The Crown and Anchor

The Cranker (as it’s known throughout the city) is an old pub reclaimed by a younger generation. That’s not to say it’s modern. The AC/DC pinball machine in the corner indicates that it was last updated around 1982.

The Cranker connects with its loyal locals because it speaks of a simpler time; one they remember only faintly. The walls are filled with vintage signs and advertisements that appeal to a larrikin sense of humour and there’s a self-labelled “mystery shot” in a dust-covered bottle behind the bar.

The pub’s fans congregate on Wednesday nights for $3 schooners, where beers and ciders are stockpiled to save multiple trips to the bar. Live and local bands provide the nightly entertainment, with an occasional stand up comedy show thrown in the back room.

Coopers reigns supreme on tap, both downstairs and in the upstairs balcony bar named Favela. Little Creatures and Young Henrys are two notable exceptions. There are indeed cocktails, but they’re written on a Coopers-branded blackboard as a reminder of what you should be drinking.

The Cranker’s legacy is fiercely guarded by its patrons. They understand how valuable a place like this is in Adelaide’s ever-changing bar scene. We have to admit, there’s a special comfort in drinking from a pint glass that still has the fingerprints of previous generations on it.