Anglesea Arms

Located in Charles Dickens’ old stamping ground & once frequented by DH Lawrence, this dapper boozer is now as pretty as a picture, with a smart green facade, colourful flower baskets & a terrace that’s ready for any weather. Inside, art-deco lights & sepia prints imbue the bar with character as a motley crew of professionals & assorted trendies drink & chat on sagging leather banquettes or cushioned pews. The adjoining dining room has a touch of class & its menu changes daily, offering punters pan-European dishes such as wild mushroom, parmesan & truffle oil pâté, wild boar & apple sausages with sauerkraut, or swordfish steak with watercress, palm heart & caper salad. Desserts such as Eton mess, elderflower sorbet & regional cheeses steer the emphasis back to Britain, as does the sturdy selection of real ales.