The Brooksteed

You'll find yourself in a genuinely welcoming pub that's done the hard work of being the kind of place people actually want to spend their evenings. The Brooksteed takes its beer seriously—this is an ale house in the proper sense, not just somewhere flogging lager—and the rotating selection means there's always something new to discover. The crowd's mixed in the best way: mates catching up over pints, couples tucking into an early dinner, the odd solo drinker who's clearly a regular. South Farm Road's not flashy, but that's rather the point. You get decent food, knowledgeable staff who aren't trying too hard, and the kind of honest pub atmosphere that's increasingly rare.