JUST a stone's throw from St Peter's Street, The Peacock is an unassuming little place that doesn't quite boast the sophistication of a bar or the olde worlde charm of a real ale pub, but is full of character nonetheless.

Indeed it's a popular choice for the young professionals and city centre workers who flock through its doors on weekday lunchtimes.

And with an abundance of seating that includes long bierodrome-style benches and very soft couches you can still be sure of finding a seat most days.

A small no-smoking section is also available. But the pub doesn't boast a beer garden, and despite its best efforts to put a handful of tables outside in the car park, lacks the ambience of some of its neighbours.

However, if there's one thing The Peacock does really well it's the food; big portions of good quality dishes at reasonable prices. A wide range of ciabatta sandwiches complement the usual baked potato and burger fare.

And if you're really hungry you can check out the specials board which changes daily and might feature anything from crabmeat soup to Thai green curry.

As drinks go The Peacock's pretty standard, with a mix of lagers, Belgian weissbier Hoegarden on tap, alcopops and spirits. It also offers liquor coffees if you're so inclined, as well as the temptingly-named Baileys Latte (something I've always wanted to try but never found the room for).

Footie fans love the place as it shows round-the-clock coverage of Sky Sports. I counted five screens when England hammered Paraguay last week. But if you're after a quiet drink it's best avoided during important football matches - it's likely to be heaving during the World Cup.

As well as sporton screen, there's table football along with the usual fruit machines and space invader-style computer games.

While The Peacock seems to attract a predominantly young crowd, it's an equally attractive proposition for a quiet drink with your partner or a night out with your mates.

As the name suggests, The Peacock is a brightly coloured gem of a pub and the perfect place to strut your stuff.