Old Blackfriars

You'll find this place tucked into Castlegate, where the cobbles meet centuries of proper pub tradition. The Old Blackfriars has that lived-in feel that only comes from decades of locals nursing pints and putting the world to rights. The interior strikes that perfect balance between being well-kept without losing its soul – think dark wood, proper bar stools, and the kind of atmosphere where conversations flow as freely as the beer. The crowd is a proper mix of city centre workers, locals, and the occasional tourist who's stumbled upon something genuinely good rather than a sanitised chain. It's the sort of place where you pop in for one and somehow find yourself three pints deep, debating everything from football to politics with someone you've never met before.