Nell’s

Nell’s is a basement bar on Tib Lane that does two things extremely well: New York-style pizza and cocktails. That’s the formula. You head down the stairs into a dimly lit, slightly sticky-floored room that feels more Lower East Side than M2, order a couple of slices and something strong, and let the night sort itself out. The pizza comes by the slice or as a full 20-inch pie – thin, foldable, with a proper crispy base and that slight chew you want from a good New York slice. Pepperoni is the move. Don’t overthink it.

The cocktail menu is short, well-executed, and changes enough to keep regulars interested. Negronis are solid. Margaritas hit right. It’s not trying to be a speakeasy or anything clever – it’s just a good bar that happens to serve excellent pizza. The crowd is a mix of post-work drinks, date nights, and people who’ve stumbled in after midnight looking for exactly this. Nell’s doesn’t shout about itself, which is part of why it works. Expect to spend around fifteen to twenty quid on a couple of slices and a drink. Cash and card.