Sharing food does not have to mean six tiny plates and a bill that somehow keeps growing.

Sometimes the better plan is to buy the good stuff yourself, put it all in the middle and let everyone get stuck in.

The City Market in Bridge Street gives you most of what you need in one place.

The Food Hall currently includes a deli, JP Butcher, Pop n'James and Peixaria Portugal / POP Fishmongers, with S.J.W Fruit and Veg trading alongside them.

That is enough to build a table without going anywhere near a supermarket aisle.

Start With The Easy Wins

Cheese.

Cured meats.

Olives.

Bread.

Something pickled.

The sort of things that make a table look as though you have made far more effort than you actually have.

Then add one or two things that need cooking.

Sausages.

Skewers.

A decent cut for the grill.

Or something from the fishmonger if you want to take it in a different direction.

Then get the fresh stuff.

Tomatoes.

Salad.

Herbs.

Something to roast.

Whatever looks good on the day.

That is the point.

You are not shopping from a fixed list.

You are walking round and deciding what dinner becomes as you go.

The Best Bit Is Nobody Has To Agree

One person wants meat.

Someone else wants fish.

Another is mainly interested in cheese.

Fine.

Put it all in the middle.

A sharing table works because it does not need to look perfectly planned.

In fact, it is usually better when it doesn’t.

Three or four good things.

A few extras.

Something cold to drink.

Done.

Better Than Another Group Booking?

Quite possibly.

No table time.

No splitting the bill.

No waiting for somebody who is “five minutes away” and clearly isn’t.

And no moment when everyone realises they have ordered six versions of beige.

The market is currently open Tuesday to Saturday from 8.30am to 4pm, so this works especially well for a Friday or Saturday night when you want good food without organising an actual night out.

Give everyone one job.

Buy too much.

Put it all on the table.

That is usually when these nights work best.

What would be the first thing in your market sharing spread?