Sail & Anchor

Freo legend stands test of time

Located in the heart of Dockerland, the Sail and Anchor has seen many a transformation. Built in 1854 and originally home to visitors staying in the port city, the old Freemasons' Hotel is no longer a place to rest your weary head.

This heritage building has undergone a facelift, and although only subtle, it's now made up of classy new touches mixed in with traces of the old, making it both stylish and comfortable.

The hotel's venue manager Niamh Kinahan showed us upstairs to the Lounge Bar where we were about to indulge in summer cocktails prepared by one of England's finest cocktail makers Paul, who is here on a working visa.

Having worked in the industry for nearly eight years, Paul designed the cocktail list himself so there are some twists on the classics as well as his own creations such as the delicious Apple Crumble.

The Lounge Bar itself is bright and spacious with modern furniture taking centre stage amongst the old style ceilings, arched doorways and open wood fires.

This sophisticated bar comes to life on weekends with funky house tunes setting the scene for a chilled out experience which is suited more for over 25s - larger groups and families tend to opt for the casual setting downstairs.

Watching Paul work his magic was like watching Tom Cruise in Cocktail. Cheesy but true. Tiffany wanted to know how many glasses he'd broken in his time.

"Thousands," he told us with a cheeky grin.

While waiting for our first drink we enjoyed our entrée, the Brewer's Plate and the Pumpkin Bruschetta, both of which were ample in size and would be great to share. The Plate was filled with ham, local cheeses, tomato relish, sausage and fresh bread and was as colourful as it was delicious.

I tucked into the ham first; cut thick off the bone it felt just like Christmas. The assortment of local cheese including fetta (my favourite) went down a treat and was finished off with some warm fresh bread. The Bruschetta, topped with roast pumpkin, thyme and fetta, melted in my mouth and was so yummy.

Paul then presented Tiff and me with our first cocktail, the Apple Crumble, and like most gals I love the finer things in life so when it comes cocktails the prettier and sweeter the better. This desert in a glass went down just a little too easy and the taste of the fresh cinnamon lingered on my palate well after my first sip.

Next up were the Double Beef Burger and Grilled Kangaroo. Now I have to admit I was a little hesitant about eating Australia's national emblem but in the name of research I went out on a limb and tried some. It looked just like any other meat dish, nestled on a bed of potato rosti surrounded by roasted vegetables in a red wine, although the taste is an acquired one.

Well into our mains Paul kept the cocktails coming, bringing his favourite the Highland Pear Drop and Caprioska.

The Highland Pear Drop is without a doubt one for the boys. With a whiskey base it's much stronger than the Apple Crumble but extremely refreshing.

The Caprioska is right up my alley. This invigorating drink practically screams with citrus flavours but isn't for the faint hearted. Very strong with just a hint of melon, it's one I will definitely be coming back for.

Having sampled all the cocktails I could, I sunk my teeth into the hearty Double Beef Burger. Served with bacon, cheese, tomato, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato relish and a side of chips, this meal would make any meat lover chomp at the thought. Scrumptious and very filling (thank goodness for loose clothing), it was everything I imagined and left me feeling more than satisfied.

Whether you're after something a little different or just some good old fashioned pub grub, the Sail and Anchor will definitely give you what you're looking for. The staff are friendly, the food is great and the atmosphere - well there's something here for everyone. Then again, I'm a little biased being a proud Freo girl myself.

By Belinda Cipriano