Friends of Ham
Quick info
About Friends of Ham
Friends of Ham is a bar on New Station St in Leeds, spread across two floors and built around charcuterie and cheese platters. The menu also runs to meatballs, pork on polenta, nduja toast, and a sausage roll, with cheese and biscuits offered alongside the meat boards. Beer and wine sit alongside non-alcoholic beer options, and the counter staff suggest wine pairings for dishes. Walk-ins are seated without a reservation, though a short wait at the bar is common. Window seats look out toward passersby, with the train station about two minutes away on foot. Dogs are welcome inside. The room fills up and gets loud on weekend evenings, and nearby road works have altered the outdoor atmosphere around the entrance.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingUsually difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention meatballs, spanish charcuterie board, sausage roll and wine selection.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention meatballs, spanish charcuterie board, sausage roll and wine selection.
Customer Review Summary
Sharing boards built around ham and cheese draw the most praise, with the Spanish Charcuterie and Spanish sharing board repeatedly singled out alongside the meatballs, nduja toast, and sausage roll as standouts. Close behind is the drinks list, a wide beer and wine selection that several diners call the best of their trip, with one reviewer thrilled to find Vault City Iron Brew and another praising staff wine recommendations. Service is described consistently as friendly and attentive, with servers guiding diners through pairings and even nudging one visibly drunk couple toward soft drinks. A few diners note the space gets noisy and busy, and one meal was marked by uneven seasoning, over-salted dishes paired with an under-seasoned pasta, though the winter salad still landed well. Value opinions split, with most calling prices reasonable for the city centre while one solo diner flagged a sixty pound dinner as not cheap. One walk-in without a reservation waited only a few minutes before being seated at the bar.
Customer Review Summary
Sharing boards built around ham and cheese draw the most praise, with the Spanish Charcuterie and Spanish sharing board repeatedly singled out alongside the meatballs, nduja toast, and sausage roll as standouts. Close behind is the drinks list, a wide beer and wine selection that several diners call the best of their trip, with one reviewer thrilled to find Vault City Iron Brew and another praising staff wine recommendations. Service is described consistently as friendly and attentive, with servers guiding diners through pairings and even nudging one visibly drunk couple toward soft drinks. A few diners note the space gets noisy and busy, and one meal was marked by uneven seasoning, over-salted dishes paired with an under-seasoned pasta, though the winter salad still landed well. Value opinions split, with most calling prices reasonable for the city centre while one solo diner flagged a sixty pound dinner as not cheap. One walk-in without a reservation waited only a few minutes before being seated at the bar.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“We got some drinks and the Spanish sharing board - really good! Quick service and friendly staff. Outdoor setting is in a good busy location to watch everyone go by if you like people watching.”
- Google user
“We went into leeds for a date, hopping around wine bars, and our last stop was friends of ham. We met a wonderful server, who spent some time in Canada, who looked after us exceptionally. After a couple of glasses she came to us (after ordering two more drinks) and recognised we were more than “merry” and recommended we go onto softs. Even being VERY drunk we massively appreciated her care and acknowledgement of the situation. She is a very commendable and attentive server! Just wished we catched her name to applaud her on said service!”
- Google user
“One of the best bars in Leeds! Great selection of excellent beers and wines. Lovely cosy atmosphere and always busy. Staff are great and you're always looked after. Don't eat here very often but when I have its excellent! 👌”
- Google user
“We love it here, such friendly and welcoming staff, huge variety of beers and wines, and great snack/sharing food too! Only minor negative is the road works still going on on the street which detract slightly from the atmosphere, but this is no fault of FOH themselves!”
- Google user
“Visited a couple of times previously and it's 2 minutes from the train station. Every time I passed it was full so thought I'd try this trip We were seated and we chose a window view as lots of people pass from the railway station. We ordered the Spanish Charcuterie and a couple of extra meat and cheese items. Also the sausage roll, which was excellent. The food was amazing and the wine was probably the best of the trip for us. We ordered so much food we were moved to a table for 6 near the window 😂. The staff couldn't do enough for us and the atmosphere was great. At the end we asked if staff wanted to sit with us next time we travel to Leeds.”
Highlights
“Laid-back hangout on 2-bijou floors for artisan charcuterie and cheese platters, plus craft beers.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Usually difficult to find a space
- Highlights· 4
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
Location
Bars near Friends of Ham
- The Moot Hall Arms4.57780 mi
leeds united fan pub, strongbow dark fruits, guinness well poured
- Angel Inn4.31,2920.2 miWheelchair accessible
no phones policy, high drink prices, smelly toilets
- 0.3 mi£10–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
craft beer selection, sunday lunch with yorkshire puddings, detroit style pizza
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends of HamReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.51,641 | — | £10–30 | meatballs, spanish charcuterie board, sausage roll |
| The Moot Hall Arms | 4.5778 | 0 mi | — | leeds united fan pub, strongbow dark fruits, guinness well poured |
| Angel InnWheelchair accessible | 4.31,292 | 0.2 mi | — | no phones policy, high drink prices, smelly toilets |
| The Head of Steam Leeds - Park RowReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.41,701 | 0.3 mi | £10–30 | craft beer selection, sunday lunch with yorkshire puddings, detroit style pizza |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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