Forget Buckingham Palace, the best of Britain is actually found in a perfectly petite place in Kentish Town (Highgate Road). No frills or fancy gastro grub, just British ales and proper cider (the strong cloudy stuff, none of those mainstream appletizer types in here). Quiz nights are on Mondays, you'll get some live piano action on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, and otherwise its up to the vintage record player.

The Southampton Arms is a pork lovers paradise: scratchings, sausage rolls, pork bap with crackling... but for BarChick it was all about the pies, try the Supreme Champion, perfect washed down with one of the many ales. It's chilled, easy and laid back: sit outside in the summer, enjoy the fire in the winter, and remember to take cash, this is a no card pub. Its perfect if you're skint, and ideal for getting a date trashed, as those ciders are not for the faint hearted. The only rule was not to feed the dog, not like you'd want to share those pies anyway.