On 1 Jun 2009 at 10:55am Pete wrote:
We rowed from Lewes to the Anchor Inn at Barcomb on Sunday in a Kayak but were unable to go any further because we were stopped by a member of staff from the pub. He said we couldn't paddle down the river past the pub because they owned the land around it - however, they do not own the river itself. So does anyone know if we would be lawfully allowed to row past the Anchor Inn?
On 1 Jun 2009 at 11:07am Emmeline wrote:
Pretty sure that is illegal on the Anchor's part to stop you, maybe they should focus their staffing on serving people. Last time I was there, two weeks ago, the queue was outside the door. New management in there.
On 1 Jun 2009 at 12:13pm Ed Can Do wrote:
You should have ignored them and carried on. I mean, what would they have done, waded in and capsized you?
The new owner is a bit of a wide-boy by all accounts, doing his best to alienate all the old customers.
On 1 Jun 2009 at 12:14pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Owning the land surely does not give you the right to control traffic on the river? If it does, the law needs changing!
On 1 Jun 2009 at 2:17pm Smiler wrote:
I had the same thing happen to me last weekend. I took the canoe off the car and before it hit the ground some bloke ran up and made sure i knew I couldn't go up river (I was going down towards Barcombe Mills anyway as that s much more interesting)
I thought the National Rivers Authority owned the rivers
I think the Anchor does have some rights regarding the boating ie. they are the only ones that can charge for it but that shouldn't stop you canoeing on it yourself
On 1 Jun 2009 at 2:21pm Dave wrote:
Actually the land opposite the Anchor is owned by Boathouse farm
On 1 Jun 2009 at 2:39pm THEINTREPIDFOX wrote:
The following might demystify things a bit? Trespassing, Access Rights, Canoe Routes, Different Authorities plus a facility to contact them to enquire: www.riversaccess.org/pages/pv.asp?p=rac30&fsize=0
On 1 Jun 2009 at 8:03pm Fishy Waters wrote:
I've been told by a very reliable source that the next Lewes Raft Race will start off in Barcombe..
On 1 Jun 2009 at 8:32pm Long Distance Whelker wrote:
Who wants to join me in a quest to find the source of the Winterbourne? Meeting 9am on Sunday morning on the Grange Gardens.
On 1 Jun 2009 at 8:46pm Lie a bed.... wrote:
Bit early for a Sunday??
On 1 Jun 2009 at 9:00pm Humdrum wrote:
There are only two possibilities with the river at Barcombe. Either private kayaks and the Anchor boats are allowed... or neither are allowed. The British Canoe Union have already looked into the rights for the non-tidal section of the Ouse and have found that access to navigate is open to all.
On 1 Jun 2009 at 10:54pm THEINTREPIDFOX wrote:
I wonder what the moral standpoint is on taking money from a business that alienates the locals and won't let you canoe past their premises? I for that matter would tell them to f*** themselves with a very clear explanation why and serve notice to find another supplier. But it's not my business.
On 2 Jun 2009 at 8:06am MD wrote:
Aparently the owners of the Anchor Inn Barcombe are attempting to change it from a country pub to an "attraction". Maybe they are using Birling Gap as a role model.
On 2 Jun 2009 at 11:00am Pete wrote:
Thanks everyone for your comments. It seems though that the rules in the UK are not favourable for canoeists.
LDW, I'd be interested in locating the source of the Winterbourne but I've also always wondered where it goes after the grange and where it meets the Ouse - underground?
On 2 Jun 2009 at 11:58am Smiler wrote:
It meets the near the entrance to the Railway land I think
On 2 Jun 2009 at 1:11pm Long Distance Whelker wrote:
Pete, I suspect it begins somewhere near Falmer and joins the Ouse in the railway land. Meet me at 9am in the grange gardens on Sunday and we'll investigate together. I'll be wearing my short sleeved safari suit and pith helmet so you should spot me
On 2 Jun 2009 at 3:11pm Merlin Milner wrote:
I spoke with the EA and I am afraid it looks like the landlord is correct. Whoever owns the bank owns the navigation. If however the Anchor only owns one side then their ownership stops at the middle of the river. However one would still need the permission of the other owner to travel. This stretch is above the tidal part of the river and is not the responsibility of the EA for naviagtion. Canoe England are trying to get the law changed, the law is different in Scotland I understand. Something the EA have done before, with similar cases, is to get the various parties together and facilitate a discussion and hopefully a compromise.
On 2 Jun 2009 at 5:13pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Some more infor from the EA
As discussed earlier this afternoon I attach a link to the canoeing pages on the Environment Agency's website. environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/canoeing/31513.aspx
Here you will see some useful documents aimed at helping canoeists negotiate access to stretches of water where no public navigation rights exist.
Some advice on this issue may also be available from the British Canoe Union. I believe the local rivers Advisor for the Sussex Ouse is Mr John D Cattermole, 12 St Pancras Green, Kingston, Lewes BN7 3LH, Tel: 01273 472 760.
On 2 Jun 2009 at 11:46pm Dumpty wrote:
The Anchor Inn, Barcombe is claiming to have bought navigation rights to the Ouse above the Anchor weir. This is impossible. This stretch of water is open to all to paddle non-powered crafts as public navigation on the Ouse was enshrined in three laws, the first dating from 1812. The Anchor can only stop you embarking or disembarking on land owned by them. This does not amount to very much land at all and you can always use the bank on the other side (owned by Boathouse Farm)
On 3 Jun 2009 at 12:34am Dog in a Manger wrote:
how pathetic are these new owners - have they only bought the pub to play at Farmer Palmer? Get Orff my Rivah!!
w@nkers
boycott!!!!!!!!!!!
stop you driving down the road outside the pub (if there was one) next I suppose - like to see them shouting at the planes flying overhead as well
ha ha ha ha ha
On 3 Jun 2009 at 9:50am TDA wrote:
In summary:
Mr Pratt becomes the boss of riverside Pub A; Mr Pratt starts living up to his name - he thinks his business will suffer and he will lose revenue by letting other people use boats other than those hired from him; what Mr Pratt doesn't know is that if he did exactly the opposite, and encouraged more people with their own craft to use the river next to his pub, he would get more people buying his beer, food AND hiring his boats to people who like occasional trips on the river; what would have stayed a popular destination for customers now goes slowly to rack and ruin as less and less visitors visit; Mr Pratt sells up and goes back to Taxi Driving or whatever he is capable of; Pub A is bought by a well-off chap who sells off all the boats and sinks jetty. Sign at entrance: Private Property.
The End.
PS. Perhaps we could start printing these off and leave them on the bar and tables so he gets the hint?
On 3 Jun 2009 at 11:11am Cockney Anchor wrote:
I was there on sunday, when the pub and boating were absolutely packed due to the sunny weather, and overheard the landlord announce he'd pulled in £100k in the last 4 weeks. Unfortunately, he seems to be pleasing lots of people because of the unique nature of the location.
I fear not enough people will boycott the place in good weather.
On 3 Jun 2009 at 1:25pm Accountant wrote:
100 / 4 = 25k a week.
25k / 7 = 3.5k (at least) each day.
Suppose each customer spends £20 each and every day,
3500 / 20 = 175 customers every day.
Just curious...
On 3 Jun 2009 at 3:56pm Ed Can Do wrote:
Yeah, I suspect he was massaging those figures somewhat. Most Lewes pubs will take £2,000 to 3,000 on a busy Friday or Saturday. I think the Lamb took 7,000 odd the first time they did a school disco night there and that was wall to wall people from seven in the evening till it shut. Even busy Brighton pubs rarely hit 25k in a week.
On 4 Jun 2009 at 9:36am Spartacus wrote:
Does Any one know if there is a Lewes or Ouse bases canoeing club/group/organization etc (apart from the Lewes Rowing and Sailing club - that does no rowing and very little sailing) that is trying to get the correct permissions to row/canoe on the Ouse?
If not someone should set one up... not me of course, I'm a maanaist.
On 4 Jun 2009 at 3:36pm Anchor Past wrote:
As the former owner I am sorry people are having these problems. To cheer you up, that place never takes that sort of money, go and ask him what he takes in Jnauary, you will find the smile on the other side of his face and the River Ouse in his bar!!
On 4 Jun 2009 at 4:07pm Lord Landport wrote:
Anchor Past you are dearly missed ?
I agree with you he's not taking that much ? 100k a month if this was true
you wouldnt be known as anchor past and we wouldnt be having this post
1.2million a year from a vilage pub nice.
you also didnt mention Barcombes regular powercuts causing problems to the pub.
but did laugh when you mention ouse in the bar as I have seen first hand this.
just to prove that 100k a month he doesn't need canoists or live music
check this out
www.anchormusic.co.uk
On 4 Jun 2009 at 4:52pm RiverBoy wrote:
I heard it takes £400k in an average year... and virtually all of that in summer. I imagine turnover is very dependent on the weather though.
I've been there when the river has been rising too. It's quite exciting (but then I don't own it).
On 4 Jun 2009 at 5:38pm Lord landport wrote:
Interesting point if the new landlord owns the river what can he say when it floods the bar.? its a bit like your own dog peeing on your own carpet
On 4 Jun 2009 at 9:19pm King Canute wrote:
Usurper!!!!!!
On 4 Jun 2009 at 11:00pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
And makes it pretty pointless banning dogs from the bar!
On 4 Jun 2009 at 11:52pm Tax Payer wrote:
spotted that today - NO DOGS sign - and a bowl of nearly boiling water for them in the garden- in fact all of the ketchup,mustard, tartare sauce etc sachets were gently simmering on a table in the garden too
On 5 Jun 2009 at 8:24am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I think we should have the equivalent of a mass trespass, but on water. If we could beg/borrow lots of canoes and suitable small boats, we could launch them from somewhere else and paddle up the river in a flotilla.If there were lots of people he'd be hard pressed to do anything about it.
It'd get loads of publicity and might shame him into being more reasonable.
Those uneasy about being on water could beg or borrow a dog and turn up with them, get the animal lovers all up in arms too.
I think it would be brilliant. After all, it's a good two years since we had a protest against a pub's policies.
On 5 Jun 2009 at 12:43pm Cockney Anchor wrote:
The numbers of cars and people there on a sunny weekend is huge. The figure probably includes the amount taken on the boats, and wedding venue hire- a licence to print money.
They've had half term as well to boost the income. But it's a bit quiet there in the winter as has been pointed out.
A cheap day out it is not......unless you walk there & picnic on the opposite bank
On 5 Jun 2009 at 7:39pm RiverDude wrote:
Not a cheap day out or even a nice day out.
On 5 Jun 2009 at 9:04pm scooba wrote:
My understanding to canoeing above anchor gates is the proprietor of the anchor pub mr s thomas doesnt want anyone there full stop, but informed general opinion is he has every right to stop you launching your canoe from his land, But boathouse farm own the other bank and there is a right of way past the public house across a bridge owned by the EA that gives you access to the water abover anchor gates all the way up to Isfield gate and also via another route to sutton hall weir and from this side it is possible to launch your boat unmolested by Mr Thomas .
It does appear he seams to have positoned cones across the road to cause more inconvenience please just move them to the side and pass the anchor public house cross the bridge and launch from boathouse farm side
Enjoy your canoeing and the beautiful views of the upper ouse
On 6 Jun 2009 at 7:19am Peter wrote:
The raft race always starts at lewes boat yard because of easy launch. Also theres a large weir at hamsey island. NOW! The new owner at the anchor has deverstated the place cut down a 300year willow tree and cut the hedge to half the hight. The new look is a disgrace to the countryside, whats the parish council doing about it.
On 6 Jun 2009 at 8:15am Tree expert wrote:
300 year old willow ??? love to know where this rumour came from !!!
On 6 Jun 2009 at 9:02am BoatingBoy wrote:
He has cut down the lovely old willow. It is old but 300 years? The next person to go there could count the rings perhaps? The stump is there and now used as a table.
On 6 Jun 2009 at 10:10am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
What a complete sh!t this man is turning out to be. It would be wonderful to discover the willow was subject to a TPO.
And isn't it a bit early to start decimating hedges? Won't he have disturbed nesting birds?
I feel a letter to the clerk to the council coming on........
On 6 Jun 2009 at 1:10pm I hope wrote:
After reading about me pratt i agree 100% he is a knob,.I hope the accountant points HMRC to these wonderfull quotes by mr s thomas so the relevant tax is collected
On 6 Jun 2009 at 8:01pm ladedah wrote:
Allegedly a wedding there went very pear-shaped indeed and there is talk of legal action against the owner of the Anchor Inn
On 7 Jun 2009 at 10:25am wow wrote:
Some interesting posters on this thread;
* a Lewes councillor
* the previous owner of the Anchor Inn, Barcombe
* an Environment Agency employee (or might be Highways dept. employee)
* an ex-Anchor member of staff (I might be mistaken about this one)
All we need to complete the thread are the Boathouse farmer, the British Canoe Union and perhaps the present owner of the Anchor Inn.
On 8 Jun 2009 at 6:53pm Anchor Past wrote:
In fact, you can park in Anchor Lane should you wish (bit of a squash) and launch from the other side of the river. Mr Thomas can do nothing about this as the other side the public have a right to access. This is greed and stupidity on a huge scale and I can only hope that the word spreads, keep up the good work!