The Shakespeare Hotel

Walking into The Shakespeare, you're getting a proper neighbourhood pub vibe — the kind of place where regulars actually know the bar staff's names and it's genuinely buzzing on a Friday night. It's right there on Wellington Street, so it's handy whether you're coming from the town centre or the residential bits nearby. The Craft Union group knows what they're doing with their estate, and this spot's got solid reviews because people actually want to spend time here. Food's straightforward, drinks are well-kept, and there's something refreshingly no-nonsense about the whole operation.