The Plough

You'll find The Plough tucked away on Shaw Heath, the kind of pub that's been pulling pints for locals who actually live round here rather than Instagram tourists. Walk in and you're greeted with that familiar warmth—real wood, proper lighting that doesn't make you look ill, and the sort of clientele who've probably been coming here for years. It's the type of place where the bar staff know what you're having before you ask, and nobody's trying to reinvent the wheel with fusion cocktails or molecular gastronomy. The food's straightforward, honest stuff that won't break the bank, and the drinks list skews traditional—think ales and lagers that actually taste like something rather than craft nonsense for the sake of it.