The Victoria Comet

You'll find this Nicholson's pub holding court on Neville Street, and it's one of the better chain efforts in the city centre. The Victoria Comet manages to feel like a proper local despite being part of a bigger operation, with that lived-in warmth that makes you want to settle in for more than one pint. The beer selection does the business - expect well-maintained ales alongside the usual suspects, and the food menu covers all the pub classics without trying to be something it's not. It's the kind of place that works whether you're grabbing a quick lunch between meetings or starting a proper session with mates. The location puts you right in the thick of things, but the atmosphere inside feels pleasantly removed from the chaos outside.