A real Queen Vic in the East End – that’s Bow’s Blue Anchor. Step back into the cosiness of the 1950s and enjoy its genuine cockney cheerfulness.

The Venue
A blue anchor was the registered pottery mark of the nearby Bow Porcelain factory and The Blue Anchor hosted the factory’s appreciative workers from 1747 to 1776. Even to this day it is still predominantly a pub thronged by working people.

The cream and red Victorian frontage is in distinct and pleasing contrast to the surrounding modernist tower blocks. Internally it is one long lounge, comfortably furnished with upholstered red settles and brown wooden panelling. There is a single bar and the plentifully-hung hop garlands give a cheery feel.

The Atmosphere
The Blue Anchor remains proudly cockney - despite massive social transformation in the area. And just like they did back in the day, locals from the nearby estates still use it as the focal point for the community. The pub owner is, in actual fact, Tower Hamlets Borough Council and it’s to be congratulated on supporting a community asset. Interestingly, the Blue Anchor was previously owned by Mann, Crossman and Paulin, famous brewers from neighbouring Whitechapel.

The current landlord, Martin Chilver, has 20-plus-years of experience in the trade and manages the pub with amiable efficiency. Punters come in for games as well as drink. There are three men’s darts teams and a ladies' darts team. All compete in local leagues. Time-honoured pub games like cribbage and shove ha’penny are also used by enthusiastic customers. In addition, Sky Sports is shown.

A unique cockney tradition continued by the Blue Anchor is the Sunday meat raffle. On Sunday lunchtime joints of meat are raffled and lucky customers win a joint. To make the raffle even more enjoyable, the venue provides free bar snacks of roast potatoes, cheese, biscuits and pickled onions.

The Drink
The Blue Anchor is firmly a drinker’s pub and there’s no food menu to speak of. The owner is a committed member of the Campaign For Real Ale and re-introduced it to the Blue Anchor when he became landlord at the end of 2008. A changing range of cask beers is on offer. Favourites include Timothy Taylor, Sharp’s Doombar, Abbott Ale from Greene King and Hertford’s Red Squirrel but others also feature. Two or three are always available on hand pump. There is the usual range of lagers, Guinness and Tetley Smooth but real ale is the main focus.

The Last Word
Give yourself an exceptional East End experience. Get the Tube to Bow Road and go along to the Blue Anchor. You’ll love the cockney comradeship, the cheerfulness and the choice cask ale.

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