This week I decided to pay a return visit to the King Charles House, just off the city centre and found that appearances can be deceiving.

From the outside, The King Charles appears a small, non-descript place, but walk through the door and you will find a roaring fire, charming interior and friendly clientele.

A traditional black and white, wood-beamed building, the King Charles feels like a cosy Dickensian nook.

With mismatched furniture, and carved wooden beams, it is the kind of place you would be grateful to come in to out of the cold.

There is even a water bowl by the door for the dog!

Though it is not exactly light inside, it is light enough, and the fireplace in the corner gave off plenty of heat.

The bar at the King Charles features a range of special ales and lagers, as well as fruit cider and beers.

There is also a well-stocked wine list featuring all different styles and flavours, in addition to 12 different bar snacks including scotch eggs, pork scratchings and wasabi peas.

The staff are friendly and welcoming, and service is quick. Though this may not always be the case at peak time.

If you aren’t a fan of pie, the King Charles may not be the place for you.

Though the menu features several sandwiches and salads, the main meals are all pies, in a range of flavours from classic steak and ale, to venison and red wine.

There are also a couple of vegetarian pies available too for non meat-eaters.

I ordered the ‘Chicken of Tarragon’ pie, which contained chicken, bacon, leeks and tarragon for flavour, accompanied by cheese mash and garden peas.

For £13 including a pint, the meal provided was more than enough.

It arrived piping hot and was very filling, perfect for a cold day.

Though the pastry was slightly hard, the filling was delicious, and well worth its £9.50 cost.

Also, the mash was tasty, and not served to excess, as is often the case in many pubs.

There is a weekly pub quiz, advertised at the bar, and several certificates of excellence around the walls.

The general atmosphere is conversational, and several people at the bar said hello as I walked in.

Overall, if you are looking for a hearty pie, or just a good ale, the King Charles House is not to be missed.