Secret Feasts: The Farrier

One of the few positive rays of light to emerge from the hospitality gloom of 2020’s lockdown was news that an ambitious new gastropub was preparing to open in the Victorian horse hospital on Chalk Farm Rd. It felt like a vaguely crazy idea at that time, but the team in charge had a plan…

Though still in its first year of operation, The Farrier has already carved out a reputation for high quality seasonal British food paired with an enviable selection of natural wines, very decent cocktails and beers too. The spacious rustic chic setting has also gone down very well with an increasingly loyal band of local regulars.

They’ve weathered the further buffeting of Omicron to recently add an in-house wine store to the offering, specialising in natural wines from small vineyards and cooperatives. These will form the centrepiece of their £20 Secret Feasts offer, which includes a tasting flight of five red, white, rosé and orange wines, with a board of cheese, charcuterie or vegan crudités.

“We have about 70 wines in stock that change quite regularly,” says resident expert Will Sharpe. “They are all low-intervention, which encompasses organic and biodynamic wines too. It means the least amount of tinkering in production, including the use of natural yeasts and no filtering, all of which give these wines a broad range of new flavours that people might not be used to. It means everything from crystal clear wines all the way to some cloudy, cidery funky things. There’s lots to discover.”

The accompanying charcuterie and cheeses are locally sourced from the Hampstead Butcher, just up the road. “We’ve got a really good relationship with them,” enthuses General Manager Shane Rose. “They helped us put our name on the map for Sunday roasts, and more recently, while we’ve been awaiting the arrival of a new chef, they’ve put together some really impressive meats and cheeses that pair well with our natural wines. You’ll find they release the taste in a way that’s really impressive.”