please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It's in the camra pub walks in london. It is no longer a pub. Another dead soldier.
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Shutters are up - the Hope & Anchor is no more!!
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Poor selection. Rude and bitchy staff. Only stayed for one pint and then had to leave because the place reeked of urine. Obviously wouldn't recommend.
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As a gay bar I have used the Hope & Anchor as straight guy I can honestly say that the manager has always made me welcome and had time to spend and chat with me regardless if other customers have been in the bar - her tongue is sharp, her wit immense but if you give it then take it and the beer is dam good. I would never have any problems going back for a drink or caberet, and the pub has a pool table (not many left) - I just want to say a big thank-you for making me so welcome whether I have been friends or by myself.
RJB69 - 15 Sep 2011 18:10 |
Big shame no cask ales on. I and three mates (all gay) called in yesterday but went elsewhere purely due to the lack of ales. A shame, would have liked to stay.
alexw - 31 Jul 2011 15:13 |
Let's be honest. Gay friendly pub I would have hoped for better. Probably the only bloke in there with two cocks, but enough about my two mates. No ales on tap. WHAT!! Do they not realise we prefer something with a head on it. Poor indeed.
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Talk about a transformation.
Who'd have thought the Hope and Anchor would ever have come out of it's closet.
Am guessing the old Irish music has disappeared from the jukebox.
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Have been a regular at the Hope and Anchor now for coming up a year, and have great affection for the pub. The governors of the pub, Denise and Martha are great people and do a fantastic job. They go out of their way to make people welcome. The pub has a range of functions from the maddest �gay bingo� with Dame Tanya Chicken Gobbler, every Thursday-not to be missed and numerous pool competitions. If you have never been to the Hope it�s well worth a visit. Leigh
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Great pub! Denise and Marta have done a good job! I suggest people come to the pub and make up your mind yourself before reading "tainted" information from other people. Bingo nights here are fun, as well as numerous other evenings. Considering its a small pub in Hammersmith and the only gay one now. It is helping its community! That is not to say it doesn't embrace and welcome warmly all other walks of life. Give it a go, you will be very surprised considering some of the damning reviews given on here, from people who clearly have issues............................seek professional help rather than post untrue reviews. Come on London visit this pub. A friendly, happy place, just what a local should be and full of character and characters, but chilly gents toilets! Thats why it gets an 8 out of 10! LOL! Prices are great also!
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I would recommend to anyone who goes there make sure you have the thickest of skin because the boss is quite a piece of work. I had been a semi-regular drinker there for some time prior to Denise taking over, yet as soon as she took charge I was treated with nothing but disrespect. An astonishingly rude woman (how she expects to do business I'll never know) that in my expereince (and that of several other FORMER regulars opinions) limits her manners, if she even has any, only to those that meet her desired demographic.
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After finding the one door that opened into this pub, from the several that must have been in use at some time, I found myself in the Saloon Bar. This is still a two-room pub; rare now, but ten a penny when this inter war pub was built. Its Truman�s pedigree is displayed on the woodwork above the fireplace and the bar. Many other original features remain in place, which is what you would expect from a pub on the CAMRA list of heritage interiors. I found the Saloon Bar to be comfortable and clean. There was the predictably banal pop music being played of course. I quite like this place, but the major (terminal!) flaw as far as I am concerned is that they have no real ale on offer, and without something decent to drink I can�t see me returning.
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I have often visited the Hope since Denise and Marta took over. A friend of mine told me that a gay pub had opened in Hammersmith and being a local I went along. It was quiet at first as most new venues are but have had many a good time on the Karaoke nights. I am happy to call it my local when I have the time off to go. Like any venue it has to start somewhere and all in all I think the girls have done well and the entertainment is ever growing.
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It's not bad. Big bar area, decent beer garden. Nice atmosphere.
anonymous - 23 Dec 2008 01:30 |
oh dear someone's got a serious grudge! don't listen this is a GREAT pub...
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OOOH! Denise, you are a real character. Not a bad lace. Landady's dog is a bit whiffy though.
anonymous - 14 Oct 2008 21:52 |
Who is actually running the pub,it used to be run by a couple,but im not sure who pulls the strings!
I havent been in for few months now,and really dont see how they make a living?
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I agree with lezbot and boz615. Such a shame that the only gay place to go in Hammersmith now is this hideous grim dive. Apparently this place used to be a funeral parlour before becoming a pub way back. Mmmm... Nothings changed there then! The main reason not to grace this pub with your presence is the vile "Jekyl & Hyde" woman who runs the place. She can turn on you for no valid reason and she also seems to think that if you chuck a few glittery rags around the place, it suddenly becomes a great gay pub. This pub is one to definately avoid. Such a shame that the previous landlord left, as he really new how to treat his customers. Get on the tube and go into town or head over to West 5 instead of putting you hard earned cash in her pocket. All my friends and I, refuse to set foot in the place until they get rid of her.
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This has always been a pub with great potential off the main strip in Hammersmith, and would make a great gay bar.
Shame then that the current management are doing such a poor job of it - cheap decor and obnoxious management result in a total waste of time and money.
Seriously folks, if you want to have a good night out without the fear of being barred on a whim then go elsewhere - West 5 and Soho are 20 minutes on the tube and well worth the journey.
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Has this place had a change of management,from what i hear its on its last legs???
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Not to sure what all the fuss is about folks? I was in 'the hope' the other night and had a blast of a time with my other half. The tall bar man was lovely and helpful and so was Denise 'the gov'ner'. Much more fun than the bars in Earls Court and with-out the attitude. Great job - keep it up. XXX
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I totally agree with robbieboy' comments to lezbot, I quite often drink in the hope and find both Denise & Marta to be excellent hosts, before it became a gay pub there was nothing going on there except pool night on a monday!!!! now there's lots going on, the pub has a lovely atmosphere and everyones friendly, I am made more than welcome there and I am not gay, I applaud Denise and Marta for all their doing for their customers , they have worked very hard to make the pub how it is today.
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Lezbot - are you insane or just damn right spiteful? I would probably suggest the latter. I have always found the Hope very welcoming and friendly. I do not know your reasons for such hatred towards the place but maybe you should have the guts to visit the pub and put your views to the girls face to face. But then you are probably gutless - and fat, and ugly!
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I'm very intelligent thanks!! And it is NOT a decent pub at all!!
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I would urge anyone to ignore the previous comment. this is obviously a spiteful sad little person. I also note that he/she also slagged of the pub whose manager frequents this place. Obviously this person was disliked intensly. So lezbot get a life and some friends as this comment sounds like it is from a person without friends and has learning difficulties. The pub is great by the way.
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This pub is a poor excuse for a gay/lesbian bar. No dj! No friendly atnosphere! and definatley no talent! The landlady (Denise) is a moron! I used to frequent the pub quite regulary when it first tured gay but soon came to realise what a horrible place this really is..mainly due to the landlady Denise (who every lesbian and irish person should be ashamed of) she is rude, violent, hypocritical and to be honest plain phsyco! I strongly advise any gay men and women to boycott this pub! bring back the pennyfarthing!!!
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Did'nt know this was a gay pub. Visited Sat. 29th Dec. Late afternoon/early evening (saloon bar) and their were only two people in there, a woman and a man with a dog that cocked it's leg up on one of the tables, they both seemed to be known by the bar staff who did'nt bat eye lid.
Any way went there as part of a CAMRA London pub walk (No. 17). Don't know why it's on their list as it no longer sells any real ale.
GIVE IT A MISS. It's not worth a look. I certainly will not be going back, and not just because it happens to be a gay pub either, mind you the geezer I was drinking with is a "Fruit" maybe he was after something? Nah!!!... It's a Crap pub!
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they do have a NEW PHONE NUMBER 020 8748 8256
anonymous - 4 Nov 2007 14:01 |
This pub is now a popular gay and lesbian venue (billed as the only gay pub in Hammersmith). It has been succesful in attracting local people, people from the wider West London area and also the Polish gay community (the landlady Marta is Polish).
Regular Cabaret in the Lounge and a quieter atmosphere in the Bar.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2007 17:21 |
Why has it gone no RA now that it's a gay bar? If this place replaces the Royal Oak -and- the Pennyfarthing it's going to have to do better than that.
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I paid my first visit for ages yesterday afternoon, not knowing that it was now a gay bar - a bit of a shock.
I dont have a problem with it being a gay bar - but the absence of any real ale is a major negative for me
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Well I have made a visit and was pleasantly surprised. The beer was ok & the service not bad. A nice little garden area for the smokers. A small bar room & a much larger cabaret room. The toilets could do with a make over though. Most of the crowd used to prop up the bar in the old Penny Farthing. Its early days, but if the staff & management carry on the good work they have done so far, then Hammersmith will finally have a gay bar to be proud of.
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Ironic as until a few years back there were two late night gay pubs in Hammersmith. Always a shame they shut especially the Old Pennyfarthing..fond memories...
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This sundays drag is the fantastic kitty litter. Seen her before and this show shouldn't be missed. vulgar and very very funny. Thank heavens we finally have a gay bar in Hammersmith.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2007 17:10 |
I had no idea that Hammersmith had finally got itself a gay bar. I shall indeed visit with mates this week & give my views thereafter.
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I have on good authority the next entertainment is 12th August with camp bingo followed by Rose Garden. Two weeks later it is Sandra. The girls are putting an advert in Boyz this week, so look out for it. Also from next week there will be no need to trek down to earls court for your copy of Boyz as it will be available here.
anonymous - 21 Jul 2007 13:43 |
i agree with last comment, the show last sunday was fantastic, could people post a message when the next one is. Hammersmith in dire need of a gay venue.
anonymous - 16 Jul 2007 19:44 |
Gay friendly boozer, excellent drag show on sunday with Dr Beverley Ballcrusher. Long may it continue. So you poofs and lesbians, support this place and lets help put it in on the map!
anonymous - 12 Jul 2007 15:49 |
the comment below is casting doubt upon the credibility of that great young welshman (i say man but i think he is only 18 or 19 max). peronally i think it is the strawberry blond man who sits in the grandfather chair. Fab Pub.
anonymous - 31 May 2007 13:36 |
Fine decent boozer. Mixed cliental, old, young, gay, straight, aussies and kiwis. Good for a game a pool and juke box - who is it in there who likes Westlife and S Club? Bet its the welshman who sits in the corner. Well worth a visit when in Hammersmith.
anonymous - 28 May 2007 09:35 |
A gem of a place. Great mix of customers from all walks of life mingle happily giving it a unique atmosphere(old/young,rich/not so rich, gay/ straight). The landladies are great and although i hear this place will soon be turning predominantly gay, as a straight man i shall still drink here. Perhaps its greatest recommendation is that all the landlords from hammersmiths more high profile pubs drink here.
anonymous - 17 May 2007 20:54 |
This old fashioned 2 bar local corner pub is quite rare in that it has managed to survive for much of its existence without being modernized into some trendy Yuppy type bar or knocked through into an open plan cavern. Perhaps not the most appealing pub from the outside, the carpeted saloon bar is nevertheless neat and tidy and has a largely untouched 60�s/70�s period interior with dark paneling and cushioned pew seating. The separate public bar has a large brick fireplace, touches of coloured glass and is fairly spacious, even with the pool table taking up one end. There is also a pleasant beer patio with high ivy clad walls that go some way to hide the rather dull estate that surrounds the pub. The beer front isn�t too exciting and the only Ale (Courage Directors) was off on my visit. On the commendable side, it has good wheelchair access. It is easily overlooked being set back just off the main through road but is an interesting place in its own way and a welcome change from the manufactured and refurbished pubs that dominate the area.
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No way for me! But if ya about 50+ and want to escape modern bars and lounge in an old fashioned boozer with tables that are about 80 years old then go here!
anonymous - 16 Apr 2007 16:27 |
Unpretentious back street boozer, a bit tatty but thats part of its charm, one of the few old style pubs left in the area, hope it stays that way
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Nice little pub.
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Nothing really to add to my previous posting in November 2004, but there was no Real Ale on last Saturday, so stuck to the bottled Guinness. Pub seemed busier than last time, probably due to the pool table being in use. Does the bear - mentioned in previous postings - drink elsewher now I wonder ?
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Best laugh we had all night !!! No frills back street boozer.Plesant bar staff,very welcoming.A few old timers having a sing song and a knees up,how pubs used to be.
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Marvellous pub. Seemed very quiet on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit - probably that Wetherspoons nearby ( the Plough and Harrow ) - is to blame.
Look out for the old Truman's advertising in the Saloon Bar.
Let's hope Chris ( below ) is right and the refurbishment hit squads stay out of range.
John - 2 Nov 2004 13:04 |
On the CAMRA London Inventory for its unspoiled 1930s interior, this is a straightforward two-bar pub serving the usual lagers, Guinness, and London Pride. Unlikely to be overwhelmed by refurbishment as it's away from the main drag, in a side street near the Town Hall.
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Nice unpretentious boozer.
Didn't see the bear though
George Chapman - 6 Aug 2004 16:58 |
Good pub tucked away from the passing trade. Good bear and service.
Philip - 10 Oct 2003 09:58 |
