The story
Friends of Ham in Leeds approaches continental charcuterie with a quiet emphasis on generosity rather than ceremony. Tucked just steps from New Station Street, the main floor keeps things bright and unpretentious, letting the food carry the conversation. Cold Yorkshire evenings find their match here, where the layout encourages lingering over simple wooden boards and shared plates.
The kitchen builds its reputation around carefully sourced preserves and regional specialties. Customised sharing boards arrive stacked with Ibérico secreto, bresaola di Montagna, and wedges of cave aged Gruyère alongside Baron Bigod. Small tapas plates like butter beans simmered in lardo broth provide a comforting counterpoint to the richer cuts. The Good Food Guide recently highlighted this dedication as a local gem, noting the consistent quality across every board.
Beverage selections run alongside the food with equal attention to provenance. Staff curate over one hundred bottled wines and craft beers, all priced twenty percent below standard drink rates. That same commitment to straightforward hospitality earned the spot Best Place to Drink in the United Kingdom during a 2014 industry survey. Visitors can also take home whole salami, artisan pickles, and fresh sourdough loaves directly from the adjacent retail corner.
Recognition
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