There is plenty of history at the Middle Park Hotel - from the relaxed front bar and its polished brass kick-rail, to the moody wood-paneled dining room (with English oak originally from the MCC Long Room). It’s like stepping back in time but still being touched by the modern flair that we’ve come to expect from owner Julian Gerner (Royal Saxon, Albert Park Hotel and ex-Public House).

Originally built in 1889, MPH was refitted in late 2009 by architects Six Degrees restoring the building to its former glory. Keep an eye out for Gerner’s specially commissioned monogrammed rugs. With a fresh coat of paint, the corner pub spills onto the street and a sunny courtyard for warm days.

But it’s the menu that got us really going. Pub dining as it should be; hearty with quality and variety. Consulting chef Paul Wilson (Albert Park Hotel and ex-Botanical) teams up with head chef David Marshall, their English roots giving us a menu heavy on British pub classics that include scotch eggs, pork chops, offal dishes and full English breakfasts complete with black pudding and Cumberland sausage. It’s heavy stuff, but in these surrounds it feels right. Especially with a beer from one of the 45 taps.