Fox and Anchor

Unpretentious, long established (built in 1898) Smithfield pub serving huge portions of hearty victuals, breakfasts are a speciality. Smithfield Market is the main meat market for London - in a similar fashion to Covent Garden, which sold fruit and vegetables, whilst Billingsgate did fish; but Smithfield is the only one left in Central London, the others have long since moved out to more practical locations.

Traditionally pubs in market areas have been allowed to open very different hours, as the porters and other workers have to start work so early, and need to get their sustenance and, even more important, their ale.

Sticking to the tradition of early hours by opening for breakfast at seven o'clock, The Fox and Anchor or 'The Fox' as it is now known to its ever growing regulars is a real London pub. Situated in the heart of Smithfield it is an ale swallowing and English food lover's paradise. It has recently undergone a well deserved refurbishment, and has - as well as sticking with its old values of serving breakfast and a pint in the morning for those thirsty Smithfield butchers and celebrating city folk - also revamped its bar menu to great applause.

The Fox has upped the anti by extending its great range of unusual real ale and beers. You can still get a pint of Guinness but you will be pleasantly surprised with the range of other beer choices which all come from in and around the London area, even the lager!

Breakfasts run from the Full English: baked beans, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, eggs any way you like, mushrooms and black pudding at £8.95 along with other breakfast favourites such as eggs benedict £5.50, grilled kippers £8.95 and breakfast butties £3.50.

The bar menu will bring back memories of real English food, with bar snacks such as homemade pork scratchings, pickled eggs and cockles in vinegar alongside the main menu, with mouth watering dishes such as ham hock on the bone and parsley mash, potted pigs head with piccalilli and steak and oyster pie.

It is all terrific value, combined with a character that a modern reproduction would find hard to create. Reservations are taken for dinner only from 5pm onwards. With lunch it is a 'turn up early to guarantee your table' situation! Food is served Monday to Friday from midday to 10pm.