There is a very specific kind of food that only a pub can do justice to, and if you grew up in Australia Britain you know exactly what I’m talking about. A proper pie with a lid worth breaking into. Fish and chips that crunch before they steam. A burger that requires both hands and absolutely no dignity. Sticky chicken wings and a cold drink and nowhere to be for a few hours. Pub food at its best is completely unpretentious, deeply satisfying, and the kind of thing you’d happily eat every week if your waistline allowed it.

The good news is that most pub classics are surprisingly achievable at home, and in a lot of cases the homemade version is genuinely better. You control the quality of the ingredients, the seasoning, and most importantly the portion size. This collection is built around the dishes I enjoyed both Aussie, Scottish and English pubs, the ones I still crave on a Friday night when I want something comforting and completely without fuss. Pull up a barstool, get the oven on, and cook something that deserves a cold drink alongside it.