Rowena H.
Yelp
Well, friends. I've someone to introduce you to, and they're Friends Of Ham. And, they're the kind of folk that you'll instantly take a shine to since, I've only visited once, but know that any Friend Of Ham is a friend of mine.
Nestled in along the wee side street, where the lovely Laynes have made their home, you'll find this fantastic pub-come-lounge. Whilst my friends and I didn't spend a huge amount of time upstairs, if you're in for a quick pint you'll find a selection of seating at the bar that will give you full view of the range in which to sup.
For starters, beer specialists and connoisseurs, this is your home. Lined up in the fridge are a number of unique and rare bottles, ranging from Trappist to Craft, where there's certain to be something that'll quench your thirst and light up your taste buds. I'd even hazard, there'll be something even you've not heard of. Of course, there are hand pulled ales to pick from too, which I fully intend to return and try. Even a cursory visit will leave you planning your next attendance - there's simply too much to try! We went for the house red, which was extremely drinkable and affordable, but here's a tip -if you're a four, and all want it, just buy the bottle -you'll save a bit of cash. We, foolishly, bought a glass separately and received this advice after the fact. (Numpties!)
Take a trip into the underbelly of the bar, and you'll discover a cosy hub downstairs, housing a huge central table, a number of little intimate spots and perhaps some of the comfiest sofas known to posterior. There's an array of miniature seating, especially for the wee ones, and a plethora of exciting and amusing board games for those who want to add in an element of competition to their visit. The plush, country home style of the room makes it perfect for chatting, relaxing, and given that it's in a basement you could quite easily lose five hours down here in blissful comfort, sipping on delectable drinks, until the small hours. I especially enjoyed the table with a range of book covers for decoration.
Now, on to the charcuterie. So, they're called Friends Of Ham. Well, that's as may be, but you'll soon realise that it's nothing to do with veganism when you glance at the menu -here you can expect a meat and cheese feast of the most divine proportions. And, this is certainly not a critique, at least -not from me. I am a confirmed carnivore, and this is the place to indulge. There's several ways to approach this, and understand that you might be overwhelmed when glancing over the options, but it *will* pass -your excitement will calm, and you can order appropriately. Perhaps the most sensible manner, on a virgin visit, is to go for the two meat and two cheese option, and spend a good while picking which meats and sundries you wish to pig out on. The beer will keep you occupied whilst you choose, if nothing else.
When there's proscuittio di parma, carne salata malenca, alejandro magno chorizo, and more to decide on, it's tricky. Bring a friend, and mix and match. As for cheese, I can recommend the Wookey Hole Cheddar (it's near my homelands, after all) and the Cornish Yarg (again, my beloved South West). Of course, there are some serious stinkers, for those that like a kick to their fromage -I am less brave when it comes to mould, but according to my cheese fiend friends, the range was incredible. Of course, you can bulk up a two-meat-two-cheese plate (which is £13.50) with olives, bread sticks, pork scratchings or even cured beef tongue. One plate will likely satisfy two lovers on a snacking mission, and definitely one hungry camper.
My eyes are consistently bigger than my stomach, so initially I was hoping for more per plate, but my friends- it very nearly defeated me. My only thought was that I'd perhaps like more bread to partner with the items, but this is simply as I'm unused to eating pure cheese! Oh - and order some chutneys if you need a bit of moisture. What can I say? The meat was incredible. Beautifully smoked, raw delicious bits of pure beef, succulent and flavoursome proscuittio. I can't wait to return for more more more.
The lady that served us was lovely, and you can tell that the staff have a genuine interest in making sure you're happy and loving what they do, without being overbearing. That, in combination with fantastic food, delightful drinks, an excellent space in which to relax, and an overall ambiance that somehow transported us to the likes of the Mediterranean, and you're on to a winner. Come rain or shine, this ultra cosy hub is the place to discover, and long may you be friends of Friends Of Ham. If you listen carefully, just for a moment, you can probably hear the rumbling from afar - nope. That's not a 5.6 on the richter scale; it's my stomach, begging me to return.
