Set on the banks of the Humber with views across to the north bank, this is an ideal setting for a meal.
From the road it is a rather a plain half timber frame building with brick infill and a car park in front. It is on the edge of the village and close to the cement works. Don’t let this put you off as the inside of the pub has undergone refurbishment after the massive tidal surge in December 2014 which caused severe flooding along the Humber. The pub belongs to the owners of nearby Winteringham Fields which is not only the most expensive restaurant in North Lincolnshire but has a reputation to match. You may not be able to afford to eat at Winteringham Fields, you can here.
The pub is a bit Tardis like inside and much bigger than you realise. There is a large bar with three beers on hand pumps – a local brew, the house beer and Speckled hen – as well as the usual selection of beers and drinks. It also has a very good wine menu.
Behind is the dining area in a large conservatory overlooking the river and Ferriby Sluice. At low tide there is plenty of bird life on the mud flats and it is a good place for bird watching while waiting for your meal. There are dark wood tables seating four with a mixture of carver and ordinary dining chairs.
The pub makes a point of its steaks. The beef comes from certified animals bred in the Lake District and they have a MaturMeat ageing cabinet in the dining room which the manufacturers describe as reproducing the ideal climate conditions for ageing meat, obtaining tender and tasty dry aged meat. The hope and Anchor “believe this innovative piece of equipment provides you with a steak so concentrated in flavour that it’s like no other”. They also have a Josper charcoal oven to “turn what we believe to be exquisite meat into a fabulously smoky, perfectly cooked steak that combines the rich aged beef flavour with a powerful BBQ taste”. They make a point of using local produce and their fish comes from Grimsby.
Menus were brought quickly and we settled down to choose a meal. This is definitely gastro pub rather than pub grub. Starters range from £6-8. Mains from £10 to £15 and desserts are £6.50 to £7.50 unless you choose the cheeseboard which will set you back £9.50.
I did seriously consider trying one of their steaks but at £27 was rather put off by the price. Instead I opted for a homemade burger instead. I hadn’t realised this had had he Josper treatment and did find the slightly smoky flavour clashed with the strong vintage Lincolnshire poacher cheese on top. It came in a big bun and was served on a wooden platter accompanied by a small earthenware dish of dressed mixed leaves, another small bowl of coleslaw and big chunky chips served in a small metal beaker. Presentation is everything here. We also had proper linen serviettes too.
Friends had the battered Grimsby haddock which was a good size piece of fish in a very crispy batter, again with chunky chips and a small pot of mushy peas and tartar sauce. A vegetarian friend had beans and jersey potatoes in sauce with two poached eggs on top. If you are vegetarian, make sure you ask to see the vegetarian menu as the main menu has a restricted choice of vegetarian dishes.
The food is all cooked to order, so you do have to be prepared to wait. Ours took 25 minutes to arrive. Portion sizes were good and we were glad we hadn’t had a starter and couldn’t manage a pudding.
Staff are pleasant and friendly. The restaurant was busy at lunchtime and you would need to book a table for Sunday lunch or an evening meal. They also have 5 rooms for those wanting to make a night of it. The bus stop is also right outside the door.
For the local area, this is a bit expensive, but you pay for what you get. The food is very good, although maybe a little exotic for my taste (I’m more pub grub). They do offer a much more traditional children’s menu with fish fingers and bangers and mash. It is also a very pleasant place to go for a meal. Disabled access is also catered for.
“Website”:https://www.thehopeandanchorpub.co.uk/
“Sample menu”:http://www.thehopeandanchorpub.co.uk/everyday-menus.php
