The Maltings

You'll find this sprawling pub tucked away in Old Hall, where the car park's always got space and the dining areas don't make you feel like you're eating in someone's front room. The menu does the gastropub thing properly – think Sunday roasts that actually arrive hot and fish and chips that don't come frozen from a bag. The beer selection covers the usual suspects plus a few local ales that change regularly. The interior strikes that tricky balance between family-friendly and somewhere you'd actually want a pint after work. Kids can run about without causing chaos, while the bar area stays relatively civilised for proper drinking. Service moves at a decent clip even when it's busy, and the staff seem to know what they're doing rather than just going through the motions.