Farmyard
Hastings, East Sussex
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You can't deny the good vibes that emanate from this unassuming venue close to St Leonards Warrior Square station. It suits stolen lunches (including solo ones) and celebratory evenings and is admirably family-friendly - ‘a local to cherish’. The high corniced ceiling gives a sense of space to the small room, swags of fairy lights create a festive look, and rough-hewn shelves laden with bottles emphasise the 'wine bar' ambience. From the open kitchen at the back come small plates made for wine pairing – from classic fried goat's cheese with beetroot, hazelnut and sherry vinegar dressing or Moons Green charcuterie to the fun of cockle and shrimp popcorn. Also expect the unexpected: a wild boar laab (a Vietnamese/Thai salad) may have lacked the hoped-for funky and sour notes but made a pleasing partner for a glass of citrussy Falanghina from Puglia. There are steaks, too, with add-ons of garlic snails or roasted bone marrow, while seaside references include Maldon oysters, crevettes with garlic butter or a 'catch of the day' such as wild sea bass with fennel, garlic and chilli. Prices are reasonable, and that goes for the wine list, too. There’s a good choice if you're drinking by the glass: five reds and five whites, all organic or biodynamic, as well as a number of pink, orange, fizzy and sweet wines, sherries and vermouths. By-the-bottle options are even wider but predominantly European, with regions such as Catalonia and Sicily given equal billing alongside lesser-known Rhônes and grower Champagnes.
