The Ash Tree Bar and Grill, Wolverhampton

Head down to Dudley Road and you'll find The Ash Tree doing what a good local should: serving honest food and keeping the atmosphere unpretentious. It's got that welcoming feel you want when you're craving something beyond the usual chain offerings, with a menu that takes its grilling seriously. The bar's well-stocked enough to keep things interesting, and there's a real sense that people come here because it's genuinely good, not because they're ticking boxes. You'll see regulars mixing with newcomers, which tells you everything about the place.