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Anchor Inn, High Offley

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Operator: Independent
Peggs Lane, Old Lea, High Offley, ST20 0NG (View on Google Map)
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An unspoilt example of a traditional canalside pub. Built around 1830 on the Shropshire Union Canal, England's last built narrow trunk canal. It has been run by the same family since 1903. The right-hand room has a quarry-tile floor, two high-back settles, window bench and scrubbed tables which create a timeless atmosphere. The pub may be open weekday evenings during the summer but always check in advance before travelling to the pub. It is always advisable to check if travelling any distance. There is a stepped entrance to the pub but a wheelchair access ramp is available. Entrance to the bars is on the level. Toilets are outside and access is on the level. The pub has a shop selling many different items and various shirts with the Anchor Inn logo. Canal mooring available and canal fishing rights are owned by pub with a daily charge, free for those camping or caravanning on-site. The pub is rated at Three Stars on CAMRA's National Inventory of important historic pub interiors.' Consult https://camra.org.uk/heritage-pubs for more information.

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Historic Interest

Traditional canalside pub, interior unchanged since the 1960s

Information for this venue is provided by the Heart of Staffordshire Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Stafford District (B)
Last updated
01/03/2025
Last surveyed
02/02/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
STA/1725
Asset of Community Value

Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance

Listed status: Not listed

Probably the most unspoilt example of a canal-side pub, with the front door facing the water rather than the road, it has been in the same family since 1903.

The Anchor was built around 1830 to serve the Shropshire Union Canal, England’s last trunk narrow canal, completed in 1835 and the last major project of the great engineer Thomas Telford. The right-hand room is the one that really counts, with its quarry-tiled floor, two high-backed settles, window bench and scrubbed tables; the ensemble creating a timeless atmosphere. The bar counter was installed in the 1960s and is decorated to resemble a narrow boat. The left-hand bar was also refitted in the 1960s in the taste of the time. Beer is normally served on hand-pump but, on request, can be fetched from the cellar in a jug. In winter only opens Fri evenings and Sat lunchtimes and evening plus Sun lunchtime but best to ring before a visit.

General information about historic pub interiors

Users of the canal system in the early 19th century were well supplied with pubs - this is one of them with the Shropshire Union Canal passing right by the front lawn (and for those travelling by boat it is near Bridge 42). It is probably the most unspoilt remaining example we have left of a genuine canalside pub i.e. built c.1830 (and formed part of a smallholding) for canal traffic so it has a front door that faces the canal, not a road. It has been in the same family since 1903. The history of the family, and the pub, appears in a framed article from the Shropshire Star (March 2009) on the wall.

There are two rooms and it is the right-hand one that is the reason for inclusion in this list. The very small room has a red quarry-tiled floor which is partly 19th-century and partly modern. There are a couple of fine old high-backed settles, one creates a passageway from the front door to the servery; the other is curved with cupboards and drawers. The fireplace is a mid-20th-century replacement; the basic seating around the bay window and scrubbed top tables add to the unspoilt atmosphere.

There are only a handful of similar rooms or snugs formed of two or more high backed settles left in the whole of the UK. They can be found at the following Heritage Pubs – the Holly Bush, Mackeney, Derbyshire; Malt Shovel, Spondon, Derbyshire; Green Dragon, Flaunden, Hertfordshire; Red Lion, Kenninghall, Norfolk; North Star, Steventon, Oxfordshire; Kings Head, Laxfield, Suffolk; Bell & Cross, Holy Cross, Clent, Worcestershire; Old White Beare, Norwood Green, West Yorkshire; Red Lion, Llansannan, North West Wales; Crown, Snape, Suffolk; Wheatsheaf, Raby, Merseyside; and Galway Arms, East Retford, Nottinghamshire;

Until the 1960s one stood at the top of the steps to the cellar to be served. In about the early 1960s the family built and installed a bar counter, which is decorated to look like a narrow boat. This still is one of few pubs left in the country where the draught beer is fetched from the downstairs cellar and served by a plastic jug, but nowadays only by request to Elaine, daughter of licensee Olive Cliff, who now serves the Wadworth's 6X by the handpump but does top it up using a plastic jug! Other Heritage Pubs still using a jug to serve at least one real ale are the Barley Mow, Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire; Holly Bush, Makeney, Derbyshire; Star, Bath, Somerset; Dyffryn Arms, Pontfaen, Pembrokeshire, West Wales Falcon, Arncliffe, North Yorkshire; and Cresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay, Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

The left-hand bar was refitted in 1960s when a large picture window was cut into the wall and a small mock Tudor bar counter added. The basic bench seating around the bay window is old, but the fireplace is a 1960s replacement. The guest book has testimonials from Ozzy Osbourne, actress Penelope Keith and actor Tony Briton. The only food served is sandwiches and toasties. The pub has won awards for the large floral displays created by Elaine. In the outbuildings there is a canal craft shop which is open whenever the pub is. Outside gents' and ladies'. The Caravan Club-approved field attached to the pub welcomes both caravans and campers - the Anchor was awarded 'Best Public House CC' in 2008. Please note that from the end of September to Easter the pub is only open on Fri evening, Sat lunch and evening plus Sun lunch but best to ring before a visit.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Monday
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Tuesday
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Wednesday
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Thursday
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Friday
7:00pm - 11:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 3:00pm & 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 3:00pm & 7:00pm - 11:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves no changing beers and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen
Wadworth 6X Pump Clip
Wadworth - 6X Session Bitter • 4.1% Spotted 10 times
Wadworth 6X Pump Clip
Wadworth - 6X

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4.1%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 10 times

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Facilities
Garden Garden
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Ramp available for entry to pub, level access to outside toilets
Parking Parking
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Camping Camping
On site, camping & caravans
Games Games
Real Fire Real Fire
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Smoking Smoking
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Ordnance Survey Reference
Directions
By bridge 42 of the Shropshire Union Canal. On A519 @Woodseaves turn W on High Offley Rd by chapel , turn L on Peggs Ln

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