The Exmouth Arms

You'll find The Exmouth Arms doing what it does best on Bath Road — serving the kind of pub that doesn't need to shout about itself. Walk in and you're greeted with the reassuring hum of regulars at the bar, proper ales on tap, and a kitchen that turns out unpretentious food without faffing about. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint and actually hear yourself think, or settle in with mates for something more substantial. The crowd's mixed — students, locals, the occasional tourist who's wandered off the Promenade — but everyone seems to rub along fine. Food-wise, expect honest pub fare done well rather than anything trying too hard. There's real character here that comes from actually being part of the neighbourhood rather than performing for the Instagram crowd.