Exploring British Pubs in South Florida :: Blue Anchor Pub

South Florida is not known for its British pubs, largely because it's not in Britain.

Still, the Blue Anchor Pub in Delray Beach, Florida has a history tied to the islands across the pond.

The building itself was built in 1864...in London. Then, in the 1990s, it was torn down to make way for a parking lot. However, the building's parts were salvaged and shipped over to Florida in 1996 and rebuilt!

Supposedly the place is haunted by a vengeful young woman named Bertha Starkey, who was stabbed in the bar by her husband over accusations of cheating.

Ghosts and murder are a good start for any restaurant.

Plus, some of Jack the Ripper's victims are said to have spent their last night alive drinking at the Blue Anchor back in 1888. Even better, Winston Churchill himself frequented the pub in the early 1900s.

So, when I entered the bar, my hands touched the same doors as Churchill, Jack the Ripper's victims, and a ghost.

That said, the environment of the place is a little more tame in the light of the Florida sun.

_{Lots of dark wood, leaded glass, and carved bits. Feels British to me!}

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_{A side view of the place reveals the carved wood, bay window, and other classic architecture.}

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_{Inside, the place has the warm and woody atmosphere of a proper pub. Soccer/footie/whatever on TV, which attracts a lot of local fans.}

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_{Taking a peek down the other way, we see a group of soccer and beer fans, and lot of kitschy stuff tacked to the walls. I guess that's required in any restaurant.}

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_{Oh hello, what's this? True British beer, which is served from a cask and hand drawn (an effortful pumping action that left me feeling slightly guilty when I asked the serving...wench for a pint. She seemed to be able to handle it well, though.)}

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_{I tried all their hand-drawn ales except the Fuller's ESB; the wife ordered that one.}

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_{Proof of beer, which disappeared quickly.}

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_{Oh, and we ordered food. Fish fry, Irish boxtys (the round things) and roasted root vegetables (the vegetable things). The boxtys were amazing. I've not had them before, but they were great here. Boxtys are balls of garlic cheese whipped potatoes, crusted with more cheese, then flash fried.}

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All in all, it was an excellent experience. Lots of British accents all around (apparently this place is popular with native Brits), and the food tasted legitimate. The hand-drawn ales were a new thing for me, and fun to watch. Would go again!

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_{Photos by @negativer}

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