The Penny Bank

You'll find The Penny Bank right in the heart of Penny Street, tucked into one of Lancaster's better-preserved Victorian buildings. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint of something interesting without feeling like you need to order overpriced small plates, though they do decent pub grub if you're hungry. The crowd's a mix of after-work drinkers, students who've discovered somewhere with actual character, and locals who've been coming here for years. It's got that comfortable, lived-in feel—worn wood, proper bar, no pretence.