Quarts and Thoughts 26

Cambridge Blue A Warm Welcome In Oundle The Empress

left for the Ship and we often popped over. Recently I’d heard diverse reports about the pub, but I prefer to speak as I find – and I was enchanted to see that the pub remains much as I recall it in the late 1970s. Definitely won’t be leaving it as long until our next visit – in fact lunch turned into a full-blown affair as superb steaks and puds were washed down with pints of Brewster’s Marquis and Hophead (also on were London Pride and St. Austell Tribute).

Finally to Cambridge, where we spent two nights in mid-February in the company of Storm Eunice. A friend had recommended the Cambridge Blue as a “must”, so I was thrilled to see that this mid-terrace local was a mere ten minutes’ walk from our airbnb. First, though, a visit to the Empress in Thoday Street as we killed time before we could access the digs. Signs outside trumpeted “CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2010” and googling revealed that the pub had its own resident pig! But twelve years can be a long time in a pub’s life – it transpired that there had been changes of ownership and that the pig had died. Worse was to come - Doom Bar headed the handpump options but there was a glimmer of light – Nene Valley Blond was also on. Not – quite – undrinkable, but suffice it to say that I didn’t score it as a 5 on the NBSS process............

The Cambridge Blue, though, restored our faith in the city’s boozers. It’s a bustling house with what you’d have to say was an eclectic mix of customers and a dozen ales plus a vast selection of world beers amid wall-to-wall breweriana. Tring Mansion Mild, Church End Trymendous and Good Chemistry Lunar Noon kept me contented! On the Sunday we came home via a rain-lashed Ely and its quite splendid cathedral, and where we sought refreshment in the Minster Tavern, a Stonegate pub (the landlord reckoned Stonegate owns half the pubs in Ely). Still – my pints of Woodforde’s Wherry and Adnams Broadside were appetizing enough.

Mind how you go.