Waterend Barn - JD Wetherspoon

You'll find Waterend Barn tucked away on St Peter's Street, and honestly, it's far less soulless than the Wetherspoon chain reputation suggests. The space is generously proportioned without feeling cavernous—proper timber beams, the kind of interior that actually looks like someone gave it a bit of thought. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint for hours without feeling rushed, whether you're catching up with mates or settling in with the papers. The food's reliable rather than revelatory (think fish and chips, burgers, nachos), but at these prices—mains hovering around £6-8—it's genuinely hard to grumble. Staff tend to be switched-on, which elevates the whole experience.