The Anchor Tap, 28 Horselydown Lane, Bermondsey

The Anchor Tap, 28 Horselydown Lane, Bermondsey, SE1 2LN

Seeking to escape from the Tower Bridge Bling of overpriced restaurants and All Bar One clones, I randomly took a side street and ended up in front of a not-very-promising sign. "Traditional British Pub" it boasted, in a way that suggested Beefeaters, Pearly Kings and £10 for a plate of fish and chips. What a fantastic surprise, then, to find myself in a wonderful, slightly ramshackle establishment that was properly traditional, rather than a hamfisted faux impression of ye olde England. It has lots of different rooms (including a games room), orange walls, knackered wooden decor and a decent amount of space on the aptly-named Brewery Square for al fresco drinking. Excellent barstaff, a relaxed atmosphere and no music all add to the impression of solid, unpretentious decency. Mad tourists can occasionally be seen wandering the corridors in search of a toilet.

Reviewed by Fred Flange, Jun 2005

Telephone: 020 7403 4637

Nearby pubs: The Dean Swift, 32 Lafone Street (100 metres), The Bridge House, 218 Tower Bridge Road (20 metres), The King's Arms, 251 Tooley St (200 metres)

Nearest station: London Bridge, Zone 1 (690 metres)