The Crown & Anchor

I came here for a Sunday roast with friends and it totally hit the spot. The pub is a decent 10 – 15 minute walk from either Stockwell or Brixton station, but it is well worth the trek. On a beautiful afternoon, there were quite a few wooden tables outside, though unfortunately not in the sun. The pub has big windows and the interior is well lit with high ceilings and a lot of space. The selection of craft beers is also phenomenal.
I shared the roast beef and the lamb with a friend, and our two other friends had the ham hock for two. The servings of beef and lamb were not all that large, and it comes pre-​cut with 4 bites of lamb and two large pieces of beef. And instead of coming with gravy, it is already sitting in a light, very liquid sauce. I thought the Yorkshire puddings were great, but was not all that impressed with the boiled, slightly tasteless vegetables. I tried some of the ham hock and thought it was very salty but extremely satisfying, and especially when the skin was perfectly done!
I don’t think they were trying particularly hard on service, as perhaps it is a pub that also happens to do food, rather than a proper restaurant. I had to go up to the bar to get beers and water, and I think they only had 2 – 3 people serving the whole pub. Still, I thought it was a very good vibe and I would have happily spent a few more hours there trying the beers for a good part of the afternoon, given the opportunity.

Great and huge selection of beers! nice and lovely place! We didn’t try the food but in terms of drinks it’s an amazing place! Bottles of beers from all over the world!

The drink selection is fantastic and varied. The staff are polite, its always busy but not too busy that I can’t get a seat (which is a must). The atmosphere and décor are social, pub like but also Londonesque, no stale, sense, this is a youthful take on the traditional pub. The food however is where it loses its one star, its really tasty — but the variety from a gluten free, wheat free, onion and garlic free person isn’t top! however the staff have on many occasions helped me out and cooked to order — when they have time, and staff available. The staff are stella!

This pub is an absolute gem! The beer selection will keep the most picky connoisseur happy and the food is brilliant too. Get a scotch egg — they’re really spectacular.

A perfect example of a corner boozer being brought up to date while remaining a pub. A stunning array of beers (craft and cask) line the long bar and there are helpful blackboards on the wall displaying strength and pricing details. It was so refreshing to see that not one of the handpumps had any of the old familiar ales like London Pride. I was there at lunchtime and opted for the fish ‘n’ chips. The fish was large and not at all greasy and came with crisp chips and crushed minted peas. I washed it down with a well kept, fine ale. The staff were friendly and unobtrusive. The pub’s mission statement is ‘We want you to eat here, drink our beer, and go home happy’ and on that they delivered.

Another pub for the small collection that I call ‘pubs I would like to be my local’. Not only do I love the feel to the pub and love the location away from the busier streets of Brixton, but they have quite simply an amazing selection of beer (cask and keg) and ciders.
I did feel slightly tricked on my last visit though when after arriving mid Saturday afternoon to a mostly empty pub… there proceeded to arrive over the course of my pint at least a dozen babies along with all the usual parents, prams and paraphernalia! And noise. This isn’t the norm from my experience and was probably the only time I was glad to leave this place! Beers without tears! Ales without wails!
I can recommend it as a post gig venue… again it’s less central location coming in handy! And the fact it is open reasonably late when it matters most!

Cosy, friendly pub. Great range of beers and ciders on tap and nice wines as well. Really good food and all for a reasonable price. Come here often with friends as there’s always a great atmosphere — whether it’s a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday! Inside and a bit of outside seating, all be it on the pavement. All it’s lacking is sofas!

This place is just how I like my pubs. Huge range of beers, both on tap and bottled, and staff who know what they’ve got, and what to recommend, and give you a decent sample when you want one.
The place is laid out quite bare, but this leaves lots of room for tables and chairs. Nothing too fancy or showy, just room for folk to meet, chat, drink, and eat.
Speaking of food, the sunday roast here was nothing short of excellent. Just thick enough, super savoury gravy, with a ¼ chicken, a big yorkshire pud, with a few seasoned roast spuds and some veg. I wolfed it down, and if I lived in London I’d be here pretty often i suspect!

Weirdly in the middle of nowhere and pretty much the only good pub near oval.
This place had a wicked selection of beers, looks like about 20 and a great vibey atmosphere. Well worth a look.
Oh and delirium tremens on tap.

A pretty solid spot for beers. Lots of good stuff in all formats — cask, keg and bottle. Plenty of local London beers on offer. It’s a pretty hip venue. Note that these guys open later than most pubs in London. Average value for crafty beers in London. Worth a visit if you are in Brixton but I would not travel down here specifically for it.

This is a good pub with a great selection of beer and wine which is a lot more friendly and comfortable than the soulless Draft Beer Co just down the road. Yes, the youngish crowd errs on the side of hipster but not in any offensive way. Coming here is still likely to rile your staunchly leftie Brixtonian friends though. But that’s part of the fun.
The food is also pretty decent. I’ve tried the German sausage platter (nice array of wurst with sauerkraut and curry ketchup) and the venison sausages (herby, but too dry) and cheesy mash (just right). There are so many beers on offer they manage to recommend a different one for everything on the menu (even puddings :-/​)
Staff know their stuff and service is pub-​ish but good. Friends say the Sunday roasts are great but be warned, they can run out and close the kitchen before 7pm. This happened to me. Wow. Such sad.

So it’s 6 months on and I went back with a group of friends. I decided to try the veggie sausages and mash. What a disappointment. They were Linda McCartney veggie sausages! Not that they are horrible — I eat them occasionally at home — but that’s the point. I eat them at home! I had it with the bacon and cabbage mash which was more mash than anything else. Caramelised onion gravy was so so and there wasn’t enough of it. Frozen peas were … well, reheated and no longer frozen.
I still have fond memories of the sausage platter from my last visit. But this meal was a let down.
That said, an amazing selection of beers. My boyfriend had the ginger cider which was really fantastic!

An extensive selection of beers and very knowledgable and friendly staff. Good for birthday– or leaving-​drinks, or when you feel like not having just a standard pint. Comparable to the Lowlander in Covent Garden or the Draft House in Tower Bridge, but closer for us South London folk ;)

Excellent! A bar, just as a bar should be in my book.
Very broad selection of lovely draught and bottled ales, including Brew Dog’s 5am saint on tap! Now you know where to go south of the river when you get that craving… The Brewdog tap is a permanent fixture, the others change regularly. Good cider and lager choices too.
Exposed brick and minimal but unpretentious décor. Friendly and helpful staff. The menu sounded tasty but I didn’t eat so will have to update when I sample it. They serve sunday roast and a whole mix of other delights on other days, along with suggested drink pairings.
Not exactly a cheap spot for a pint/​grub, but you’ll definitely get quality stuff!
Enjoy!
c*

stop press
refurbished and reopened under new management
wide selection of ales including imports (at wide prices)
good food. good ales. good wine

It was meant to be a glam night out in a place with shiny disco balls and flickering dance floor and more importantly where girl can get a decent mojito. Possibly Clapham given that it was in a near vicinity of our SW9 flat. Ah plans…
Instead me and my flatmate decided to go across the street to the pub literally opposite the house we lived at the time which also supposed to be our local — Crown & Anchor. I have been there only once.
That night there was some sort of punk live music event going on, so we lined up to get in… Imagine two dolled up girls (high heels, short skirts kinda thing) amongst scruffy punks. Truly entertaining sight. Thank god they were punks. I don’t think skinheads would take too kindly to us :) On a plus side those guys were really hot so we decided to stay for few rounds and mingle with the folk.
I still remember that landlady who served us didn’t really know what was going on as she was too busy getting pissed… She then also was smoking inside and what’s worse, she was smoking behind the bar. And as I remember from my part-​time bar work, there is one thing that you are not supposed to do behind the bar and that is smoking.
So if you are looking for something different like scruffy seats, sticky floors, dodgy locals (some even having sex in ladies toliets), cheap lager and overall ‘Shameless’ feel then Crown & Ancor is your pub.