Fabulous pub. Food was great - I'm vegetarian and intolerant to gluten and some dairy so eating out can be a nightmare, but this pub was amazing. They have a... read more vegan menu with tons of choices - mix of fake meat and veg/lentil dishes -...and nearly all the menu, normal and vegan, are gluten free! Found out someone in the chef's family is gluten intolerant so this makes sense! 1st time in ages I've had a meal out and not had a reaction after. AND a bonus, the staff are great - thanks to Tom and Amy for making it such a great xmas lunch. REALLY popular spot so definitely book. More

  Had a fantastic night. Excellent food and mine hosts were really great. Part of a large group all enjoying great food and company

  Went at beginning of December for a pre-Christmas meal with friends. We all ate off the Christmas menu, three having turkey and two fish. All the meals were... read more generous portions and well cooked and tasty, of course. But the real gem is the staff. From...start to finish, without exception, all staff were incredibly welcoming, helpful and above all friendly. It makes a huge difference to your evening if you feel the staff are genuinely friendly. The pub was busy and the atmosphere was great. Still didn’t feel rushed at all with service. Thoroughly recommend. More

  Tried this pub having read a lots of good reviews. Definitely still a proper traditional pub serving fantastic home cooked food. I would definitely book a table in advance as... read more loads of people got turned away.

  We've visited several times on a Sunday lunchtime for a roast dinner. Although very busy on the first occasion, we were given a very warm welcome; both times the food... read more was excellent and plentiful. We will return.

  My friend and I visited today and felt very welcomed by the staff. We both had the lasagne, for me it was the best, cheesiest, lasagne I've had. I will... read more be visiting with another friend soon as the Gluten free menu has a great range too. Thank you to the staff.

  A Bar & Restaurant, Close To The River - The Crown & Anchor is situated close to the South Downs Way and in the city centre. There are bus stops and car parking spaces close by.

My initial... read more first impression of the Crown & Anchor was being overwhelmed with the amount of instructional signage - "prove you are old enough to drink", "no fake identification accepted""no standing at the bar". The latter I found rather perplexing. I did ask why they didn't want customers to stand and was given the banal and exhausted reason, "COVID". There are too many dictating notices and orders. People go to a bar to enjoy themselves.

The barman was polite and gave good service, and I overheard the Scottish lady being very polite to customers that she was serving. Some customers, rather cheekily ordered one pudding and wanted three spoons to share it! The staff remained professional and accomodated this request, none the less.

The decor was pleasant and smart. However, I would have liked a bench seat sans chair, as I find they offer a greater spinal support. The toilets were clean and pleasant smelling.

I did see a gorgeous white rabbit in the beer garden.

This is overall a good bar and restaurant.

  What a brilliant lunch, best roast in winch. Hot home cooked veg, very good portion roast pork and beef every one satisfied.

  We popped in here on the off chance and was really happy with the food and the service, we will definitely be back again
Thank you

  We called in on the off chance and it wasn't our first choice from looking at the outside. But we were so surprised...very friendly, efficient staff and an excellent lunch.... read more The vegan home made pie was one of the best I've had with great pastry and a chef that knows vegans need protein not just veg! Lovely presentation and really tasty. Reasonable price too. We will go back.

  This pub was a great choice. Felt comfortable the moment I walked in, the lovely waitress was bright, friendly and very accommodating. Her honesty was refreshing when she told me... read more the second I walked in that there are no tables available for at least half an hour as everyone suddenly came in just now. That was impressive for a start, because that told me if everyone descended on this place to eat, it simply must be popular. I said I would wait as two friends will be joining me. Then a chap walked in and she showed him to a table with a Reservation sign on the table. She asked if this was my friend, he then said I would be welcome to join him. What followed was really the unthinkable. I sat with this really lovely affable guy I had never seen before and we started a really fun, light-hearted conversation about Kung Fu and Bruce Lee of all topics. When I was trying to choose from the Menu, he said the Lasagne was very good and he might have that again, he also said he had the Sausage and Mash dish before and it was very good. Then the cheerful chap on the next Table overheard us talking about what to choose and joined in and said he thoroughly recommended the Lasagne, it is a very generous portion size, hot and very filling. By then I was so happy, comfortable and thought if this is the sort of great locals they have in this pub then I am very happy coming here again.

The lovely waitress then came back to say there is a half an hour wait for the food as the chef is snowed under with all these sudden orders but asked us if we wanted something to drink. By then, my two friends had turned up and joined us - by then we were all having a bit of a party. This lovely chap I had never seen before and the great guys on the table next to us were really delightful, very funny and loved their sense of humour. If these are the locals then am not surprised it was packed out.

All the tables were full and was really impressed to see that several tables had the Reservation signs on them, so this is one popular pub. The locals clearly make a happy relaxed and enjoyable ambience and by then all of us were talking about Lasagne, Bruce Lee, Tai Chi, Kung Fu. You name it - we were all talking about fun topics and loved the friendliness and lovely customer service the waitress was serving up. She had great customer service and bang on cue - in half an hour our Lasagnes were served with delicious looking triple cooked chips. This was one gorgeous Lunch. The Lasagne was Home Made and worth every penny. It was a very generous portion, very hot and cooked to absolute perfection - so top praise for the excellent chef who knew how to ensure we come here again. I was thrilled to see the chef went the extra mile by adding in grated carrots and chopped onions in the beef mince. The beef was perfectly tasty, just a hint of a garlic taste to it, the pasta was al dente and the Bechemel sauce was creamy and gorgeous.

Overall it was the great waitress who helped my first time experience here the best one I have had in a very long time. The food was superb and it was definitely home made, the chips were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Also the side salad was fresh and crispy, it had a really tasty dressing on top, it was so good and fresh I ate the lot and polished off every bit of the Lasagne. I did not waste a morsel as it was that good.

Also chatting and laughing with the local customers added to the mix. The two guys on the next table had great personalities and helped make it a very enjoyable visit. They were cheerful, friendly and fun to talk to.

I would definitely recommend this eating place to anyone who wants to drink and eat in a great pub which was in a very good spot near all the bus stops and the Park & Ride stop for travellers who are visiting Winchester for the day.

  Great pub - Had a great time today! Called in on the off chance with 2 dogs. The staff were so lovely, really welcoming! Ordered a roast which was absolutely delicious! My husband... read more had a vegan pie which he says was the tastiest thing he’s eaten in ages! Great service, clean and good value.

  Sunday roast. - Small but always busy Greene King pub opposite the King Alfred statue. Sunday roasts are very popular.

  Dropped in for a quick bite and drink. Two steak pies were really good, plus two gammon and eggs. Proper gravy too. Good prices for food and drinks. The lady... read more who served us was really helpful and seemed genuinely happy to look after us. Thank you. A good place to visit and great value.

  Nice bar staff steve and Mia. Where very helpful. Also lovely Sunday roast cooked by Jason who was also helpful. All gluten free food

  Decided to come here for a birthday meal with family and it was fantastic. The lovely Scottish lady (sorry didn't catch her name) that served us was very friendly and... read more welcoming. The food was beautiful and enjoyed by all, couldn't fault it. Will definitely be returning soon.

  Without being able to comment on the food, we dropped in for coffee. The service was unwelcoming and with mixed messages about either having to download an app to order... read more or speak to one of the uninterested staff. Prices for coffees were high, nice view of the quay notwithstanding; sugar came as a cube on the coffee spoon which had spilt and turned it into a syrupy mess in the saucer. Not a great impression - frankly we felt our presence for just drinks was viewed as an inconvenience.

  Fabulous pub. Food was great - I'm vegetarian and intolerant to gluten and some dairy so eating out can be a nightmare, but this pub was amazing. They have a... read more vegan menu with tons of choices - mix of fake meat and veg/lentil dishes - and nearly all the menu, normal and vegan, are gluten free! Found out someone in the chef's family is gluten intolerant so this makes sense! 1st time in ages I've had a meal out and not had a reaction after. AND a bonus, the staff are great - thanks to Tom and Amy for making it such a great xmas lunch. REALLY popular spot so definitely book.