No.21 - The Anchor Inn, Walberswick, Suffolk

Sunday 14th February, 2010
A Romantic pint in Walberswick!

Once all my cards had been opened, which took most of the morning (!), and little Florence had finished her lunch, we sped up the A12 to Walberswick, eventually arriving at about 2pm after negotiating one of the longest diversions ever, around the Darsham area.
We parked up in one of the sea front car parks and took a brisk stroll in the cold coastal air back towards The Anchor which we had passed on our way through the very picturesque village of Walberswick. To be honest I wasn't actually sure whether the pub was still Adnams owned as there was little evidence from the outside, but on entry to the place and asking the question to the bar staff, it was confirmed it was still Adnams - although the bar staff kind of hinted they were looking to break away from the chain!
Luckily we had timed it just right so that we had missed the lunchtime onslaught, the result of which meant there were plenty of tables and seats available. We set up base camp in one of the lovely warm side rooms and I visited the bar. On offer we had Broadside, Bitter, Spindrift and the lovely Oyster, which will be available from now until about Mid March.

The guys behind the bar were very friendly and chirpy and even asked if we had enough room where we were sitting, which was good of them. I took a detour on the way back to Flo and Clare with our pint and half of Oyster, and had a quick nose around. Out back behind the main bar area was a lovely looking restaurant which I guess would seat around 50. Large windows enable diners to look out across the lovely views of the marshes towards the sea and watch all the local sea bird life, which make their way down from Minsmere which is famous for it's Bird watching.

The Anchor was re-built to its current state back in 1920 after the original pub, The Blue Anchor, was demolished. During this demolition, smugglers tunnels and caves were discovered running right under the pub so the place has plenty of history to it.

As time was a little bit against us we finished our pints and said farewell. Before visiting the next venue we took a lovely fresh walk along the rugged sea front and Clare even hopped over the sea defenses and walked down to the see. Un-be known to us before visiting, Walberswick is only a walk round the coast from Southwold. While out taking in the sea air, we spotted a familiar lighthouse peering at us on the horizon!