The 36 On The Quay restaurant was previously The Anchor Inn as shown above.
The Anchor Inn opened in 1820 and was very popular, as can be seen from the group standing outside its doors. Emsworth Slipper Sailing Club (ESSC) bought the building in 1963, turning it into a clubhouse, before selling it and moving to the Quay Mill in 1977.
Emsworth’s well known restaurant is hosted in a 17th Century building. In 1878 it was a Customs House, used to inspect local trade passing through the town. The customs officers charged a range of duties, depending on the goods being transported. Customs officers needed to be calm, assertive and resilient and possess excellent communication, teamworking and interpersonal skills. That’s because they had to deal with both rich and poor people that tried to smuggle in goods or didn’t always want to pay their taxes, just like modern times in fact!
Smuggling has taken place in Emsworth since the 14th Century, with goods often smuggled in with the catches of fish from Chichester and Langstone Harbours. Sometimes considered to have been the world’s first cocktail, the beer cocktail named huckle-my-buff was created in Sussex. It was originally made with smuggled French brandy and Harveys’ porter beer and is a hot drink consisting of brandy, beer, eggs, sugar and nutmeg.
Did you know?
There have always been rumours of a network of tunnels in Emsworth, with The Old Pharmacy as the main storage and with a secret room for smuggled goods. However it is more likely illegal products were brought in and moved using routes through all the connecting cellars that still exist in many local buildings and houses.
Today the building is the 36 On The Quay restaurant, referencing its previous North Street location, and even though it is now at number 47 South Street! This family run restaurant serves modern fine dining in a relaxed ambience, all with beautiful harbour views. It also has four double rooms you can stay in, sited in two cottages on the Emsworth quayside.
- Visit the 36 On The Quay restaurant and hotel website – www.36onthequay.com
- Learn more about customs officers and smuggling along the coast – click here
- Information courtesy of Emsworth museum – https://emsworthmuseum.org.uk