Crab racing at Friend in Hand Hotel isn’t something you see everyday. It may look normal from the outside, but once inside it’s a totally different story. You have a pub packed with people, who are dripping wet after being doused by the bar staff, cheering for these tiny little creatures who undoubtedly have no idea what’s going on. I wonder if this is classed as animal cruelty?

We were there to celebrate Dom’s birthday and boy was it an experience. The pub alone is a novelty, so if you can’t make it there on a Tuesday night for the crab race I’m sure you’ll be just as entertained by the decor.

It has to be the most overly decorated pub I’ve ever seen. There’s so much random stuff from police signs to fireman mannequins, antler heads to full length canoes and did I mention the pub cockatoo?

Awesome awesome food
We were all pretty starving and ready for a feed. G and I shared the eggplant parmigiana and a combo meal of steak and lasagna (can you tell we were hungry?). OMG the food was amazing! You know that moment when your food comes out from the kitchen and you anticipate that first bite? This first mouthful was sheer heaven. If you go there I would highly recommend the eggplant parmigiana – the best I’ve ever had. They look a bit like little fish fillets.

The race
The crab race only took a minute, the little creatures must have been scared. Dom’s crab, Chichi, finished in the top 5 (Well done Chichi!). So to battle it out for first place they had a South Park inspired “Chocolate Salty Balls” eating competition.

Dom didn’t win, but he sure does look like a champ!