Every village has a local pub, a cornerstone of community life where stories are shared, meals are enjoyed, and camaraderie flows as freely as the ale. Unfortunately for Kempsey, the Anchor Inn seems to have veered far off course, earning a less than stellar reputation as the worst pub in the village.
With unpalatable food, reports of underage drinking, and even intoxicated staff members behind the bar, the Anchor Inn is drawing attention for all the wrong reasons.
A Hotspot for Underage Drinking
Adding to the pub’s problems is the troubling reputation for alleged underage drinking. Several locals have voiced concerns about lax ID checks, with teenagers allegedly allowed to purchase and consume alcohol with no scrutiny. This not only flouts the law but also risks the pub’s license and, more importantly, the safety of these young patrons.
Underage drinking in a community setting can have endless consequences, from health risks to antisocial behaviour. The Anchor Inn’s apparent indifference to these issues raises serious questions about it’s management and priorities.
Drunk Staff Members: A Sobering Reality
As if the underage drinking problem wasn’t enough, reports have surfaced of staff members drinking on the job, and even appearing visibly intoxicated while serving customers. This behavior is not just unprofessional, it’s downright dangerous.
Drunk staff members are less likely to adhere to basic health, safety, and legal requirements. Their impaired judgment can lead to everything from poorly made drinks to conflicts with customers or mishandling of incidents in the pub. It paints a troubling picture of a venue where control and professionalism have gone out the window.
One review commented:
“The bartender was slurring her words and looked like she could barely stand up. It’s not exactly reassuring when the person serving your drink seems more inebriated than the customers!”
The Anchor Inn’s Downward Spiral
The Anchor Inn seem’s to be a pub adrift, losing the trust of it’s community with every passing day. It’s unappealing food, lax approach to underage drinking, ‘management sitting the wrong side of the bar’ and the reports of drunk staff members are tarnishing what could and should be a welcoming village institution.
If the pub is to salvage it’s reputation, drastic changes are needed. From implementing proper staff training and ID-check policies to the overhauling of the kitchen and enforcing professionalism with the managment, the Anchor Inn has a long road ahead.
Until these issues are addressed, it might be best to take your custom elsewhere. Kempsey surely deserves better than the chaos currently brewing at the Anchor Inn.
Where are your go-to pubs in the village and why? Is it The Talbot, The Crown or the Walter? 👇🏻
