The Castle Vaults

You're walking down Castle Gates towards the town centre when you spot the entrance—it's easy to miss, which is exactly the point. Duck downstairs and you're suddenly in something genuinely old: stone vaults that actually date back centuries, with that particular smell of aged brick and ale that makes you feel like you've stumbled onto something real. The lighting's low, the crowd's mixed (tourists and regulars rubbing shoulders), and there's no pretence about it. You'll find proper cask ales on tap, decent spirits, and staff who actually know what they're doing. It's the kind of place where you can nurse a pint for two hours and nobody minds.