This long, hot summer would have been perfect for a few drinks at the Anchor & Hope pub on the Charlton riverside – had it not been closed for 17 months.
Greene King, the hospitality giant which owns the building, says it is hoping to reopen its doors and bring the pub “back to its very best” – but Charlton Athletic fans are calling for it to be reopened this season.
The much-loved venue closed its doors in March last year after the sudden death of its landlord. The keys were handed back to the building’s owner, Spirit Pub Company (Leased) Ltd, part of Greene King.
Since then, the pub has been squatted and is now boarded up. The beer garden with views of the Thames has been stripped of furniture and the seafood stall taken away.
The current building is thought to date back to 1899, but it is believed there has been a hostelry there since Tudor times, when it had its own pier as the only means of access was via the Thames.
It has long been a favourite of local workers, Thames Path walkers and fans heading to and from matches at The Valley, a short walk away.
With only a handful of close neighbours, the pub would even have live music out in the beer garden. One drinker commenting online said the pub was a “mix between The Long Good Friday and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.
But for the first Championship match of the season at The Valley on Saturday, the beer garden will be empty and silent – as it will be for the club’s debut in the top-tier Women’s Super League next month.
Despite the lengthy closure, Greene King said it was hoping to bring the pub back – but could not say when. A spokesperson told The Greenwich Wire: “We are exploring options to reopen the Anchor and Hope including an investment to bring the pub back to its very best. It’s early days at the moment but we hope to provide an update in the near future.”
The Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust called for the pub to be reopened this season. Heather Alderson, the vice-chair of the trust, said: “’The Anchor and Hope is a great pub and on a sunny matchday by the river, it’s the closest any Addicks are going to get to the Mediterranean.
“It would be great if Greene King could open the pub for the 2026/27 season. It’s a home and away fans’ favourite as well as a great place to meet up around watching Charlton in the Women’s Super League. A pint of beer, a pint of prawns followed by Addick & Chips. Yes please and quickly.”
Another Charlton fan favourite, The White Swan, closed in 2020, and is the subject of a local campaign to turn it into a music and arts venue. The Antigallican, used by away fans, closed in 2018, with fans of opposing teams now usually routed to The Angerstein Hotel in Greenwich.
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