Clays, Birmingham

You'll find Clays squirrelled away in Piccadilly Arcade, that brilliant stretch of New Street that feels properly removed from the usual city centre hustle. Walk through those Victorian-era passageways and you've stumbled into exactly the kind of spot Birmingham does brilliantly—somewhere that doesn't need to shout about itself. The bar's got real craft credentials; these aren't novelty drinks or Instagram-bait cocktails, but properly executed classics made by people who actually know what they're doing. It's become a proper favourite with locals who can't be bothered with the mass-market bars, and that 4.7 rating from nearly 700 reviews tells you everything about why it's earned its reputation.