Shepherd Neame Ltd.

You'll find yourself in a no-nonsense boozer that takes its beer seriously—Shepherd Neame's own brewery means the ales are fresh and rotating. The vibe is straightforward: decent pint, decent company, no faffing about with craft cocktails or Instagram-baiting plating. George Street's seen plenty of gentrification, but this place hasn't bent to trends. It's the kind of spot where locals actually drink, where the bar staff know what they're pouring, and where a Friday night feels properly lived-in rather than curated.