The Camel

Nothing about The Camel will give you the hump: it’s a small, beautiful old boozer that’s been sensitively refurbished – dark wooden floors, floral wallpaper, upright piano – & attracts a friendly, educated crowd of regulars (we once overheard a discussion on astrophysics), who gather over a pint of well-kept Adnams Broadside or Paulaner. The musical backdrop may be melodious old-school reggae, & the limited menu is full-on retro with a range of pie & mash options: steak & chorizo; West country pork & cider; wild mushroom & asparagus. It’s all rather lovely, as is the quiet side-street location – a world away from the aggressive traffic on nearby Roman Road.