The Blue Anchor
Upon your arrival at The Blue Anchor Inn, you're greeted by unspoilt old granite and a thatched roof, and once inside, a series of small beamed rooms served by a central corridor. Flagstone cover the floors, tables have been fashioned from old beer casks, one room even has a cosy inglenook fireplace - perfect for late night chats over an award-winning Spingo Ale (or two)!
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In the 1400s, when the pub first began, it was a monk's resting place. During a time when the water was unsafe to drink, the inn naturally made ale for the monks and has continued to brew ever since, using water from its own well, and the finest quality British ingredients. Traditional brewing methods are still embraced today, and smoke can often be seen from the chimney of the brewery at the rear of the pub.​ The Blue Anchor Inn also boasts a skittle alley at the rear of the property, and an outdoor sheltered seating area. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Patrick Carroll has written a fantastic piece on the history of the pub, 'Demythologising My Local', click here to have a read.
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But, there is no point lingering on ghosts of days gone by - nowadays the pub is run by Ben and Jenine on behalf of Ben's parents, Kim and Simon Stone. Ben Stone can often be found in the brewery making the latest batch of Spingo, and partner Jenine can be found either behind the bar or working away behind the scenes upstairs, accompanied by dog Bernie! You can learn more about the team behind Spingo here.
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Over the years we have built up a good reputation as local fundraisers, raising money for the young & homeless of Helston and surrounding areas., local animal charities, and sports teams. We are also big sponsors of Helston Bowling Club & Helston Town Band. You can find out what events we are hosting, from live music to charitable fun shows, on our Events page.
Our Beers
​Spingo Ales are produced using water from our own well and made using the finest quality British sourced ingredients, whilst still created using traditional brewing methods and equipment. The Spingo name derives from the word 'Stingo', a word used in the old English dictionary, to describe British strong beer. According to legend, Spingo Ale has been brewed on the premises of the The Blue Anchor Inn for approximately 600 years!
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The team at the Blue Anchor are passionate about their craft, and their dedication and skill have earned the company many regional & national awards.​​ Described by Camra as the beer lovers mecca, we have featured in every edition of the Good Beer Guide! ​ The Blue Anchor is one of only 4 original brew pubs left in the country, still brewing today. The brewery itself is situated at the rear of the Blue Anchor, built sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Beforehand Spingo was brewed in the confines of the actual pub.
Be sure to come on down to the pub for a Spingo, or even purchase a bottle online via our online shop.
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Ghosts of The Blue Anchor Inn
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As with all old buildings, especially in Kernow, The Blue Anchor has several of its own ghost stories. An employee once told a story of working early one winter morning, and as the sun was just rising, he glanced towards the front window and saw the silhouette of an old farmer, in a wide brimmed hat. He saw the apparition walk across the room, through the closed front bar door. Both staff and customers have heard footsteps crossing the floor upstairs too, and even mentioned the time that the pub bell rang in the middle of the Monday night pub quiz, even though all could see that no-one was anywhere near it.
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The 18th century provided The Blue Anchor Inn with an array of shocking murders and mysteries. In 1719, it was noted that the landlord had been stabbed whilst trying to break up an argument in the pub.​ Mr James James is listed as the pub landlord in historic documents in 1782, and just 9 years later, Mr. James was murdered. In 1791, William Willoughby and John Taylor, two soldiers of a Yorkshire regiment billeted in the town, were refused a drink by James after hours. One then proceeded to strike him in the head with a bayonet. The two are named at the top of a framed list, displayed in the front bar of the inn, “Victims of the Scaffold 1790-1862”. Willoughy was hanged in Bodmin for his crime.
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The property's well was the final resting place for a man who, in 1828, fell into it. More famously, later on 1849, landlord James Judd was found hanged in the skittles alley.
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Why not come along to the pub, and experience the aura of over 600 years of history?
Artwork depicting the hangings of Cornwall, including the crime of the landlord having his head hit with a bayonet!
