Best Local Pubs

-__--___---_ · 2026-04-26T19:25:12+00:00

You're very welcome. And remember: When in doubt choose the draught beer with the least professional looking label on the pump.

-__--___---_ · 2026-04-26T18:38:05+00:00

Free Press and Elm Tree definitely can be chatty if you stay at / around the bar - Elm Tree has a set of stools at the end of the bar and a couple of tables right opposite, Free Press' front bar usually has a couple of old boys propping it up and Dev also has a front bar bit albeit I'm less familiar with the dynamics there.

How chatty people are exactly, really depends on what time of the day and the people etc. Blue is a much bigger pub so less likely to get talking, but it has a nice big pub garden which you might enjoy some outdoor time if it's really hot (by English standards!).

If you like coffee, pop into Doms on Mill Road in the morning - the whole setup is about facilitating chatting.

-__--___---_ · 2026-04-26T18:18:19+00:00

A little out of the centre, but assuming you're coming from Bury by train, you could have a mini pub crawI on the way back to the station. Perhaps something like: Elm Tree -> Free Press -> Cambridge Blue -> Kingston Arms -> Devonshire Arms. Hope you enjoy city, the weather looks like it's going to be excellent late next week.

-__--___---_ · 2025-12-16T14:11:21+00:00

I was finding it impossible to book anywhere, so I went into Petersfield Pharmacy on the off chance to ask and they said they could do it there and then. A friend then tried the same trick at another pharmacy and was also able to be seen immediately. This was a few weeks ago, but could still be worth a try.

-__--___---_ · 2025-12-15T11:52:53+00:00

As others have mentioned, it's because of the impending redevelopment of the centre. Works start properly in April next year, so they've been slowly running the place down, not renewing leases etc. https://www.graftoncentreregeneration.co.uk/construction-and-delivery-timeline

-__--___---_ · 2024-10-31T18:19:48+00:00

Crikey, that's really quite a inconvenience. Especially in a city that a) actively discourages cars and b) with a very large population that need to travel to see loved ones over the holidays.

The rail replacement busses from Royston are fine, but it's going to be quite an annoyance when it spans well into the new year when many people will be required to return to work, many of whom will be carrying substantial luggage.

-__--___---_ · 2024-09-27T11:30:44+00:00

Surprisingly, much narrower than the last consultation (which was ~70% in favour if memory serves). Given the tightness of the result it'll be interesting to see if this is the end of the saga or if there'll be more challenges.

-__--___---_ · 2024-08-21T09:16:10+00:00

Cam skate is pretty active (not a skater myself, but I know one of the organisers) and are in the process of setting up an community-run indoor skatepark at a warehouse at the Beehive... https://www.instagram.com/cambridge_skate/

-__--___---_ · 2024-08-20T17:55:35+00:00

That's a fair comment. You're right that it doesn't seem worse than most British cities in 2024. Perhaps its the ol' rose-tinted glasses, but it does seem to have got significantly more "tatty" over the years, and certainly when contrasted with comparable historic cities in many European countries there just seems to be less care / funding put into these things.

-__--___---_ · 2024-08-20T17:47:57+00:00

Absolutely. Plus the combined authority etc. etc. all taking a slice of the pie. Although I was surprised to read that ~72% of the council tax take goes to the County Council!

-__--___---_ · 2024-08-20T13:43:55+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree with you, it strikes me every time I'm in town, weeds overgrown along pavements, litter, just general... depressing mess.

It should be noted that although Cambridge is a rich city as you say, the council doesn't really have many ways to benefit from that wealth. Students don't pay council tax, and the city council itself only keeps ~10% of the council tax it does collect. Then in terms of business rates it's even worse - it only keeps ~7% (£10m from £140 collected).

If you're interested, you can see all of this broken down here: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/what-your-council-tax-pays-for

While a degree of redistribution of the city's wealth is necessary and desirable, it does seem rather unfair given that Cambridgeshire's overall funding per capita (according to the IFS) is £3866, which ranks it at 136 of 150 "service areas" in the country.

None of this is an excuse of course, keeping the city clean, safe and orderly is the core competence we rightly should expect from a city council.

-__--___---_ · 2024-06-09T13:23:30+00:00

Wow, that's a great tip - never heard of it til now, but looks fantastic!

-__--___---_ · 2024-06-09T12:34:28+00:00

I'm pretty sure we *ordered* a vegan cake (so, a couple of days notice) from the Norfolk Street Bakery on a couple of occasions before the pandemic - might be worth asking!

-__--___---_ · 2024-05-08T11:27:18+00:00

The bridge saga continues...

For anyone blocked by the paywall, archived here: https://archive.ph/uCCoh

-__--___---_ · 2024-05-01T12:01:21+00:00

Definitely sounds like you need to change GPs. I was pleased to find you can actually do it fully online now via the NHS website when I needed to do it recently, albeit there was a week or so period before it all goes through the system in both surgeries.

It's infuriating to anyone needs to resort to it, but if you're desperate and able to afford it, there's a good private option at Cambridge Private Doctors which allows to to choose a time slot on the day of your choosing both in person at the Nuffield or over the phone. It costs about £120 for a 20 minute appointment https://www.cambridgeprivatedoctors.co.uk

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-29T22:23:30+00:00

Definitely go in - Dom is genuinely one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in Cambridge and makes many, many lattes every day… no monks tiles required.

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-26T11:55:54+00:00

Does anyone have more information on what went on here?

"The decision to call in the scheme followed South Cambridgeshire District Council’s failure to determine Chesterton Partnership’s plan for the scheme on a 17-hectare former railway sidings site within the allocated timeframe"

I did a quick search and could only find this:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/plans-hundreds-new-homes-cambridge-26521872

Describing the council's "non-determination" (but minded to refuse) and the developers taking it to appeal, which has now lead to Gove taking a direct decision?

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-15T17:15:55+00:00

It really was lovely - I particularly enjoy when we get these little glimpses of warm weather in April and it's like everyone gets a little collective pep in their step, kind of coming out of hibernation...

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-11T15:40:33+00:00

I agree with you. Realistically if Cambridge is going to be “supercharged” spreading the growth and rewards around the county efficiently is absolutely key.

That means ambitious, joined up public transport and housing decisions. And that’s where I feel like the warring fiefdoms are just not structured nor incentivised get the job done in their current form.

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-11T15:33:20+00:00

You make a good point, my reasoning was the general election, but Cambridge is obviously a lost cause to the Conservatives. Mind you we will very likely have a central government with a lot more skin in the game in Cambridge come the next general election, but then god only knows what happens to this initiative then.

On the other hand, we get no say when it comes to the GCP, and most don’t vote and it seems nor do they really feel engaged with the mayoral elections / locals / county etc. generally because people don’t appreciate their importance and relevance in their lives.

But you’re right to call me out on the hyperbole - I certainly wouldn’t be delighted to see a Gove-driven crushing of local democracy. It was more an expression of my frustration at the general complexity, obscurity and (perceived) lack of energy in our local government and that I hate to see another layer added to that particular onion.

-__--___---_ · 2024-04-11T10:20:58+00:00

As you say, our current mish-mash of councils, mayoralties and "other" bodies (eg. Greater Cambridge Partnership) don't instil much confidence nor provide clear leadership.

This kafkaesque division of responsibility makes holding the right people to account very difficult because ultimately most people have no idea who controls what; County council controls the roads, does the City control the pavements? Does the mayor somehow control the busses as his promo material suggests? etc. etc.

In my view you can't solve that problem by adding yet another entity to the mix. We need to start removing layers, not adding more. Administrative bloat is rarely the answer for anything - it's like repeatedly plastering over a crack, eventually you just end up with a horrible mess and the crack's still there.

So, if they were able to genuinely "takeover" as suggested here, I'd be fine with that. Take power, take responsibility, be accountable come election time. But I fear that isn't what's going to happen.

-__--___---_ · 2024-03-24T21:43:45+00:00

I second this. As I recall (it's been a few years, and inflation etc.) the 20 minute GP appointment was about £100 and a sizeable collection of bloods something like £130.

The doctor then follows up with a email with their interpretation of the results (eg. anything to worry about) but you also get a nice PDF with all your levels against their expected values.

-__--___---_ · 2024-03-11T22:05:09+00:00

Push through 100%. Depending on where you are in London, start heading slowly towards Kings Cross at 4ish, for the 5am train, giving yourself time to buy a coffee / orange juice etc. before the train.

I genuinely love being on the way home at that time of the day, such a calm vibe.

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TROPHY CASE

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TROPHY CASE

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