Spike says … ‘The Old Anchor re-opened its doors yesterday for the second time in less than 12 months. The new female manager, Rebecca, will be living on site with assistance from Lee this week and under the umbrella of the Landlord from The Shepherds Hut over at RAF Benson. They are holding an open night this Saturday for customers to sample their new Tappas menu. The chef is half Spanish and experienced in the pub trade so let’s hope this time it’s a great success.’
The first picture was taken nearly two weeks ago. The second was this afternoon when the fast flow of the River Thames was met by a strong headwind from Culham – producing some waves.
I do hope that the Anchor can be the pub it deserves to be and that it becomes a flourishing riverside stopping point.
I too hope it’s a success, Abingdon’s other riverside pub deserves to do well (I suppose technically the Broad Face is also by the river), must give the Anchor a try again as of late I’ve frequented the pub on the bridge a little too much and am a bit bored with it.
I truly enjoy the photos featured here on this blog, a beautiful pictorial record, there’s always something interesting to see… does the second pic above mean one of the ‘ghost fleet’ has broken its moorings and drifted off, seems rare nowadays to see a gap along Wilsham Road.
Unfortunately mooring outside the Anchor is impossible due to the illegally moored boats there that the council fail to do anything about
Down by the Marina and the river, Drayton Road allotments have 7 full plots and 3 half plots available due to retirements and people moving away. There has been a dreadful growing season abroad and some produce is scarce. Tesco has limited the sale of iceberg lettuce to two per person. There is nothing like fresh home grown produce. The fee for the allotments is minimal, £15 per full plot and £10 per half plot per annum. If anyone is interested email dracommittee@draytonroadaallotments.org.uk and someone will arrange to show you the plots available.
Judging by the condition of some of the wrecks tied to the railings at the Wharf, the owners should be charged with dumping their rubbish in the Thames. It is a great shame that such an attractive part of the town is spoiled by the actions of those who do not care.
Chris & John everyone in Abingdon would agree with you, but it’s not councils property, like the almshouses the anchor and the wharf belong to Christ Hospital, it is their responsibility to move the wrecks on, more importantly the land lord has authority over it too and when GreenKingblast advertised the pub they said it came with 6 parking bays too !
If a boat does not display a current license from the Environment Agency then the EA can fine the owner or remove the boat: https://www.gov.uk/register-a-boat/penalties.
Greetings from Piddlehinton. Referring to the second picture, does any body know if what appears to be a wave traversing the River Thames at that point is an example of a “standing wave”
Su, if only it was that simple ! There’s an old yacht been moored here for 6 years, it was towed here from Wallingford after being evicted by council, the owner rents it to new, homeless immigrants, it has no running water, no heating, no licence and no toilet, all their waste goes over the side! The E A are well aware of it too!
Mary, yes I believe you would call that a standing wave? They get much higher than that too,!
Re Janet’s post
There are also 2 half plots and one full plot available at Wildmoor allotments, off of Long Tow. See http://www.wildmoor-allotments.btck.co.uk to apply. Thank you
If the Anchor is owned by Christ’s Hospital why is it still a Greene King pub? Surely the charity could find a managing agent who would run the pub better. Perhaps a well local brewery would take it on.
Someone suggested to me that it may be a Freehouse under the new people, it would be handy if anyone could confirm this point.
It is definitely owned by Christ hospital, (as are the two cottages next door) they lease the building to Green King who inherited from the Morland take over, the new owner of the lease also owns two more Green King pubs , the Crown in Benson and the Shepherds Hut in Ewelme,
I have had the following communication from the Master of Christ’s Hospital, to whom I wrote about this thread in order to know what the position was.
The Council has recently asked us (for the second time – they enquired once before some time ago) if they belong to CH. Although we own The Anchor itself, and the adjacent almshouses fronting on to the river, we do not own the road or the riverbank. Not guilty! We would be as keen as anyone to see the Anchor’s fortunes revive.
Those are the facts. Opinion can now be based on what we know rather than what we think we know….
As the land in question is unregistered and enquiries made by the District Council have failed to identify an owner, the Town Council could possibly have a case for claiming rights over the riverbank following their ownership and maintenance of the street furniture – flower boxes etc for a number of years. I’m sure the District Council has raised this as a possible solution to the Town Council (?) ensuring that all possible mooring sites within Abingdon can be included within the proposed mooring policy.
I know the owner of one of the boats moored outside The Anchor.
I agree it looks like an eyesore but they have paid previous landlords for mooring rights and the last time Greedy king listed it for tenancy they advertised mooring rights.
Something is not adding up.
As usual the council and businesses don’t know there head from there ass in Abingdon.
A recurring theme here in good old Abo.
We called in to the “new Anchor” had one drink, almost fainted at the prices! It must be the most expensive pub in town? So, bye bye Anchor !
Colin, the previous land lord, Hadrian, told me many time that mooring there was his, he even spoke about putting a pontoon there so passing boaters could moor up properly, what’s more he allowed boaters, who were his regulars to moor there perminantly too,
Su is correct in that if it is without title the town council could lay claim to it under the advers repossession rule, that said OCC claim ownership of roads and pavements up to their boundary, I have a copy of a borough of Abingdon by-law passed in the 1950’s which prohibits perminant mooring on the north side of the river from the confluence of the Ock ( iron bridge ) to abingdon bridge!
i met one of the guys who lives on a boat there the other day. Seemed a thoroughly nice fellow. If noone owns the moorings then they’ve got as much right to be there as anyone else.
Sat in the Anchor at present, not been in here for maybe 10 years, looks much fresher and newer than I last remember.
No more expensive than the Nag’s Head for a pint and a packet of crisps (10p actually).
Give it a try and support your local public house.
Just to add to the mention of expense in pubs, I’m off to the Flowing Well in Sunningwell, a pint and a burger (albeit a very good one) is £17+!!! How much?
Unfortunately I agree about the prices, they are going to have to readjust if they stand any chance of surviving in this small ever decreasing market. A few of my drinking friends have already started to walk past having already dug too deep into their pockets.
£4 a pint of bitter
No wifi
At least its warm i suppose
colin- beer at the Anchor (Morland Original) is £3.80 and there is free wifi (the password/key is on a small chalkboard behind the bar).
Not tonight was told no wifi
Guest beer £4
Extortionate pricing so will be very few visits from me.
Colin- What was the guest beer?