Quality Back Street Boozers
Less than 24 hours in Cambridge. Yes we could see the Colleges, the Backs and go punting on the River Cam.
Or we could go down back streets of terraced houses, dodging street furniture and hunting out the best drinks known to humanity.
It was cold and dark. Pubs won.
First stop - The Geldart. I had checked Google and its said opens at 5pm on a Tuesday. Its 5.30pm but we are at the time of year when no-one really knows what day it actually is.
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| Of course, its Monday. Notify the dubious ticks committee |
Fear not, they come thick and fast in this part of the world. A short hop to the Alexandra Arms. A student corner boozer with a fair bit going for it but one annoying facet that was an instant turn-off.
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| Corner Shop |
The postives - a Greene King that you couldn't tell from the beers on offer. A back room with a delightful fire. A summer room, where the students can pretend they are up to no good, out of the landlord's watchful eye. A fine beer garden.
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| Handsome |
The negatives....
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| Lets hope electronic tips jars aren't a 2025 thing |
Mrs M put under strict instructions not to take her back to a pub we went to on our last visit. Her cider had bits floating in it. And it was smelly. She uses this as the low-bar for all our ticking trips.
Alas, the blog did not going into much pub detail in those days, but in the back of my mind, I thought it could have been the Cambridge Blue.
With extremely short termed fear, we crossed the threshold.
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| There was always going to be a bike |
This doesn't look familiar but needed serious consideration before moving past. I am not in lumpy cider, smelly pub.
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| How I imagined Twitter Deltrem's Fridge to look at Xmas |
You'd probably accuse me of not giving the rest of the year due consideration if I announced this as my POTY. It was certainly a dream visit. The high percentage Belgians possibly not the best for a pub crawl, but the choice of cask was almost as comprehensive. Brewmania nailed to very surface. A really good vibe.
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| Happy shiny people |
Its only on getting home I have discovered Mrs M's nemesis pub. A hand written note in CAMRA's 50 Great Pub Crawls Book. Hard to tell if the St Radegund is still trading. Google says no. My pub review sites say it is now "The Rad".
Onwards, ever onwards. All the restaurants in this area are in Mill Road. But we cannot walk past Kingston Arms. It will need something unique to stand out against such esteemed company. How about Bass? Need more? How about not one, but two coal fires. Another wonderful experience.
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| Another Pub, Another Bike |
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| My glamourous assistant demonstrating "Bass in Front of a Coal Fire" |
A food break probably a good idea and I bring good and bad news. We're four episodes into Squid Game Series 2, so our first choice was a Korean. Not open on a Monday. Next choice a Moroccan and they can fit us in in an hour.
Is there anywhere else to go? Of course, the Devonshire Arms is just around the corner.
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| Bike! |
The beer line up is unknown to me. Pump clips with just names from Roman mythology/history and the strength. Nothing about the style. Well, Milton Brewery you cannot intimidate me. I know my Stoics from my Epicureans. The 7.5% Marcus Aurelius shunned for the more crawl friendly 6% Prometheus.
The Moroccan restaurant does a fine line in tagines but is mercifully alcohol free.
Which leaves room for a night cap at the Live and Let Live.
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| No Bike |
Yet another Back Street classic - with a decent fire and a range of Nethergate Brewery ales. The night is finished with an Old Growler. Make your own jokes.
I set the 2024 goal of reaching my 1050th Good Beer Guide Tick. There's still tomorrow and somehow Mrs M has managed to book us into a remote Guide Entry. I finish on 1028. I will try harder in 2025. Not least by attempting #31PubsinJanuary.
Happy new year, fans of pub and pints.
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