Highbury Vaults

This is a well run and extremely popular unpretentious pub with a fine range of real ales and proper home cooking. The little front bar, with the corridor beside it, leads through to a long series of small rooms - wooden floors, green and cream paintwork and old-fashioned furniture and prints, including lots of period royal family engravings and lithographs in the front room. There's a model railway running on a shelf the full length of the pub, including tunnels through the walls. Bath Ales Gem Bitter, Brains SA, St Austell Tribute, Wells & Youngs Bitter and London Gold, and guests such as Box Steam Derail Ale and Teignworthy Reel Ale on handpump and several malt whiskies. The attractive back terrace has tables built into a partly covered flowery arbour. In early Georgian days, this was used as the gaol where condemned men ate their last meal - the bars can still be seen on some windows.