The Lord Dudley Hotel

In a city full of revamped pubs owned by conglomerates, The Dudley stands tall as something of a rarity: a family-owned institution that embraces its historic bones and maintains them impeccably. There’s just so much to feast your eyes on here: the patterns on the lovingly maintained carpet, say, or the pressed-metal ceilings, fireplaces, polished dark-timber bar and framed portraits of earls and lords from days of yore – and that’s just on the ground level. 

Your wandering eye might lead you down the creaky stairs to the airy, bright greenhouse-like bistro with warm sandstone walls, or up to the stately series of rooms on level one or level two (home to the newly minted Dusty’s Whiskey Bar), which are often used for functions. No matter where you end up settling, the carefree feeling in the air and unwavering friendliness of the staff will ensure you stay put.