Bars & Pubs

Few refits are as thorough as the one that in 2004 turned the grimy old Lord Palmerston into a streamlined gastropub with all the trimmings. The original wood panelling remains along with a gorgeous mosaic floor in the rear room, but these days it's eating rather than drinking that draws both crowds and critical acclaim. As a result, the beer selection suffers in favour of the extensive wine list (although Kronenbourg Blanc and Timothy Taylor appease local media types and their dads respectively), and tables tend to be universally reserved for diners tucking into rumps of lamb, line-caught sea bass and superb Sunday lunches.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9