With a cement
works, quarry and coal-fired power station in the vicinity, this might not seem
the most promising location for a country inn. However, the latest venue in
this series of rural Vale of Glamorgan pubs is an essential stop on our tour. As the road nears the coast and curves towards Rhoose (directions below), you enter the hamlet
of
Established
in 1380, the Blue Anchor is certainly one of Wales
I was first
introduced to the Blue Anchor when the pub was recovering from a serious fire
in 2004 (which destroyed the thatched roof). The pub was still serving a
limited menu of excellent bar meals made from local produce (I remember
sausages), even though most of the rooms were closed for renovation. Our latest
trip was for a family lunch on Friday.
The side door
into the pub leads you to the small and very welcoming traditional bar. Immediately, you
know you are in a proper pub: stone-floored, real fire, row of real ale
hand-pumps. A narrow and surprisingly long stone passage takes you through to
the first in a series of small rooms for diners (where no two tables or antique
oak seats are alike).
For
starters, I had the smaller portion of the River
Exe Steamed Mussels (£5.45); with eldest daughter at hand to help me sample
them. These were relatively small but very tasty mussels, in a rich creamy
sauce and served with organic bread. The others shared Marinated Olives with Balsamic Oil and Fresh Organic Bread (£3.95).
This was superior bread for mopping up.
For my
main, I had Confit Duck Leg (£9.50),
served with puy lentils and pickled baby vegetables. Lentils can be a bit dull,
but not these; with aniseed, lemongrass and other flavours taking it in turns
to leap out at you. The lightly-pickled vegetables had intense flavour. The
duck was moist rather than juicy, and certainly delivered on the flavour front.
My partner
had the Homemade, Lightly Spiced
Vegetable Tagine (£8.25) with perl couscous, a larger grained type of
couscous. The vegetarian options on the menu are few, but even hardened
carnivores would probably find them tempting. The couscous was lifted by the
presence of preserved lemon, and was a great complement to the subtly spiced
vegetables.
The eldest
had a Caerphilly Cheese, Tomato and
Apple Chutney Baguette (£4.75), and particularly approved of the chutney. The
youngest had the Children’s Meal
(£4.95), choosing the burger, chips and beans option. This was substantially
more than she could eat; with good crispy chips albeit very salty.
Local
sourcing is part of the philosophy here. They even sell their own free-range
eggs at the bar. This is also a hostelry where you can eat without distraction.
There is no background music or TV screens showing sport. It’s quite a novelty
in a pub these days to hear the clinking of cutlery and the murmur of conversation as the
predominant sounds.
The Blue
Anchor is a freehouse, with a serious real ale bar. They usually have Wadworth
6X, Brains Bitter, Theakston Old Peculiar and Wye Valley Hereford Pale Ale.
These are supplemented with interesting guest ales. I went for a Jubilee Ale
(4.3%) from the Cardiff-based Bullmastiff Brewery.
In the evenings
(Mon-Sat), there is also a restaurant (up stone steps to an extension opened in
the 1990s) with an a la carte menu. On this menu you’ll find additional dishes
such as wild mushroom ravioli, paupiette of wood pigeon, panfried supreme of pheasant,
and roasted local venison.
The Blue
Anchor is without doubt one of the “hidden gems” among the Vale of Glamorgan’s
pubs.
Blue Anchor
Inn
Tel: 01446
750329
Take Port Road Pass Cardiff International
Airport , and take the left turn toward
East Aberthaw , the cement works and Rhoose.
The pub is on the left as the road starts curving to the left. There is a car
park across the road
See also:
Six Bells,
Penmark:
Blacksmith’s
Arms, Llanmaes
Plough and Harrow , Monknash
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