A short stroll from Bath's main railway station in the desirable residential area of Widcombe, this pub-with-rooms is a veritable veteran of the city's gastropub scene. Locals still congregate at
the bar for pints of local ale – especially before matches at the nearby Bath rugby ground – but the smart dining area draws people from far and wide. The menus are short and to the point, but the
food is seasonal, locally sourced and unpretentious. Head chef Jason Horne and his team produce deceptively simple dishes that pack a real flavour punch – perhaps soused Cornish mackerel salad,
confit duck leg with braised Puy lentils, cabbage and smoked bacon or roast rump of lamb with wild mushrooms, spinach and potato fondant. The attractive walled garden makes for a wonderful spot for
alfresco dining in the summer.