The Sir Richard Owen - JD Wetherspoon

You walk into what feels like a cathedral of cheap drinks - soaring ceilings, ornate stonework, and the kind of architectural drama that makes you forget you're in a Wetherspoons until you clock the £2.50 pints. This former bank building on Spring Garden Street has been given the full Spoons treatment, but the Victorian bones are so spectacular they actually elevate the experience beyond your typical chain pub. The breakfast crowd mingles with students nursing hangovers, while the evening brings a mix of locals who appreciate the combination of proper atmosphere and wallet-friendly prices. Yes, it's formulaic Wetherspoons food and service, but when you're sat beneath those magnificent arched windows with a decent pint for less than a fiver, it's hard to complain. The building alone makes it worth choosing over other city centre options.