Bennets Bar

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

This traditional pub next to the King's Theatre still has a wooden snug at the edge of the bar, where Victorian women used to drink out of sight of the menfolk. The listed building has kept other original features, such as stained glass windows and an ornate back bar. There's definitely a cosy timewarp feel here, but modern details have crept in too, such as two TV screens showing rugby and football games on match days. Bar meals are available in the main room, or, if the locals have already bagged all the seats, there's a spill-over area in the green room, a quieter lounge bar through the back. The menu is kept simple, and the prices stay low, with special deals, such as £2.50 burgers or stovies, during big matches. Tasty home-made lasagne with cheddar cheese comes with thick chips and salad, while, for vegetarians, there's macaroni cheese, fresh salads or a daily special. Kids are looked after with fish fingers and chicken nuggets, while the parents can get stuck into some real ale and soak up the atmosphere of an old-fashioned 'pie and pint' boozer.

• High point: Step back in time with the Victorian décor
• Low point: Chilly drafts if you're next to the door