I have mixed opinions about Hope & Anchor. On the one hand you have the outside, on the other hand the inside. The outside is amazing, cool wooden cabanas line a garden area with tons of picnic-esque tables and a fire pit. The cabanas have to be reserved but we reserved just under a week ahead and it didn't seem to be a problem, even for a Saturday night. It's a great outdoor space There's a bar out back as well so you won't have to go inside. It doesn't have the full bar menu the inside does, but it's definitely a shorter line. The inside seems to have a cool vibe but is best enjoyed when it's less busy. After about 10 or so, they send everyone inside and blast the music. It was ridiculously hard to get a drink inside before (we waited over 20 minutes and put ourselves at opposite ends of the bar but they were so short staffed and then got pissed at the person in front of us so served elsewhere along the bar). The music the dj had on that night was pretty good. But the wait for drinks was so terrible. read more

Wonderful gathering spot with amazing rock and roll history. Very friendly atmosphere led by James. Teo, the bartender is amazing, so friendly and fun. It's my favorite place to visit in London and would highly recommend it to anyone. read more

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A nice pub with a welcoming atmosphere and a good exterior. Worth going to whether you like drinking or not.

Hope and Anchor is beautiful outside and really nice inside. It's very much a traditional pub, but with some updated and sophisticated aspects to it. I've been here twice now, and both times, the same lovely lady was behind the bar. The first time, Chris and I were taking our time perusing the selection of beer and got to chatting with her. She commented on how adorable we are together, which always wins us right over. She recognised us the second time when we brought a group of 15 along with us as the first stop on a pub tour we'd hosted for a group of expat pub crawl newbies. We found a group of tables and they served us quickly. Both times, I had the Truffled Mac & Cheese. Both times it was good... the first time it was a bit better, but the second time it looked prettier, so there you go. I'd definitely go back to eat and drink and be merry. It was a lovely experience and the staff are great. read more

Hope & Anchor - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

If you go to see a gig named playmakers , which I saw on a Thursday night, it's awesome . The music so get you on your feet, and the crowd is excited as well! Some dancing , some jumping around , some just responding to the music. It totally gets u on the groove and the music is absolutely amazing . Worth to pay a visit ! read more

I've had many a good night here; its relaxed rockers atmosphere is great for shaking off those cobwebs and defying responsibility. The walls are I layered with posters from past gigs, showing the history of how this is one of the most popular venues for gigs. However cool I may just have made this place sound, it still manages to remain a layer of shabbiness and with plenty of pool tables and space, so you don't need too make an effort. Wear dirty jeans, and don't wash your hair. read more

Hope & Anchor - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Theatre upstairs, good food and friendly staff, no wonder it's crowded. Can be a battle to find a seat in this fairly small pub, but they do have a downstairs too (open when it's really busy). read more

Hope & Anchor - Very inviting on a cold and wet night like tonight. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

If you haven't been here, you don't know what you're missing. Fortunately, I'll fill you in. On the ground floor, you have what appears to be your typically pub setting. But you are wrong, because some amazing bands have graced the very pub seat or booth that you are sitting in. As Molly mentioned, they have a signed Specials poster from when they played there, as Jennifer O said, Joy Division played there too. I would name more, but I don't totally remember all the bands, but they were good, so just trust me. Downstairs is a very intimate bar that has a stage for bands to play on. I'd equate it more to be a church basement, but a church basement with an amazing sounds system. The area isn't big, but it doesn't matter if you are in the front row or the back by the bar, your face will be melted by some awesome music. There is also an area upstairs for private parties. I believe there is a bar up there as well, but I got some dirty looks from people for mistakenly walking into their uber-posh private party. I user uber and posh very extremely lightly. Simply put, go here, listen to music, drink, enjoy and have a laugh at the Famous Cock down the street just past Laycock Street. Had to do it, sorry. read more

I knew I'd like the Hope & Anchor upon spotting a signed poster by The Specials on the wall (amongst others...) -- it's got a massive punk rock history without being over the top about it. The basement room where all the gigs are held is certainly intimate. It feels more like a gig at a friend's house rather than a concert venue. The closer I can get to music, the better. The sound system is outrageous! Fellow Yelpers Noel J and Jennifer J likened it to the speakers they have at House of Blues San Diego, but in a place about 1/20th of the size. read more

A good spot in North London (Upper Street) if you are looking to see some grungy live music. The place has a history of punk rock bands including the Sex Pistols. Looks like a typical grungy pub with a seperate live music part. I quite enjoy it here - it's live & raw! read more

I don't know if I would have ever have been here if weren't for my housemate's troubled and short musical career. Dragged here under the guise of a supportive friend, I didn't really know what to make of the place. But as the years have passed I've really grown to love it. You can come here and listen to a random band on a weekday night and feel happy that you've done your bit for our music indusrty that seems to be falling apart! The pub itself upstairs is a fairly standard boozer but it must have been graced by some special people throughout the years. It gets lively in here on the weekends and it's somewhere you can have a lot of fun and be a little naughty and feel completely relaxed about it! I'd hate for this place to disappear from London's music scene, but I worry that places like this are becoming less useful in the cut throat and manufactured process of UK music today. Long live the Hope and Anchor! read more

I know, I know, the Hope and Anchor is historic and legendary and all of that, but... o well. I really hate giving reviews below three stars - and frankly, I think I'm pretty good at just not going into places that I think I would give a one or two star review - but sometimes it cannot be helped. The beer was overpriced for the selection available. The bathroom was beyond filthy and quite probably the most foul smelling room I have ever been in. The staff was rude and pretentious, and the same applies to most of the crowd that was there on that particular night. And, there's a sign outside that claiming that the Hope and Anchor is "London's Most Famous Live Music Venue". Highly dubious and a little too boastful. read more

I was drawn here like an anchor but it actually has sunk to the bottom and can never return. Ha! That's crap. No really I had always wanted to go here but we went one night and it was busy, with hardly any staff on - not their fault. What was their fault was when I asked for a white wine spritzer and got this weird cloudy apple juice colour thing, that wasn't fizzy, and I asked if it was indeed a white wine spritzer and the bar maid totally snapped loads at me. I was so confused in my own brain as to what a spritzer was that I just took it. It was not very nice. My boyfriends beer was dead flat too. And there wasn't any music so the atmosphere was a bit dead. read more

Swung by the Hope & Anchor the other night to check out a band from back home (Yay Canada!) The basement venue was small, but ideal as it gave the space a more intimate feeling. The AC was blasting - and if there were lots of sweaty bodies it would've been amazing, but since there were only a handful of us it was freezing! Main bar area is nice - they serve food (I didn't have any but it looked pretty good), and while we were there they had a drink special for ciders. Upstairs is a small theatre space - saw quite a few people heading up there, but I have no idea what was actually taking place. Since it's not in my 'hood, not sure how often I'd visit - so many bars and pubs, so little time, money and only 1 liver. Definitely will be back if another band or show I liked was playing. read more

Not the place to go for a cool evening or a good way to see hot up-and-coming bands, the Hope and Anchor could be accused of merely trading on its place in the history of punk and hence of London music. However, a devoted clientele ranging from old-timers to rock-obsessed teenagers, an upstairs pool table, a great jukebox and one of the last remaining dirty, sweaty pits-with-a-stage in London downstairs create the perfect atmosphere for a really fun, unpretentious night out. Catch a noisy unpolished band or drink and dance to bad indie at the weekend and you can't really go wrong. read more

Hope & Anchor - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I've been to the Hope and Anchor on two occasions. Once to see a progressive medieval rock band play in their basement venue, and another time just for drinks with a friend before a bank holiday weekend. The music event was mediocre. I can't fault the pub for hosting the band, but the acoustics weren't great and whoever was in control of the sound had a terrible time balancing it out. It was also super cramped in the basement and I can't believe I had to pay to stand in such a small space. This was in 2014 though, so things might be different now. Thursday I returned, having remembered passing the place recently and enjoying their punk inspired hanging sign. It was busy inside, with what appeared to be 2 work-dos enjoying pints spread across several tables and areas away from the bar. The bar itself wasn't busy though and the bar tenders were quick and friendly with my order. Once a show upstairs let out it became even more busy with groups of people chatting and walking past the tables. This place definitely has space for sitting, but walking about and standing with drinks is a different story. My drink was a standard gin and tonic, can't fault them for that. And it was comfortable enough spending some time here with my friend. Music on the jukebox was good, but probably a little too loud considering the size of the place. Overall this place is average with a twist I'd say - it's not an old man pub, but it's not some spectacular gem either. read more

I had a gig here a few weeks back and after soundcheck we had a lot of drinking time to kill before the actual show. Quite a casual, after-work vibe in there but I wouldn't say it's one of the best watering holes in the area. The bar staff seem to be there more for the music and gigs so aren't that helpful if you need a hand with your drinks selections (of which the choices aren't vast anyway). There doesn't seem to be much passing trade as it only got busy just before the show and emptied out immediately after which gives me the impression that perhaps people only come to this pub for the bands read more

Playing host to many up and coming bands, the Hope and Anchor in Islington is a great little, laid back bar which attracts as many music industry people as it does genuine fans. The main floor is full of easy-going people who take advantage of the fairly priced drinks. The downstairs music area is large with an additional bar and the acoustics are great. read more

I wouldn't go to the Hope and Anchor unless I was going to a gig there. As a pub it's pretty ropey - the beer selection isn't great, it's fairly grubby and the layout isn't great either. However, it is probably better than most of the bars along Upper Street, so that alone gives it a couple of brownie points. As a music venue though, it's good and has a long history to prove it. I'm not a big new music person - I only really go to places like this when it's someone I know, but on the occasions that I've happened upon the bands playing here, they've been really good. Bad pub - Good music venue. read more

As the other reviewers mention, it's a better music venue than a regular pub. Seen a couple of good bands here, from loud rock to singer songwriter types. Haven't seen a bad set yet! Upstairs at the top there's a pool table which can be a nice escape from the main bar. Downstairs is your average pub, not too expensive, not too fancy. Not too bad! read more

A great spot in Islington. Whether you're looking for a drink, a show in their black box theatre, a bit to eat or a music performance, Hope and Anchor has it all. I would definitely come back for more shows, which as I understand it, are constantly offered. read more

I visited on a sunny Sunday afternoon and was quite surprised to find it so empty! We ordered our drinks and sat down, that's when we heard all the building work going on upstairs and the emptiness all became clear. I'd quite like to give it another go on a non-refurbishment day as it looks like they have a lot of cool stuff going on, including a theatre upstairs. Hopefully my next review will have an extra star or 2! read more

Anchor's Away The Hope and Anchor usually does have some good bands playing. It's an average pub, but the live music is always appreciated. read more

Has had a refit, modern industrial. Food was fine, large selection of alcohol. Fantastic live music basement, small, great sound. Negative rating for staff. Manager James is rude - told me not to return if I didn't like it, as is the bar man told me to f*** off. No customer skills. Sack him, sack both of them. read more

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Hope and Anchor as it is the first place that my beloved Joy Division ever played. I went there with my cousin to shoot some footage for my film, and on another occasion just to get a drink with a friend. On both occasions, the staff was super cool, the tunes were rad (of course, it did not hurt that they were blasting the 24 Hour Party People Soundtrack) and my silly anglophile-loving soul loved the JD decor. read more

So essentially the angry man has laid right into the pub off the back of 1 of his songs being rejected? On top of this disproportionate craziness, he calls the manager a fascist and calls for him to be sacked...... because a song got rejected..... seems like its not the manager that is a fascist! I like this pub, Ive been drinking here for years and the current manager has done a lot more for the live music in this pub than the last one, by miles. To be honest, some of the music people put on at the weekend deserves to be rejected, nothing kills a good atmosphere quicker than "Everybody hurts" or some such miserable song, there seems to be a ton of stuff on there that should be removed. read more

This is not a great pub by day or early eve but it's good enough when there's bands which I think is almost every night of the week or at least thursday to saturday. read more