The Royal

You walk down Harbour Parade and it hits you—the kind of pub that doesn't need to try too hard because it's been doing the same thing right for years. The Royal sits right there on the water, and if you're after that seaside pub experience without the tourist theatre, this is it. You'll find regulars at the bar, families grabbing fish and chips, and people actually talking to each other rather than staring at phones. The food's straightforward—the sort of stuff that works because it's honest rather than clever—and the drinks list won't confuse you. It's warm when it's cold outside, buzzy without being loud, and the kind of place you end up staying longer than you planned because, well, why wouldn't you?