The Cricketers

Virtually overlooking the Sophia Gardens cricket ground, the smart-looking Cricketers pub is adorned with photos and sketches of the great and good of the game, alongside wall-mounted shirts, bats, caps and other memorabilia. The cask-conditioned beers from the Evan Evans brewery in Landeilo, west Wales, are very moreish, and though mostly seasonal, there are a few permanent ales on tap. The food, too, is a cut above your typical pub fare: for example, Welsh lamb shank with garlic mash and pan roasted hake with braised leeks – and in keeping with the family-friendly focus of this pub, there’s a kids Sunday lunch menu. There’s always a vibrant atmosphere here on match days, particularly out on the sunny patio, though it’s far removed from the rowdier elements you often find in a traditional football pub.