The Cock Hitchin

You'll find this place doing exactly what a good gastropub should: serving food that actually matters while keeping the soul of a proper local. The dining room strikes that sweet spot between somewhere you'd bring your parents and somewhere you'd settle in for a long evening with mates. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing, turning out plates that justify the mid-week booking scramble. They're closed Mondays and Tuesdays, which usually means a kitchen that cares more about quality than quick turnover. The Sunday roast finish at 7pm tells you everything about their approach – when it's gone, it's gone. What sets this apart from the endless parade of gastro-wannabes is the genuine pub feel. You're not eating in a restaurant that happens to serve beer; you're in a pub that happens to cook really well.