Having only been open since August this year, there’s a new joint in town. Upon stepping into The Narrows in the Market Place, you immediately leave Faringdon behind and enter into another world entirely.
Transporting its guests to 1930s New York, the bar is decorated with black and gold, geometric patterning, wrapped with ferns of Amazon green and dashed with flashes of remarkable yellow as butterflies flit and birds perch on the bold wallpaper. It’s like a high-style version of the Rainforest Café for adults (without the overblown animatronics and burger menu for children). With a second glance, you might spot an emerald tree frog or a cheeky lizard lurking on a frond.
“We moved to Faringdon three years ago, via Bristol and Swindon, and were originally from a village in North Somerset.” says Dale Thompson, the owner-manager, “I recognised something in the town that reminded me of the place I grew up. It’s clearly bursting with potential. There’s such a wealth of history and good amenities, and yet the banks and some shops had closed: it seems ripe for a period of regeneration, and I am keen to be part of that new chapter. It’s an exciting prospect with Las Chicas and The Grill joining The Bell, Sadlers, the Gin to my Tonic bar and the other great places to go of an evening, and I look forward to seeing it continue.”
“The Narrows is in an incredible old building, and we were keen to bring it back to life again. It is a listed building and we’re in a conservation area, so have been very careful to respect that. There was a jeweller here for nearly 200 years, since 1838, and if you look up when you’re outside you can spot Abel Bros Watchmakers painted on the gable end. We wanted to pay homage to all this history whilst transforming the space into something for the people who live here today, and so we chose very early to include gold in the design. It represents all those moments of choosing engagement rings and gifts for loved ones here on the premises. We have also kept all the old features like the heavy bolts and bars on the doors and even incorporated into the wooden bar some original window shutters that we found stashed in the attic.”
Even the name of the bar was chosen with great care to reflect the past. “We had a historian investigate,” explains Dale, “and this stretch of road used to be known as The Narrows although the phrase fell out of popular use in the last fifty years. The building’s neighbours formerly housed fruit and veg sellers and a butcher, and Anne’s Garage was right opposite, where you can now find a McColls, so it would have been busy all the time. We liked the idea of bringing back that little bit of old Faringdon terminology.”
“Having picked the classic and chic black and gold, we opted for a 1920s feel,” continues Dale, “inspired by The Great Gatsby. I love the luxury, glitz and glamour in the novel and the film’s a favourite too – the story has such an exuberance alongside a faith in progress, and so seemed just right for the mood we are trying to create here. We have the stylish entrance with trees on either side, and a gold pigeon, and then inside we’ve added a fun twist with the jungle. It took a long time to find the right wallpaper! We were keen that The Narrows felt very different from people’s living rooms and stepping inside they feel a million miles from home, and I think we’ve done that.”
And haven’t they just. The Narrows is a cosy, intimate place, the light from the windows illuminating a cave of waxed wood and leather under a slate grey ceiling which adds an almost smoky touch as if you had stepped into a bar of old where a light haze drifts between lazy drawl.
The menu has a good selection of drinks from wine and cocktails to single malts: there’s both something for everyone and some more unexpected options including gluten-free beer, non-alcoholic Prosecco and bottles of West Indies Porter to give the Guinness enthusiast something a little different to try. The Significant Other (TSO) and I settled into a window booth – an excellent vantage point to watch Faringdon life pass by – with classic feelgood Motown and cocktails for two: A Narrows Breakfast Club cocktail and a West Indian Yellow Bird, followed by Pornstar and Expresso martinis.
“The best one I’ve had in the UK,” TSO declares, appreciating that the staff had taken the time to handmake each from first principles with real care and that they were beautifully presented. My Pornstar martini was a cracker served the traditional way with a chilled shot glass of Prosecco. Head through to the back room which is unexpectedly spacious (for a compact bar) and the mood changes: there’s a gentle peach glow illuminating a burst of luscious pink blooms, monkeys, and moths. With its chequer-board floor, you could be standing in Alice in Wonderland’s Garden of Live Flowers! Take a moment to notice the bespoke tables with their unusual legs (and we also loved the copper taps in the loos). Pick a novel or a game from the shelves in the corner and you can happily settle in for the evening – bring your book club or even hire the space for a party for 20.
