 The Anchor Inn 
Drop Anchor Here For An Hour Or Two!
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Recommendation added: 15/01/2007 11:50
By: dewberry (YSUK rating +704)dewberry has been thanked 1 times for this contribution
"Back in 1797 the area that is now the Digbeth district of Birmingham was the home of a ring of inn's and watering holes which surrounded the industrial section of (a much smaller) Brum. The Anchor Inn is one of the few pubs which has survived the centuries and still remains a focal point today although it's been rebuilt a couple of times, the pub is in the same spot as it was all those years ago.
I'm a bit of a regular here as The Anchor is far removed from the pretentious pubs of modern day Birmingham, being traditional looking and totally unspoiled by the passage of time. It's a lovely looking pub, really it is. A reddish brick building which is completely in fitting with the surrounding buildings, and once you're inside you'll be amazed at how a modern pub can still retain it's 'olde worlde' character.
The inside of the pub is sectioned off into four rooms; a large bar area, smaller 'quiet room' and a couple of snugs (including a non-smoking room) where you can sit and enjoy a quiet drink. Personally I like the bar area in the evening as, despite the fact that it gets quite smoky, there's a wonderfully vibrant and happy atmosphere. Rarely have I seen any trouble in The Anchor, and I put this down to the fact that most of the drinkers are here because they're regulars and everyone seems to know one another.
The Anchor is quite well known in Birmingham for it's CAMRA recognition, a constantly changing range of real ales are available all year round with the emphasis being on local micro breweries as well as some ales from small breweries on the continent. At the time of our most recent visit there were no less than seven UK real ales (both bottled and on tap) and two from abroad, including one shipped in all the way from Japan!
My partner thoroughly enjoyed his pint(s) of Styrian Goldings, brewed by the Outlaw Brewing Co., and also sampled a glass of Hobson's Mild which he commented was the best mild he's tasted in a long time. Also available are your more standard beers and lagers, as well as all the top branded spirits and a decent selection of wine. Prices are very fair considering this is in essence a City Centre pub, with the real ales being priced at around £2.35 a pint and lagers at just £1.95. If you consider the fact that most pubs in Birmingham's centre charge almost £3 a pint for Carling then you'll realise just how cheap a place this is to drink.
The Anchor is definitely a drinker's pub, although they serve a good selection of food there's no restaurant attached and you basically eat where you're supping. The menu ranges from jacket potatoes and baguettes to a more substantial lasagne or all day breakfast, everything is very reasonably priced with most meals costing less than £3.50. I adore their tuna mayo baguette which is made up of a very good quality tuna with a fair amount of sweetcorn encased in a 10 baguette it comes served with a fresh side salad as is practically a meal in itself!
To be fair, everything on the menu is of top quality and food in the anchor always tastes fresh and home cooked. Mark loves the chips, I'm not sure what makes them so different to any other pub but he always comments on how delicious they are compared to other places we've visited recently. The Anchor doesn't have what you'd call an extensive menu, but there's something for everyone. If you don't fancy eating something off a plate, they stock a wide range of bar snacks such as crisps and nuts for roughly the price you'd pay in the shops again, most Birmingham pubs charge almost £1 for a solitary packet of crisps so to pay just 45p in here is a bonus!
When we visit the Anchor we'll spend around £25 - £30 depending on what we're eating, and this is an absolute bargain because our average visit lasts for between two and three hours. Whenever we use a City Centre pub (other than this one) I'll usually expect to spend in the region of £50, and sometimes this is without eating a meal to be able to have a laugh in the Anchor for a fraction of this is just amazing value. Occasionally the pub will run themed nights and its part of the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade, but unfortunately I've never been able to make it for one of these events so can't personally comment on them. However, I have friends who regularly drink in the 'Irish section' of Birmingham and they all reliably inform me that the craic can be had here if you don't fancy the hustle and bustle of the Irish Centre on Paddys Night.
Disabled access is brilliant here, which is unusual for a pub of this age. Doorways have been widened over the years and any steps the Anchor may have had have been made into ramps for wheelchair users. Tables and chairs are well spaced meaning there is plenty of room to manoeuvre for those of you with mobility problems, and the toilets are easily accessible to everyone. A word of note though, the pub can get extremely busy during the evening so getting around in a wheelchair may become difficult. However, customers in the Anchor are generally friendly and I'm certain if you got into any difficulty there would be someone who wouldn't blink an eyelid at helping you get to where you want to be.
Children are not allowed in here, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it makes for an extremely adult atmosphere. Language can, for this reason, get quite blue at times and the general atmosphere can become raucous as everyone gets into their cups just my kinda pub actually!
The only drawback to The Anchor Inn is the complete lack of customer parking. There are literally ZERO places in which to park your car while you visit the Anchor, and the road outside is a notorious hotspot for traffic wardens and clamping vehicles so don't risk it because you will end up with a parking fine at the very least. There are, however, numerous Pay & Display parking in the general vicinity of the pub and a very small amount of parking spaces running alongside Digbeth Coach Station which is approximately a three minute walk away.
To find The Anchor Inn by car is really easy, simply head into Birmingham City Centre and follow the main ring road all the way round to Digbeth. The Anchor is easily visible from the road and then you just need to find a parking space. Any of the buses from the City Centre which are marked Digbeth will drop you a short walk away from the pub, or alternatively park actually within the Centre and walk through to Digbeth which will take you approximately 10 minutes.
The Anchor Inn
Bradford Street
Birmingham
B5 6ET
Tel: 0121 622 4516"
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