Friends Of Ham Leeds

This Saturday marked a year since we got engaged. The original plan was to spend the day shopping at the Trafford Centre, buy a nice bottle of something bubbly in Selfridges then make a nice meal at home.
After a trip to Manchester we realised that we needed & deserved a proper date night. Due to Wedding saving we have been very limited on nights out. So we put our original tea plans in the cupboard and boarded the train to Leeds.
The evening consisted of a couple of drinks first, then a meal at Carluccios & ending with a cocktail at the 360 bar in Leeds Trinity Centre. Today thought I want to talk about where we went for pre-drinks...Friends Of Ham.

Now this bar has been around since 2012, with a second bar (closer to home) in Ilkley just havingopened its doors. If you are from Leeds and wonder how I have never been to this bar then please do not judge me! It is just around the corner from the train station and everytime we plan on visiting we just end up on the train back to our local in Guiseley.

On finally entering Friends Of Ham we were surprised as to how much closer to a restaurant than a bar it was (even though we knew they served food). We were greeted as we entered and shown to a couple of stools at the bar. This bar really is a beer lovers paradise ! The menu must have had 30 different cask & keg beers, with stamps showing what was sold out...and what would be available next! The barman must have asked us three times what we would like, I just could not make my mind up! Liz had decided on prosecco the minute we walked in, but I just could not make a decision!

As I was making my decision Liz was transfixed on the food, we had heard of the cheese & charcuterie boards...but had not expected the size of the platters on offer. If we had not already decided on Carluccios we would have just set up camp there.

I began with a pint of All Star Pale Ale from Roosters Brewery in Knaresborough. After getting over excited with the menu I chose this as the pump was right in front of me. At 4.3% this golden Pale Ale was very easy drinking, very fruity and floral ... with the flavours not being too overpowering. Really nice pint, however I kind of wished I was daring enough to go with something that would normally be out of my comfort zone. (http://www.roosters.co.uk)

This followed by something very different and very daring. I usually stick to Porters & Stouts in the Winter (Maccessons Stout being available in my house all over the Christmas period). On a morning I enjoy nothing better than a fresh brewed coffee to start my day, this prompted my decision to try the 'Coffee Anise Porter' from Ticketybrew Brewery. This tasted stronger than the 4.9% advertised...but that might be due to its strong flavour. The coffee hit you straight away, with a subtly spicy aftertaste. For me it could have done with being a bit sweeter...and maybe something to have if you are sat there with a charcuterie board (not about to head out to an Italian meal). I would definitely try this again, but maybe just in half pints. (http://ticketybrew.co.uk)

Just before we left Ham we noticed that you could purchase beer tasting boards (3 3rd glassed) for about £5.50... why had I not seen these before !!!




If you are ever in Leeds, and too far away from North Bar, then Friends Of Ham is the go to place for a decent pint of something that you are likely not to find in a bar anywhere else in the city.

Next stop will be a trip to Friends Of Ham in Ilkley for a family tasting session...and maybe even a platter of meats & cheeses!

(FOH in Leeds can be found on New Station Street...just between the train station & the Trinity Centre)

- Sam