The Royal Oak

You'll find yourself settling into The Royal Oak's worn leather banquettes before you've even ordered your first pint, which is exactly how a proper Standishgate pub should work. This place gets the fundamentals right – proper ale selection, food that doesn't insult your intelligence, and opening hours that accommodate everything from a breakfast pint to a proper session. The fact they're serving from 9am most days tells you everything about their priorities, and the crowd reflects that commitment to serious drinking. Whether you're ducking in for a quick one after work or making an afternoon of it with mates, the Royal Oak delivers exactly what you'd expect from a town centre local without any unnecessary faffing about.