The Anchor, Cambridge
The Anchor is a pub on the River Cam at Silver Street bridge, where punts gather below the windows and Queens' College is across the road. It has been licensed since 1872, and its old boatyard is credited with bringing punting to Cambridge.
Photos
Neeraj Kannoth Jayaraj
A pub with a punting past
The Anchor was first licensed in 1872, when proprietor George Jarvis also ran boats. Local history records its boatyard as once the only one in the district, and its manager, Mr Prime, is credited with introducing punts to Cambridge after seeing them raced at Henley. The pub even had its own cricket club in the 1890s, and a ghost story from 1954.
Why go
Location is everything here. The pub sits at the start of the Backs, where punts head upstream towards Grantchester or downstream past the colleges, so it is a natural place to watch the river or meet before a trip. Expect classic British pub food and drink in a setting that suits a relaxed lunch or an early evening pint. On warm days a riverside seat is the one to aim for.
Nearby
The Mathematical Bridge at Queens' College is just across the road, The Mill pub is a few steps along the river, and Fitzbillies, famous for Chelsea buns, is a short walk up Trumpington Street. The Corpus Clock and King's Parade are about five minutes away on foot.
Highlights
- Riverside at Silver Street bridge
- Licensed since 1872
- Linked to the introduction of punting in Cambridge
- Opposite Queens' College and the Mathematical Bridge
Good to know
- Punts gather on the river right outside, making it a handy meeting point before a punt trip.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: capturingcambridge.org