookable

HoursMonday and Tuesday 4pm to 10:30pm; Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 10:30pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Best forPre-theatre dinner, long lunches, a pint while you wait for a table

Plan Your Visit

The Anchor and Hope is on The Cut, between the Old Vic and the Young Vic. Dinner is walk-in only, so arrive early and wait in the bar. Lunch and Sunday lunch take bookings.

Get Directions Ask Our Team

36 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LP

The Room

The room is a working pub at the front, with the dining tables sharing the same space rather than hiding behind a partition. It is low-key and unfussy, built around the food and the wait.

There is an outdoor seating area for warmer evenings, and a pre-theatre sitting for anyone with tickets across the road. The bar is where you spend the wait, so it does double duty.

The Drinks

The bar keeps cask ale and a short, serious wine list chosen to carry the food, plus the usual beers. This is a kitchen-led pub, so the drinks support the plates rather than headline.

Order a pint of cask while you wait for a table, then move to the wine list once you sit. A carafe of something from the short list is the move with the generous shared plates the kitchen is known for.

What to Order

A pint of cask ale

The drink for the wait. The bar keeps a well-poured cask line for the queue.

A carafe from the wine list

Short, serious, and built for the food. Ask the bar to match it to what you order.

Whatever is on the daily menu

The kitchen changes the board daily. Generous, modern British, and the reason to be here.

A pre-theatre plate

If you have Old or Young Vic tickets, the pre-theatre sitting is the smart booking.

The Crowd and Vibe

The crowd is theatregoers before and after curtain, Waterloo locals, and food-minded visitors who know the no-bookings drill. It leans informed and patient rather than rowdy.

Evenings run busy and the wait is part of the deal, so the bar stays full of people biding their time. Lunches and Sundays are calmer and easier to plan around.

What Regulars Say

Dinner is walk-in only. Regulars say arrive early, put your name down, and wait in the bar with a pint.
Portions are generous and built for sharing, a hallmark since it helped define the gastropub.
Got theatre tickets? The pre-theatre sitting is the way to eat here without the evening queue.