The Wellington Restaurant and Pub

Walk into The Wellington and you're in proper boozer territory—dark wood, worn leather, the kind of place where regulars have their spots at the bar. It's housed in what feels like a proper old London building, all creaky floors and character, the sort you'd expect near Waterloo Station but somehow manages to resist the tourist trap vibe. The kitchen does unpretentious British food: think fish and chips that don't apologise, proper pies, and a decent Sunday roast. It's the sort of place you'd genuinely want to pop into after work, not because you're ticking off a list, but because the pint's well-kept and the food actually lands.