Akenside Traders

Walk down Dean Street and you'll find Akenside Traders doing what it does without the unnecessary fuss. It's got that neighbourhood-local feel that makes you want to stay longer than planned, with a kitchen that takes itself seriously enough to make proper food, but not so seriously that you feel like you need to dress up. The cocktails are genuinely well-crafted—not the overcomplicating nonsense you get in some places—and the beer selection reflects someone who actually cares. You'll find a mix of after-work drinkers, couples, and groups who've heard it's decent, all getting on with it in a space that's warm without being try-hard.