Anne-Claire Heels visits the Hope & Anchor pub in South Ferriby, Lincolnshire
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? There’s been a country pub on this waterside site since the 1800s, and the Hope & Anchor in its present incarnation has been going since 2015. Informal and unpretentious, it overlooks the Humber Estuary (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) and is clearly a popular spot with both locals and visitors, offering five letting rooms and Michelin Bib Gourmand standard food. The sort of place where you feel comfortable the minute you enter amid the twinkly fairy lights of the bar, and are warmly welcomed by staff.
ANY LUXURIOUS TOUCHES? Big comfy beds complete with luxurious faux fur throws and cosy duvets, Nespresso coffee machines, large flat-screen TV, digital clocks with iPod docking stations, modern shower rooms with Duck Island toiletries.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE? Unfussy, but also stylish and spacious. Think countryside-meets-coast in terms of decor. The five rooms were only added to the offer in 2016, and they’re all dog-friendly as well.
BEST SEA VIEW? The Humber Estuary is right outside – watch the wading birds as you have your breakfast. And three of the five rooms have estuary views too, you can see the mighty miracle of engineering that is the Humber Bridge a little downriver to the east.
HOW ABOUT THE FOOD? The food here is the real star of the show. Chef-patron Slawek Mikolajczyk specialises in traditional dishes using the freshest seasonal ingredients (meat from the Lake District, fish landed nearby in Grimsby, and vegetables from Lincolnshire’s abundant farms), and a raft of awards is testament to just how good it is. I started with heritage beetroot with a goat’s cheese and truffle salad, the creamy richness of the cheese perfect with the tangy beetroot. It did exactly what you want a starter to do – really whetted the appetite for the next course. My main was Nori seaweed cod with buttered cabbage and hasselback potato, and every element of this beautifully presented dish was flavoursome and moreish. Being a big fan of citrussy desserts I was torn between orange marmalade bread-and-butter pudding or a lemon posset with fresh raspberries – the lemon won the day, and I was not disappointed. All around I could hear other diners remarking to staff that their meal was ‘delicious’ or ‘cooked to perfection’, and I would have to agree, it was an absolutely flawless meal. If you’re in the Humberside area but not staying overnight, try to go to the Hope & Anchor for the food anyway, you won’t regret it. Throw in local ales as well as wines and cocktails, and you might wish you’d booked a room after all…
WHAT WILL IT COST? Rooms start at £95 per night, £10 extra charge for a dog. Book at thehopeandanchorpub.co.uk or call 01652 635334.
Check out more coastal guides and places to stay by the sea here.
