About This Pub
Ah, The Anchor – it's one of those pubs that really captures the heart of a community in Darwen. From what I've gathered, it's got that classic pub charm with friendly faces behind the bar who make you feel like you're catching up with old mates. The pints are spot on and won't set you back much, which is brilliant for a casual get-together or watching the footie on their big screens. I love the idea of sinking into the beer garden on a rare sunny day or enjoying the cosy inside setup when it's pouring down. They've got live music and entertainment nights too, so there's always something going on to liven things up. On the flip side, it's a bit gutting that they don't serve food, so you might need to pop elsewhere if you're peckish. And while most folks rave about the staff, there was that one off review where someone had a rough time with a bar person getting orders mixed up and being a tad short – it's not the norm, but it's worth keeping in mind for a smooth visit. Overall, it's a solid choice for a relaxed pint or a bit of craic with friends, and with such a high rating, I'd say it's worth giving it a go if you're in the area.
Pros and Cons
Pros
-
The staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, making you feel right at home as soon as you walk in.
-
Pints are reasonably priced, which is always a win for a good night out without breaking the bank.
-
The atmosphere is spot on – whether you're catching live sports on the big screens or enjoying live music nights, there's always a buzz.
-
They've got a lovely beer garden for those sunny days, and the cosy interior is perfect for a chat with mates on chillier evenings.
-
It's a great spot for relaxing with a quality pint, and the community vibe makes it feel like a proper local haunt.
Cons
-
Service can be hit or miss; one person mentioned a bar staff member being a bit rude and getting orders wrong, which might put a dampener on things.
-
No food on offer, which is a shame if you're after a bite to eat with your drink – it's just drinks and maybe some nibbles.
-
Opening hours start a bit late on weekdays, so if you're keen for an early pint, you might have to wait until the afternoon.
Contact Information
317 Blackburn Rd, Darwen BB3 0AB
+441254708869
Pub
Closed
Opening Hours
Monday | 14:00 - 23:00 |
Tuesday | 14:00 - 23:00 |
Wednesday | 14:00 - 23:00 |
Thursday | 14:00 - 23:00 |
Friday (Today) | 12:15 - 00:15 |
Saturday | 12:00 - 00:00 |
Sunday | 12:00 - 22:00 |
Recent Reviews
Brilliant pub . Amazing friendly staff and a dam good pint at a good price. Love sitting outside .lovely carvings table and chairs. Also a beer garden to the rear of pub . One of the best pubs in darwen.good staff. Good beer. What's not to like.
Went in for a pint before going to Darwen football ground, I'd say it's one of the cheapest pints I've had in Darwen. Coal fire going, so nice and warm. 👍
This is one of the best places to have a drink in Darwen at the moment tbh. Amazing staff, amazing atmosphere and you will definitely have an amazing time.
Lovely atmosphere but the lady on the bar was really rude. Got my order wrong then blamed me. I said one of the wrong drinks would be fine after she poured it as I then felt awkward, she was Adamant I still asked for the wrong thing when I didn’t and continued her attitude upon payment, it was not my fault she misheard my order and she tried to argue and say normal cider is what I asked for when I specifically said dark fruits. With experience of working on a bar, customer service needs to be improved and maybe a lesson in people skills as with over 5 years experience of working on a bar myself I would never dream of being like that with a customer. Trying to argue with customers isn’t very nice especially when I accepted the drink she made by mistake. The man on the bar however was very nice so I’m not sure maybe an off day? Other than that a nice pub with nice atmosphere but this interaction has really put me off especially being a new customer. I never write reviews and I’m not normally one to complain but this was really disappointing. Having just recently moved to the darwen area, the hunt for a new local still continues unfortunately, the anchor had so much potential.
Nice, friendly pub made us feel welcome only down side was no food :( but clean and happy pub
Nearby Pubs - Perfect Pub Crawl
Discover the 5 closest pubs to this location for an ideal pub crawl experience.
610 Blackburn Rd, Darwen, Blackburn BB3 0AJ
86/100
0.5mi
47 Blackburn Rd, Darwen BB3 1EJ
89/100
0.6mi
Off Riversway Dr, Eccleshill Rd, Lower Darwen, Darwen BB3 0SN
76/100
0.7mi
Alexandra View, Darwen BB3 1NL
85/100
0.7mi
Branch Rd, Lower Darwen, Darwen BB3 0PF
91/100
0.9mi