Ye Olde Man & Scythe

You're walking down Churchgate when the black timber frame catches your eye – this proper old boozer has been pulling pints since 1251, making it potentially England's oldest pub. The history isn't just marketing patter either; James Stanley, Earl of Derby, genuinely had his final drink here before being led to his execution in 1651 after backing the wrong side in the Civil War. Inside, you'll find all the wonky beams and creaking floorboards you'd expect from somewhere this ancient, but without feeling like a tourist trap. The food's solid pub grub rather than anything revolutionary, and the beer selection covers your usual suspects plus a few local ales. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint while pondering the fact that people have been doing exactly the same thing in this exact spot for eight centuries.