The Rule

I spend WAY too much money and time at the Rule.
This place bills itself as a ‘pub-​diner’ and it really depends on what it is, atmosphere-​wise, on when you come. It does have very good food, and some great deals on offer. My particular favourite is the breakfast special, which I in fact eat WAY too often. It doesn’t help that its so very close to my academic building and the hour break we have between Latin and Palaeography suits perfectly for a late breakfast, or as I like to call it, ‘Elevensies’. Plus, what you get is just too great. They have 2 breakfast deals, one is the standard breakfast special, the other the ‘big breakfast’. The breakfast special USED to come with an egg, toast, a sausage, a rasher of bacon, mushrooms, tomato and hash browns, all for £3.50. AND it included a drink! But since they re-​did the menu its now something like the egg, bacon, sausage, toast, tomato, no mushrooms and instead of hashbrowns you get a tattie scone and haggis. And they lowered the price. But in exchange, you don’t get a free drink anymore, so you’re essentially paying the same price anyway. Tricksy hobbitses.
They have plenty of other fare on their menu. When a friend came to visit me in November, we got the sampler platter which was pretty good. But overall, I would stick to the breakfasts. That is what they do really well. They have all sorts of other things on offer like soups and pizza and fish and chips, but honestly, this place is probably best described as a bar that serves really good breakfasts.
And now, for something completely different, I’m going to stop rambling and talk about the bar. The Rule seems to be a pretty decent social spot. Whenever I go, they seem to be doing decent business and be pretty well full. They have a full bar, with a pretty good selection. I mostly drink beer, which they have quite a few varieties of for decent prices, and I’m told they do really good cocktails and have lots of drinks specials and such. But, as I’m a ‘beer-​and-​shots’ man myself, I wouldn’t know from personal experience.
Socially, pretty good crowds, usually. At least during term time, pretty active with students. I usually wind up here at some point during my nights out, because its a very good bar with a nice scene and decent prices. Plus, they actually play decent music. Also, if you aren’t here on a night out, but want a place with a bunch of big screen tellys and a large group of dedicated sports fans to watch sports with, the Rule is your spot. MASSIVE tellys. And just about every Saturday (or whenever matches are on, really) there are plenty of people there to watch with you. Especially if its football (not the American one) or Rugby.
Oh yeah, and on Mondays at 20.30 there is a pub quiz with free pizza for all teams and cash prizes. I’ve never gotten a team together in time to actually participate, but I hear its great.
So, yeah, to recap:
1. Breakfasts: MOUTHGASM. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.
2. Bar: Good selection, decent prices, vibrant social scene
So, overall: ⁸⁄₁₀. Would bang.

It says diner on the outside, but it’s really a sports bar (The Rule… makes sense).
Inside, it’s nice and clean. You stake out a table and then go up to the bar to order from some comely and friendly barmaids.
Sporting events are playing on the medium-​sized high-​def screens while you wait for the food to arrive (at lunch, at least).
I had the sweet potato and chickpea curry – a bit strange, which is fine. I liked it. Friends were satisfied with their fish & chips and meat & mushroom pie, and less excited by the Greek salad.