Stuart Forster reviews a stay at The Hope and Anchor South Ferriby gastropub in north Lincolnshire.
The Hope and Anchor is a gastropub with five guestrooms at South Ferriby in north Lincolnshire. The pub offers accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and is five minutes’ drive from the Humber Bridge.
Disclosure: I was invited to stay and dine at The Hope and Anchor, which did not review or approve this article. Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Hope and Anchor South Ferriby
Staying at The Hope and Anchor at South Ferriby means an opportunity to relax with a couple of drinks while dining on tasty, well-presented and reasonably priced food in an informal environment.
On clear mornings you’ll have a chance to view the sun rising over the Humber Bridge, starting the day suitably placed to explore the attractions of north Lincolnshire.
The Hope and Anchor’s location
The Hope and Anchor is a short drive from the southern end of Humber Bridge, which opened to traffic in 1981.
Look at a map and you’ll see that South Ferriby lies on the opposite side of the river to North Ferriby. It doesn’t take a doctorate in toponymy — the study of place names — to guess that both were formerly landing places for ferries crossing the broad water of the River Humber.
Admittedly, the pub’s proximity to a cement plant makes a negative first impression when approaching. That said, the hulking industrial landmark makes no disturbing noises and emits no odours, so does not impact the quality of an overnight stay.
Look towards the Humber and you’ll see reeds by the riverbank, waterfowl and have an impressive view of the suspension bridge spanning the estuary.
The centre of Hull is roughly 12 miles westward of the Hope and Anchor. Lincoln is about an hour’s drive to the south.
The look and feel of the pub
The building dates from Victorian times. The premises underwent extensive repairs and refurbishment following flooding caused by the Humber’s tidal surge of December 2013.
The pub reopened in March 2015 with wood-panelled walls and maritime-themed details. That included framed pictures of sailing ships, decorative ropes and a female figurehead complete with strategically placed shells protecting her modesty.
The pub has exposed ceiling beams, an open fireplace and neat stonework on the bar.
It also features a snug with leather armchairs. Diners with reservations tend to be seated in the conservatory, past the tropical fish tank, or in the back room, both of which offer views of the waterfront.
The riverside terrace is undoubtedly an attractive place to sit and enjoy a pint on a summer evening.
The Hope and Anchor opened five guest rooms in the autumn of 2016.
Accommodation at The Hope and Anchor
The Hope and Anchor’s five en-suite bedrooms are on the first floor. The bedrooms are accessible via a side door, meaning it’s possible to come and go when the pub is closed.
I stayed in the room named Pebbly Beach, one of three bedrooms with river views.
The cosy, carpeted room has modern furnishings, including a huge padded headboard.
A sizable television is mounted on the wall above the fireplace and a model sailing ship stands on its mantelpiece.
In addition to a kettle, for making tea and hot chocolate, the room has a Nespresso Zenius machine.
Pebbly Beach’s compact bathroom features a shower cubicle with a responsive, easy-to-use power shower.
The food and drink
Judging by the accents and snippets of conversations I overheard while dining, it’s evident that the food served at The Hope and Anchor is held in high regard locally.
The quality and value of dishes prepared by Slawomir Mikolajczyk and his team are reflected in a Michelin Bib Gourmand award plus two AA rosettes. If you plan on a weekend visit it’s advisable to reserve a table.
British cuisine forms the mainstay of the menu, which changes seasonally. As you’d now expect, vegan and vegetarian choices are available. The glass-fronted meat ageing cabinet is a clear hint that steak counts among the specialities of the kitchen.
After sampling a couple of Lindisfarne oysters, I opted to start with steak tartare.
The promise of fish landed at nearby Grimsby prompted me to order a main of beer-battered fish and triple-cooked chips served with tartare sauce and mushy peas. The fish proved delightfully succulent.
Though tempted by the crème brûlée for dessert, I chose the sticky toffee pudding. It was served in a skillet with a jug of custard.
Prior to taking my seat in the dining room, I ordered a pint of hand-pulled local ale from the bar. Despite the wine list having a handful of viable options, including a handful of wines served by the glass, I liked the look of the cocktail list which included a zinging Alabama Slammer.
What to do near South Ferriby
Waters’ Edge Country Park, 4.5 miles from The Hope and Anchor, is a 110-acre nature reserve with habitat for water birds. The family-friendly visitor centre hosts interactive exhibits and there are play areas for children.
Thornton Abbey, less than 10 miles away, was founded in 1140 and counted among the country’s wealthiest Augustinian estates. The abbey’s fortified gatehouse was completed in 1382.
Normanby Hall Country Park is a 300-acre estate with a Regency mansion once owned by the Sheffield family, to whom Buckingham Palace also formerly belonged. The grounds host a farming museum that is open during the summer.
The Deep, in Hull, is one of the United Kingdom’s largest and most popular aquariums, playing a role in conserving marine life.
Find ideas about things to see and do in the surrounding county on the North Lincolnshire and Visit Lincolnshire websites.
Hull and East Yorkshire lie on the north bank of the River Humber and are easily accessible from the Hope and Anchor in South Ferriby.
If exploring nearby historic sites such as Gainsthorpe medieval village and St Peter’s Church at Barton-upon-Humber appeals, take a look at the English Heritage website.
Book accommodation at the Hope and Anchor
Check room availability at The Hope and Anchor via Booking.com:
Booking.com
Map of the Hope and Anchor South Ferriby
The map below shows the location of The Hope and Anchor:
Google Map of the Hope and Anchor in South Ferriby. Onsite car parking is available in The Hope and Anchor’s car park.
Further information
The Hope and Anchor Pub is at Sluice Road in South Ferriby, North Lincolnshire, DN18 6JQ (tel. 01652 635334).
Stuart Forster, the author of this post, is an award-winning travel writer based in northeast England. He has written hotel reviews for The Independent, The Telegraph and Our Man On The Ground.
Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this review of The Hope and Anchor at South Ferriby. Enjoy staying in gastropubs? Take a look at this review of The Black Bull in Sedbergh, Cumbria.
Photographs illustrating this post are by Why Eye Photography.
If you liked this post why not sign up for the free Go Eat Do newsletter? It’s a hassle-free way of getting links to posts.
‘Like’ and follow the Go Eat Do Facebook page to see more photos and content.
Stuart stayed and dined at The Hope and Anchor in March 2019.
