Across from the cathedral, the Pub at Ye Old Talbot Hotel, Friar Street (tel. 01905/235730; www.yeoldetalbot.tablesir.com), contains lots of Victorian nostalgia and old-fashioned wood paneling that has been darkened by generations of cigarette smoke and spilled beer. It offers predictable pub grub that's a bit better than expected, especially when it's accompanied with a pint of the house's half-dozen ales on tap. The restaurant on-site is called the Black Pear Bistro, where the decor is more modern than in the pub. Here you can order lamb's liver in a red-wine sauce or slow-cooked tender leg of duck on a bed of green lentils. Half a roast chicken is another favorite. It's served with seasonal vegetables and a tarragon mayonnaise. Main courses cost £6.95 to £10.

One of Worcester's most whimsical restaurant pubs is The Sauce Factory, London Rd. (tel. 01905/350159; www.thesaucefactory.co.uk), serving some of the finest market-fresh meats, including sirloin steaks, pork cutlets, and lamb chops. Main courses cost £12 to £18. The walls are decorated with posters advertising food flavorings, all the accessories of an old-fashioned kitchen, plus an enormous ceiling map of Britain in ceramic tiles. Open Tuesday to Saturday noon to 2:30pm and 5 to 9:30pm, Sunday noon to 4pm.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.