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.
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.
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.
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 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
- 01
A pint of cask ale
- 02
A carafe from the wine list
- 03
Whatever is on the daily menu
- 04
A pre-theatre plate
