Duke

Walk into the Duke on West Street and you'll clock straightaway why locals keep coming back. It's got that lived-in warmth you want from a proper pub—dark wood, decent lighting that doesn't make you squint, and staff who know what they're doing behind the bar. The real ale selection is genuinely thoughtful, rotating enough to keep things interesting without being pretentious about it. Food's honest stuff: pies that don't disappoint, proper chips, the kind of menu that respects your time and your wallet. You'll find students, office workers from the cathedral quarter, and regulars propping up the bar. It's the sort of place where conversation actually happens.