Fox & Anchor

At last - a real pub with real ale and real character with really good staff! It never ceases to amaze me how few of these exist - I'm not that hard to please, yet the mix is rarely in evidence. The Fox and Anchor, however, is one of those pubs that you wished you lived in staggering distance of (apologies for the syntax!) It doesn't look any more impressive than the (many) other pubs near Smithfield Market and I only found it by chance, but what a lucky find! There are a few small tables outside for smokers' use, and in the eveninig the clientele spill out onto the road. Being a dead end to pretty much nowhere, this really doesn't cause a problem ...  Read the complete review

Tucked away near Smithfield Market (indeed, near the Smithfield pub), there is a gem of a pub. But shhhh. Don't tell anyone. I am torn. Part of me dreads writing about the Fox and Anchor, as it's such a wonderful and secret find, I'm afraid to share it, in case it should become inundated. It is a treasure. I am a bit of a pub aficionado. I love real ale (despite being American) and traditional English atmosphere. The Fox and Anchor serves several real ales in pewter tankards (nice touch), including one of its own. You can buy your beer at the bar or one of the incredibly friendly bar staff (or even what seems to be the world's greatest landlord - a ...  Read the complete review