The Crown and Anchor

Very friendly bartenders and the crowd is very diverse. Atmosphere is very casual and friendly. Great for a drunk and a chat. Would return.

A cosy little pub, not much charm but a welcome respite from the bustle outside, particularly in nice weather when most people sit outside.
Draughts are pretty standard fare, with a few interesting ales now and then. The food, while tasty, seemed fairly cheaply made. I never had a lasagne with such a meagre amount of meat in it.
My friend came back from the toilet saying that they had reminded him of the cells they kept people in when he worked at the courts! Not a ringing endorsement it has to be said!
If you need a break from shopping, fine, come here, you’ll be decently catered for. If you’re on a night out, best to look elsewhere.

Again, I don’t know how people choose, but this pub just happened to be on our way back to the tube after a long day of sightseeing, so we wanted to grab a quick drink where it was nice, warm, and cozy.

I’d always avoided this place, as it’s in the bustling Seven Dials area of Covent Garden so always has loads of revellers drinking pints outside.
But after a very long day of sightseeing with visiting family, I was told that I someone needed a toilet (and fast) and someone else was unwilling to walk any more than a few more metres. So the Crown and Anchor was really the only choice.
I asked a lone gentleman at a table if we could sit down, and he agreed and then promptly left (take note, visitors — that’s how you finagle a seat in these parts), and then I went to the bar and got a round. They had Estrella on tap (+1) along with miscellaneous other lagers. They also had ale (Doombar!) and several wines by the glass.
Accessible indie music played while we got through two rounds.
Suitably refreshed, my visiting family shook the hand of a dashing chap sitting at the table next to us who was wearing a plaid suit and bowtie and then we left. That part was sort of embarrassing. But, this is all to say, this cosy little pub is a good mix of tourists and (eccentrically dressed) locals. I wouldn’t mind going back.

Small square pub with restaurant/​hire room above.
Not much seating. There are four ales on tap, standard lagers.
Friendly place.

I’m still on the hunt for the great english pub. Crown & Anchor is in a great location and is easy to spot. I watched a world cup game there (Italy vs. NZL) and there a good crowd and atmosphere.
The pints were expensive (3.80 for a Guinness) and the layout doesn’t allow for a lot of seating.

Strange sort of pub really — quiet and yet barely anywhere to sit at the same time. A couple of lagers on tap but nothing here to really set it apart from any other Covent Garden drinking spot.

A decent pint is always welcome and served here. It’s like a party in the street in the springtime when everyone can stand outside and drink.

I really like the Crown and Anchor. It is an old pub that has a modern feel to it. I get the impression it’s more like a chain pub because of its modernisation, however it’s still a pleasant place to go and they offer pub grub at a fairly reasonable price for the area. The drink prices aren’t too extortionate either. It’s a nice place to grab lunch and take a break from your shopping spree.

The Crown and Anchor is perfectly located on the corner of Neal Street and Shelton Street. It is great for a drink outside as although there is no designated seating area, there is a great atmosphere, especially in the summer.
The interior of the pub is pretty standard but has good views onto Neal Street if you like to partake in a bit of people watching. The restaurant area is upstairs which actually feels quite claustrophobic and minus any atmosphere and serves an average selection of dishes. The portions I found slightly small and both times I have eaten here, I have waited around 40 minutes and the food was quite cold.
The pub’s exterior is still quite attractive however and it is located completely in the midst of the arty Neal Street action which makes it a nice place to stop for a glass of wine in between shopping!