android appWalberswick Anchor
opening hours
- Mon-Sat: 1100-2300
- Sun: 1200-2300
food times
- Mon-Sun: 1200-1500, 1730-2100
regular real ales
- Adnams Ghost Ship [H]
- Adnams Southwold Bitter [H]
guest beers
This pub serves 1 guest ale.
source: Local
Local licensing authority for Walberswick is East Suffolk
CAMRA North-East Suffolk branch.
last updated Jun 22nd, 2022.
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Walberswick Anchor
formerly Blue Anchor
North East, 52.31324,1.66237
Real Ale is sold here.
The St, IP18 6UA
grid reference TM 497 746
hotel, opened pre-1874 (rebuilt 1927)
owner/operator: Adnams
Situated in an idyllic coastal village, this bar and hotel caters for holidaymakers and locals alike. It has two cosy alcove areas heated by a fire on both sides with a side room for families and a spacious restaurant serving local produce plus a large garden. The pub is accessible from Southwold via footbridge or ferry. As well as Adnams ales, an extensive range of global bottled beers and craft ales are stocked. Accommodation is available in the main building or in garden chalets.
The current building was built to replace the Blue Anchor (dismantled in 1929 - see the note on the historical tab).
Landlord Mark Dorber runs regular Beer Academy courses and the couple also own the Stratford St Mary Swan.
Smugglers' tunnels have been identified leading to the Anchor.
Facilities
Accommodation available
Beer festivals: occasionally
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served through handpumps
Camping or caravan site nearby: (close to the pub)
Dogs welcome: on outdoor terraces
Evening meals
Family friendly
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Pub sells beer from local brewers
Quiet pub - no electronic games, piped music or jukebox
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Separate bar
WiFi available
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Darsham: 7.3 miles (11.7km)Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Bell Inn 0.15 mile
Harbour Inn 0.56 mile
Sail Loft 0.74 mile
Red Lion 1.10 miles
Swan 1.15 miles
Crown 1.15 milesHistorical interest
It isn't entirely clear which building was the Anchor on this old OS map from about 1903, though it would have been the original building which was quite small. (interactive map)
The original Blue Anchor operated from 1830 - 1865. The licensing record shows the license being transferred to the new premises on April 14th 1927. The old building was dismantled and moved down the road, where it was rebuilt (at a cost of £40) as "Anchor Lea" (see the gallery).
At the Halesworth Petty Sessions held in Dec 1865, the license of the Anchor, at Walberswick, was transferred from Henry Cleveland to Robert Meadows. Ipswich Journal, Dec 1865**
In the 1870s, when the inn was called the Blue Anchor, the host was Isaac Crisp…
Landlords
Footnote
Blue is a heraldic colour of hope. The spare anchor at sea was often known as the hope anchor. "Anker" can also relate to a measurement of 8.5 gallons.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper & book information from Bob Mitchell)
