The Anchor & Hope Waterloo is one of the best-known gastropubs near Waterloo Station and the Old Vic, serving seasonal British food from its long-standing home on The Cut.
If you are searching for a good pub in Waterloo, Sunday roast near the South Bank, pre-theatre restaurant near the Old Vic or somewhere to eat near Waterloo Station, the Anchor & Hope is well worth knowing.
1. The Anchor & Hope is a proper Waterloo gastropub
The Anchor & Hope has been serving food on The Cut in Waterloo since 2003 and has become one of the area’s most established gastropubs.
This isn’t a restaurant pretending to be a pub.
There is still a proper bar, a relaxed atmosphere and somewhere to stop simply for a drink, while the kitchen serves the sort of food that has made London gastropubs so popular.
For anyone searching for a traditional pub with good food near Waterloo Station, this is an obvious place to start.
2. The Anchor & Hope menu changes with the seasons
There isn’t one huge permanent menu.
Instead, the Anchor & Hope menu changes regularly, with dishes based around what is good at the time.
Expect British and European influences, with meat, fish, seasonal vegetables and occasional dishes designed for the whole table.
That changing menu is part of the attraction. Visit again a few months later and there is a good chance you will find something completely different.
3. It is one of the best places to eat near the Old Vic
The location is particularly useful for theatre-goers.
The Anchor & Hope is on The Cut, a short walk from both the Old Vic and Young Vic theatres.
That makes it an excellent choice for a pre-theatre dinner near the Old Vic, particularly if you want somewhere with more character than a chain restaurant.
Waterloo Station is also nearby, so you don’t have far to walk after the performance.
If you are eating before a show, allow plenty of time. This is a popular pub and a relaxed meal here is much more enjoyable than watching the clock.
4. Sunday lunch at the Anchor & Hope is worth seeking out
Searching for a Sunday roast in Waterloo?
The Anchor & Hope should be on the shortlist.
The pub is known for generous, traditional cooking, making Sunday particularly well suited to a slower lunch with friends or family.
Its location also means you can turn lunch into a full London day out.
Afterwards, walk towards the South Bank, Tate Modern, Borough Market or the River Thames, all within easy reach of Waterloo.
5. The Anchor & Hope still feels refreshingly unpolished
Plenty of London gastropubs have gradually become restaurants with a token bar at the front.
The Anchor & Hope still feels like a pub.
You can come for dinner, share a bottle of wine, have Sunday lunch or simply stop for a pint.
That relaxed character is a big part of why the pub has survived for more than two decades in one of London’s busiest areas.
It isn’t trying to be a luxury Knightsbridge restaurant.
And that’s rather the point.
Where is the Anchor & Hope Waterloo?
The Anchor & Hope
36 The Cut
Waterloo
London
SE1 8LP
Nearest station: Waterloo
The pub is within easy walking distance of:
Old Vic Theatre
Young Vic Theatre
Waterloo Station
South Bank
National Theatre
Tate Modern
Opening and kitchen hours vary, so check before travelling.
Is the Anchor & Hope Waterloo worth visiting?
If you want good British food near Waterloo Station without losing the atmosphere of a proper London pub, yes.
It is particularly useful for a pre-theatre meal near the Old Vic, a relaxed Sunday lunch or dinner before exploring the South Bank.
In an area packed with restaurants, the fact that the Anchor & Hope has been doing its thing on The Cut for more than 20 years says quite a lot.
Find out more:
https://anchorandhopepub.co.uk/
Leave a Reply