The Royal Exchange

Walk into The Royal Exchange and you'll find yourself in the kind of place where regulars actually know the bar staff's names. Tucked away on Joy Street, it's got that comfortable, lived-in feel of a pub that's been doing its thing for years without needing to shout about it. The real ales are taken seriously here—you'll find proper rotating taps that make it worth popping in just for a pint, and the food side of things is solid enough that you'll see groups lingering over lunch well into the afternoon. It's the sort of place where you can have a quiet drink or get stuck into the buzz of a Friday evening, depending on what you're after.