History and Significance of the Hope and Anchor
The Hope and Anchor, located at 207 Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington, is a historic pub and live music venue with a rich legacy in the music scene. First opening its doors in 1880, the venue became a pivotal site for the burgeoning pub rock movement in the mid-1970s. As pub rock began to wane, the Hope and Anchor seamlessly transitioned into a key venue for the punk rock movement, solidifying its place in music history. Today, it continues to operate as a pub and live music venue under the ownership of the Greene King brewing company, and it is recognized as a Grade II listed building.
The venue’s transformation into a music hub began when The Tally Ho pub in Kentish Town shifted its focus from rock to Irish music, leaving a void in North London’s rock music scene. The Hope and Anchor filled this gap, thriving under the management of Fred Grainger and Dave Robinson. Robinson would later co-found the influential independent record label Stiff Records with Jake Riviera.
In January 1976, the venue was acquired by Albion Management and Agency, which appointed John Eichler as the landlord. Facing numerous threats of closure, Eichler organized benefit events that saw well-known bands return to perform for minimal expenses, ensuring the venue’s survival. One of the most notable events was ‘The Front Row Festival,’ held from November 22 to December 15, 1977. This festival featured a lineup of pub rock, punk, and new wave bands, and the recordings were released as a live double album that reached number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.
The Hope and Anchor has been the site of several significant recordings and performances. In 1977, The Stranglers recorded their album ‘Live at the Hope and Anchor’ at the venue. The previous year, The Damned filmed the video for “New Rose” there, and later, Madness shot their “One Step Beyond” video at the pub. The basement also served as the recording site for the demo of “Between You and Me” from Graham Parker’s debut album ‘Howlin’ Wind.’ The venue appeared in the 1980 film ‘Breaking Glass,’ and in 2020, The Fierce and the Dead recorded their ‘Live At The Hope & Anchor EP’ there.
Verified venue information
| Location | Greater London, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Address | 207 Upper Street, London, N1 1RL |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Official website | www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk |
| Information checked | 2026-09-30 |
Map
Sources
Wikipedia / Wikidata / Official website
Image: Tarquin Binary / CC BY-SA 2.5 CC BY-SA 2.5
See the official website for the latest show information
Artists who have played here
- The Damned
- Madness
- Graham Parker
- The Fierce and the Dead
- The Stranglers
Names from the Wikipedia article.
