The Bay Horse

The Bay Horse Tavern, to give it its full moniker, describes itself as “a modern take on a Victorian Pub” and, with its dark hues and warm woods, puttering candles and kitschy knick-knacks, and range of gins, craft beers and “other libations”, it may well straddle the eras.

What you can be sure of is you know you’re in the Northern Quarter when the first listing on the all-day Sunday lunch menu is for the vegetarian mushroom wellington plus there’s an option to share the meat roast and “all the trimmings” between two. There’s also a bottomless brunch on offer at the weekend with quite a spread, offering the likes of Moroccan eggs with feta and pancakes with fried bacon, banana and maple syrup to choose from food wise and endless mimosas, bloody Marys, Irish coffees and more to sup. The main menu talks a good pub grub game, with pies a-plenty and the likes of sausage, mash and gravy, gammon and egg (none of that pineapple nonsense) and “thrice cooked chips”, and battered haddock fillet with mushy peas or chip shop curry sauce. Sandwiches come on proper hefts of bloomer – white, brown or granary – and include choices such as BLT and a no-messing Birds Eye fishfinger butty. There are also salads, such as classic chicken Caesar, and desserts are chalked up on a specials board.

Food is served daily until 9pm and there’s plenty to wash it down with from the well-stocked hop-adorned bar. There’s even a bit of outside space round the back, where you’ll find a secret walled garden to sit and enjoy your pint.

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