Built in 1898, this grand Victorian gin palace has been preserved in all its queenly glory, & dazzles with its magnificent moulded ceiling & etched & stained glass. In contrast, the food is bang up to date, with suppliers proudly listed on the blackboard above the open kitchen, & a menu that accommodates what’s in season & locally available. Sit in one of the cosy nooks & crannies surrounding the large central bar, out in the garden or in the smart dining room. Sparky, helpful staff serve up solid gastro fare such as Cumberland sausages & mash with red onion gravy, or the more Euro-tinged likes of garlic & ginger-marinated squid & pan-fried chorizo salad. To drink, there are ales from small independent breweries, crowd-pleasing wines, & a ‘wicked wines’ offer that sees three swankier bottles discounted each week.