Crown & Anchor
The cream-painted front of the Crown & Anchor in Ham, hanging baskets in bloom and guests at picnic benches by the red door

Gallery

A look around

The pub, the plates, the rooms upstairs and the village outside the door.

Ham, Wiltshire · North Wessex Downs

The cream-painted front of the Crown & Anchor in Ham, hanging baskets in bloom and guests at picnic benches by the red door
The pub's red double doors thrown open between two box-hedge planters
Wooden picnic tables on the front terrace, looking across the lane to the village green, bicycles leant against the wall
A thatched white cottage with a blue front door and roses in the garden, in the village of Ham
Halved Scotch eggs with soft orange yolks, celeriac remoulade and brown sauce, with a pint of Guinness
Sunday roast beef with a towering Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese and red cabbage to share, with red wine
Beer-battered fish and chips with mushy peas, tartare sauce and a charred lemon half
The long dining room, candles lit along tables of green velvet chairs and a striped banquette
A Crown & Anchor dice game in a wooden bowl on a windowsill, with a pint of ale beside it
A sliced steak on a carving board with chips, béarnaise, a jug of gravy and glasses of red wine
Three savoury tartlets topped with fresh herbs, with grilled toast and a whipped dip
A raspberry pudding ringed with fresh raspberries and toasted almonds, topped with a scoop of raspberry sorbet
A jug and glass of Bloody Mary with celery sticks, beside fresh flowers and the Sunday papers
The garden dining room, with mustard curtains framing French doors and tables laid for lunch
A framed Crown & Anchor board, showing heart, crown, diamond, spade, anchor and club, on the panelled wall
A spritz with raspberries and a slice of orange in a stemmed glass, on a weathered table outside
A corner table set with a chess game and a drink, felt hats hanging on the panelled wall behind
A long table set for a private dinner, glowing with candles, glasses and printed menus
Garden flowers in a dark glass vase beside pewter tankards on a panelled shelf
A game of backgammon over a glass of red wine on a cushioned banquette
A table laid for dinner with wildflowers in a green glass vase and the garden beyond the window
A wooden chair with a club cut into its back, in the low light of the panelled bar
A lively crowd gathered round the log burner in the panelled bar, with two black dogs at their feet
A small starter on toast with herbs, bread and butter on a board and a pepper mill on the oak table
A slice of custard tart with a quenelle of pink sorbet and a glass of dessert wine
Burrata with a crisp crumb on a vivid green herb dressing, the table laid around it
Prosperous: a green trellis-patterned headboard, burnt-orange velvet cushions and a green wool throw
A mint-green panelled bathroom with a heated towel rail and 100 Acre Apothecary toiletries
Wansdyke: a pink plaster bedroom under exposed beams, with a deep green throw and a wooden bench at the foot of the bed
A reclaimed plank door opening onto a warm yellow bathroom with star-patterned floor tiles
Two border terriers making themselves at home on a bed with a maroon patterned headboard, one curled in a dog bed
Christmas garlands and a woven lampshade above tables laid for festive lunch
Guests and their dogs at picnic tables outside the pub on a sunny afternoon, the thatched cottage next door behind
The Crown & Anchor seen from the lane, a thatched cottage beside it and picnic benches out front in the summer sun
The bar, with a reeded wooden front, green leather stools, a red lampshade and sunflowers among the bottles
A fireside table with a pint of bitter, a Guinness, bowls of nuts and the weekend papers, the log burner glowing behind
A whisky sour with a frothy top and a dried orange wheel, on a round oak table
Burrata with heritage tomatoes and red onion, a glass of white wine and a second plate across the table
A martini in a coupe glass on a polished wooden table, a marble solitaire board beside it
The Partridge Room, a terracotta-walled private dining room with a long table laid for a party and a brick fireplace
Two friends in flat caps by the window, one laughing, the other taking a sip of stout
Pan-fried sea bream on a tomato and pepper stew with basil leaves, a glass of rosé behind
Meat searing over leaping flames on a cast-iron grill in the kitchen
Scotch eggs on a wooden board beside the Racing Post and a pint of ale
Smooth parfait with chutney and thick slices of toasted brioche on a wooden board
Pink-roasted meat with red cabbage, greens and a potato fondant, with a glass of red wine
Nibbles to share: green olives, whipped dips, grilled sourdough and a sausage with salsa verde, with white wine
A cheeseburger topped with a gherkin, with a pot of chips
Close-up of burrata topped with crisp crumbs in a pool of herb oil
A Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes, sharing dishes of cauliflower cheese and red cabbage
A fillet of white fish with charred vegetables and a butter sauce, a glass of rosé alongside
A light summer plate of pea shoots, carrot ribbons and soft curds, with a glass of white wine and wildflowers
The boot room: waxed coats and hats on pegs, wellies lined up below and a large map of local walks on the wall
The oak-panelled bar room with a lit log burner, tables laid for lunch and a small dog on the rug
Pints of ale raised among friends in tweed and gilets at the bar
A rich stew in an earthenware bowl with crispbreads and a glass of red wine
Manor: a king-size bed with a blue-grey headboard, blue velvet cushions and black pagoda-style lamps
A corner of a pink bedroom with an egret print, an antique writing desk and chair, and a checked lampshade
Vale: a sand-coloured bedroom with a maroon leaf-patterned headboard and yellow striped cushions
A pink bedroom under old beams, with an Audubon flamingo print, a striped dressing gown on the wall and an antique chair
A border terrier sitting on a red rug in front of the log burner, wellies lined up beside the hearth
The garden dining room at Christmas, a garland of baubles and greenery strung across the ceiling
A posy of dried flowers tied with ribbon, hung beside a painting of the downs

Come and see it for yourself

Sunday roast beef with Yorkshire pudding

Next · Seasonal, British, generous

Food & Drink

News from Ham

Supper clubs, new menus and the odd walk worth doing. Once a month, no more.
AB