The Pond

You'll find yourself in one of those rare pubs that actually feels like it belongs to the people who live round it. The Pond sits on Gloucester Road—that slightly chaotic stretch between the station and the seafront—and it's got the kind of unpretentious charm that makes you wonder why you don't go more often. The bar's genuinely welcoming, the sort of place where regulars actually exist and newcomers don't feel like outsiders. Food-wise, nothing fancy, just solid pub fare that doesn't disappoint, and they take their beer selection seriously without being smug about it.