The enhancement of the binding between halide anions and a Lewis acidic uranyl–salophen receptor has been achieved by the introduction of pendant electron-deficient arene units into the receptor skeleton. The association and the occurrence of the elusive anion–π interaction with halide anions (as tetrabutylammonium salts) have been demonstrated in solution and in the solid state, providing unambiguous evidence on the interplay of the concerted interactions responsible for the anion binding. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim