The Wheatsheaf

Head down Old Bath Road and you'll find yourself in the kind of pub that doesn't need to try too hard. The Wheatsheaf has that lived-in comfort of a place where regulars know their spot at the bar, where the landlord remembers your name, and where you can nurse a pint without anyone making you feel like you should be doing something else. The real ale selection keeps things interesting—this isn't a generic chain pouring the same lagers everywhere—and the food side is respectable enough that you'll actually want to eat here rather than just drink. It's the sort of spot that reminds you why pubs matter in local communities.