Holcombe Tap

Holcombe Tap Bar & Kitchen, as it sometimes goes by the name of, is all about small plates. It’s also all about guest ales and gins, but that’s another story. It’s all about small plates that look good, taste good and do a good job of lining your stomach so you can sample all those guest ales and gins.

The small plates, if you let them, will take your tastebuds on a trip around the world – or you could just as easily pick one cuisine and stick to it, there are so many of the small plates to choose from. Holcombe Tap Scotch eggs are mini versions made with Bury black pudding-wrapped quails eggs while beer-battered fish goujons come with minted mushy peas and homemade tartare sauce. That’s some of the Great British favourites covered. From Europe, there’s a French-inspired duck breast with orange jus and fondant potato or the Spanish tapas favourite of king prawns in garlic and chilli butter. Into the Middle East, and flavours include harissa, pistachio and pomegranate, and there’s houmous two ways plus Baby peppers stuffed with Moroccan-spiced giant couscous. Even further afield, think Tandoori chicken skewers and mango chutney or miso-glazed salmon fillet with crispy noodles. If you prefer to stick to what you know, there’s also a soup and sandwich lunchtime menu, with packed bloomers and skinny fries, and Sundays see roast beef and as many or as few sides as take your fancy.

Gins, they have a few, divided into three sections: floral-aromatic, citrus-fruity and spicy-savoury. There’s also a spread of classic cocktails, new and old world wines, six lots of fizz, and, of course, those beers.