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Submitted on Saturday, 5^th September 2026
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Friends of Ham, Ilkley

Pub added by aleand hearty

8 Wells Road
Ilkley
LS29 9JD

Correct details

Served areas

Ilkley Town

Reviews of Friends of Ham (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Graham Coombs left this review about Friends of Ham

Yes, still very much in the pretentiously cheery 'everyone's a friend' sort of mode but no problem at all in just getting a drink (apart perhaps from the price). Three interesting and changing ales on handpump, and clearly showing what is coming on next - on the website as well as on the bar so it can be done! The clientele are still a bit grating and I wouldn't stop here for long but it is ok to try a different beer or two. I think I prefer Leeds though...

On 28^th August 2026 - rating: 7
[User has posted 4025 recommendations about 3957 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Old Boots left this review about Friends of Ham

I found it slightly less pretentious than the Leeds establishment, perhaps 5 years mellows a place or the dik -head staff have moved on? There were a couple of yummy mummies and ankle biters present but not a problem. A two roomed affair with a rear outdoor seating area under a big brolly with a separate entrance, table service only which to be fair is in keeping with its (pretty much) restaurant not a pub or bar status. I suppose you can just drink here but as my choices were Greggs or ‘spoons I chose to eat here. The food (a toasted sandwich) cost £8.75. Basement toilets, three cubicles; unisex, unisex with nappy changing, ladies only; naturally I left the seat up. Three pulls but Mary Jane or Three Swords only were available so I went for the Kirkstall and it was a decent pint. Keg choices were 11 varied beers and a cider, this included two beers from Ilkley and one from the very local Bini Brew, nothing to moan about in the others either. Beers are available in 1/2, 2/3, or pint measures. A touch too middle class for many, including myself, I expect.

On 15^th January 2022 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 4235 recommendations about 3895 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Real Ale Ray left this review about Friends of Ham - Ilkley

Another Friends of Spam outlet. This one would you believe, was even more pretentious and irritating than the one in Leeds. The barman, when serving me, addressed me as Buddy and the usual guys thing still prevails. We got here mid Saturday afternoon and the place had quietened down slightly. The interior is small and we found it difficult to navigate, trying to get past the elitist mummies and daddies with push chairs and children in tow, all out for an afternoons slice of spam and olive.
Some bright spark had also decided to place the cashiers till at the top of the stairs, which created a decent bottle neck.
The place stills attracts a lot of luvvies and the guy kissing his lady friend's forehead and holding hands near the window, under a dried up pig's leg, was enough for me to drink up hastily and go to a proper pub. Beer wise there was three handpumps, so I went for the Wild Child Brewery, Expatriate Session IPA.

On 22^nd November 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3767 recommendations about 3767 pubs]

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