The Marlborough

Walk down Friars Stile Road and you'll find yourself at a pub that takes the gastropub thing seriously without being insufferable about it. The Marlborough pulls in everyone from the rugby crowd to locals after work, and it's got that warm, lived-in feel that comes from years of getting things right. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing—you're getting proper cooking here, not just reheated stuff from a distributor—and the drinks selection is genuinely thoughtful. It's the kind of place where you can grab a reliable pint and a decent meal, or settle in for something more ambitious depending on what you're after that day.