Six of our favourite city pubs

The Hayden, London

The Hayden is a surprisingly peaceful place to rest between dives into London’s trendy Notting Hill. Right around the corner you’ll find antique shops, boutiques and the famous Electric Cinema – it’s the ultimate lounging experience with cashmere blankets and waiting staff bringing you drinks.

The menu consists of freshly prepared classics; such as pan-fried salmon, portobello mushroom burger and ravioli. With food served all day and a great cocktail menu, The Hayden is always ready to be your private bolthole.

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The Swan Inn, Cheshire

Tarporley is a bustling little town and this old inn has been at the very heart of it for over 400 years. The traffic has changed. from travellers on horseback heading from London to Chester to weekend hikers and shoppers stopping in for lunch or diners settling in for a great night of food. Redecoration has been sensitively done, retaining a lot of the olde worlde charm while throwing in a few contemporary flourishes. Menus change regularly, Sunday roasts draw the crowds and breakfast is a treat of locally made honey, perfectly cooked eggs and everything in between.

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The Bull & Swan at Burghley, Lincolnshire

You might be in town (calling Stamford a city would be stretching it) but this lovely old inn has some real country charm about it. Part of the Burghley estate, its beams and burnished wood create a snug, welcoming atmosphere in winter, while in summer, the garden becomes the main attraction with pizza nights and film screenings held in its lovely courtyard space. On the daily menu, classics like rhubarb crumble and pork belly showcase the art of simple and superb cooking, while even a Scotch egg at the bar is a real treat.

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The Bridge Inn at Ratho, Edinburgh

While there are plenty of pubs closer to the heart of Edinburgh, The Bridge is a fabulous place to make a destination out of if you’re spending a few days in the capital and want a slight change of scenery. It’s a few miles along the canal, but a walk out, a long lunch and bus ride back into town gives you a fabulous combination of exercise and indulgence. In summer, you could time your visit for a Friday barbecue night or a raid on the ice cream shed in the garden. If you end up staying, and you’d be well advised to consider it, you’ll find comfy rooms and a whisky bar in which to while the night away.

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The One Tun Pub & Rooms, London

Right in the middle of the famous Hatton Garden Jewellery Quarter, the centre of the UK diamond trade, it would be remiss not to describe this place as a hidden gem. It’s smart and stylish as you’d probably expect from a London pub, with a menu that picks up flavours from across Asia and serves them alongside a substantial cocktail list, or a classic English ale, if you think it’ll pair nicely. With the whole city on your doorstep, it won’t matter that you have to get breakfast elsewhere. The staff can point you to a tonne of great places that’ll set you up for a capital adventure.

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The Grafton Arms Pub & Rooms, London

The Grafton squeezes whatever it can out of and into its small space. The little courtyard garden is a lovely spot to hide away from the roar of the city, while the contemporary stylings of the bar are a great place to sip cocktails and gear yourself up to dive right into it. You’re only a short walk from the West End, so dinner and a show is a matter of simply heading downstairs to sample something from the Asian-influenced menu, then strolling down the road in time for opening night.

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