The Shakespeare

Head down Sadler Gate and you've found yourself somewhere that feels like it's been pouring pints for decades—because it probably has. The Shakespeare is the kind of pub where locals actually drink, where you're not fighting through a crowd of lads on a Saturday night if that's not your scene, and where the bar staff know their beer list properly. It's got that lived-in feel that comes from being genuinely beloved rather than carefully designed. You'll find solid real ales on tap, the sort of food that sticks to your ribs without pretension, and enough character in the walls to make you want to linger over a second drink.