The Anchor Inn Oxford

As a longtime resident of the area, I have been a patron of this restaurant for the past decade. When I recently walked in with my family, we were informed that they were not accepting any walk-ins. I explained that we only wanted to grab a drink, but the bartender was not accommodating, stating that they were too busy. This was completely absurd, as there were plenty of empty seats at both the bar and in the restaurant. I cannot understand why this establishment would turn away customers simply looking to enjoy a pint. The attitude of the staff at Anchor was disappointing and I found the experience to be absolutely pathetic.

A local friend recommended trying the Anchor, and we had a fantastic meal for lunch on a Saturday. It was a late lunch, so the restaurant was very quiet. I enjoyed a great burger, while my daughter had the lamb kofta. We also shared the crispy squid with lemon aioli, which was delicious. The staff were attentive and helpful. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

We made a stop at this restaurant while walking along the Oxford Canal on a Thursday afternoon. The restaurant was quiet and the service was quick and friendly. The tea was delicious, served hot in an individual pot with loose leaf tea and a tea strainer. However, the price of wine was quite high, with a 175ml glass costing £8.50 and a 250ml glass costing £12.50. The price of £37.50 for a bottle of house white seemed unreasonable to me. We did not have a meal, but the menu options looked interesting and reasonably priced. It was nice to see gluten-free options clearly marked on the menu.

We visited The Anchor because of its proximity to our hotel. The ambience is very pleasant and the volume is high, but I think that is part of an English pub. The reception was friendly, the service was very good and most importantly, the food was very good. The price/performance ratio is absolutely right and we would definitely come again.

The Anchor, sadly has gone very downhill. We went for a roast and it was really poor. Mushy veg, hard potatoes and beef that had clearly been pan fried. The gravy was also pretty bland. Order was wrong initially and they replated it with the correct meat…we know this as there were bits of chicken in our greens. Not great if you are paying £20 service. 100% won’t be returning which is a shame as used to be one of my favourite pubs.