If you wanted a proper meal in a Peterborough pub, rather than just a pint, my starting point would be the Fox & Hounds in Longthorpe Chef & Brewer

Its current menu includes starters from £6.50, bookings are available and recent diner feedback highlights generous portions, competitive prices and good service.

That doesn't make every visit guaranteed the review trail also includes mixed experiences but it gives the pub a stronger case as a food-led destination than somewhere you simply end up eating because you're already there.

Here are three other Peterborough options worth putting on the list.

The Queen's Head, 10 Queen Street

This is the city-centre choice for a pub meal built around wood-fired pizza and is a Wells & Co pub (formerly Charles Wells).

The pub says its dough is made fresh, with gluten-free and vegan options available.

There’s also a Monday 2-for-1 pizza offer, making it an obvious one to consider for a casual meal with a friend, partner or family member.

The offer is fairly focused, which is no bad thing. If someone in your group wants a roast, steak or a wide-ranging pub menu, this may not be the right booking. If everyone is happy with pizza, it has a clear reason for the visit.

The Moorhen

The Moorhen a Marstons pub looks like the most flexible option for an all-day pub meal.

Food is served daily, with pub classics, lighter bites, desserts and a Sunday roast offer. Its current website also lists a three-course menu for £19.

That makes it worth considering when different people want different things, or when you need a meal rather than a special occasion.

Check the live menu before setting off, but the £19 offer gives the pub a clear value angle without pretending every dish will suit every diner.

The Woodman

The Woodman  a Green King pub belongs on the comparison list, but with a small warning attached.

It has a current lunch, evening and Sunday food schedule, and asks diners to call to book.

Recent reviews praise hot food, Sunday lunches and service, while others describe cold food, shortages and an inconsistent experience. 

So this is not the one to choose blindly if a reliable dinner is the whole point of the trip.

Check the kitchen schedule, book ahead and go with realistic expectations.

There isn't one guaranteed Peterborough winner here.

The Fox & Hounds is the strongest starting point for a food-led visit; The Queen's Head has the clearest pizza identity; The Moorhen offers the broadest everyday choice; and The Woodman is worth checking, but deserves more caution.

Which Peterborough pub would you send a friend to for the food?

Tell us the pub and the meal you’d order that’s a better test than simply naming the place with the best-looking drinks menu.