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The Cambridge Blue, Cambridge
Cambridge
CB1 2LG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Cambridge Blue
I was blown away by this pub when I first visited many moons ago as I couldn’t believe what was lurking in an unassuming back street. The Cambridge Blue should always be commended for the effect it, and the other members of the original holy trilogy, had on the surrounding area to make this such a fantastic beer town, however I also feel it’s become a victim of its own success and lost something over the years. And for me that is it’s pub feel. I agree with other reviewers that it now feels more like a permanent beer festival than a pub, and the beer tray adorned extension and the bench seated tented outside space more resembles a tent at the Octoberfest than it does a traditional pub.
But the ale lineup, both on the pumps and in bottles, was superb as usual and I would sill rather this one was in a back street in N21 than CB1.
On 14th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Steve C left this review about The Cambridge Blue
The entrance of the Cambridge Blue leads to a wall of fridges stacked with craft cans and bottles. The interior is J-shaped with seating to the right and also up the left opposite the bar counter. In the left rear is a long and thin seating area with a curved ceiling that is plastered with beer trays. In fact there’s lots of breweriana all around the pub. The front bar area was busy during my Friday afternoon visit, but there was plenty of room under the trays at the rear. The bar counter supports 14 hand pumps that were drawing XT’s Squid Ink, Batemans’ Dark M, Tring Brewery’s Kingmaker and Liberator, Bishop Nick’s Devout, Wharf Brewery’s Puck’s Folly and No Name as well as Mad Squirrel’s Hopfest alongside New Age, Release the Chimps, Egyptian Cream and Business Time from Nene Valley Brewery. There were also ten real cider options, half of them being from Lilley’s. There was a bit of background music playing, but this place is all about the beer and well worth a visit.
On 12th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Cambridge Blue
Dating from c. 1860 and formerly the Dew Drop, the pub’s history is well documented on the website with a few photos by way of punctuation; I don’t think it’s a house conversion, as the proportions don’t match the surrounding architecture and then there’s the age.
Externally, the Tolly Cobbold off licence sign is a very new addition and an indication that there’s much breweryana in evidence, with a huge number of brewery trays glued to the ceiling; there’s also a large collection of enamelled trade signs. Also on offer were 14 pumps, me going for a half of Tring’s Liberator (with the eponymous aircraft on the pump clip, were B-24s based in Cambridgeshire?), price forgotten but a decent drink.
This is a good pub, but the busyness and overall character is, as mentioned below, a bit like being at a beer festival rather than relaxing in a cossetting pub; ‘crowded madhouse’ is also a fitting description.
On 8th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Cambridge Blue
The previous reviewers has it spot on, in my opinion. This is an overwhelming pub, doing everything for everybody on a huge scale. Yes, there's a great choice of drinks, but it feels like being at a beer festival. Maybe I should come back in the afternoon when it might be more congenial.
On 29th February 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Cambridge Blue
Multi pump and multiple Camra award winner in what I suppose to be a converted terrace house in a terraced street. There are 14 hand pumps, some double clipped with cider clips. Beers are sourced from smaller breweries nationally. Comprising a u shaped room at the front with two counter faces to the central servery, the front is occupied by fridges for a wealth of bottles and cans, one side of the u appears to be storage space for the off-licence part of the business. Decor here is mostly old enamelled advertising signs and US and European brewery signs. To the left is a long thinnish extension with refectory style tables and benches, the decor is an overwhelming mix of old brewery trays, mirrors, enamelled signs and whisky boxes stuck to the ceiling. Included is an ad for Dales whose brewery was at the other end of Gwydir St, the building is clearly recognisable. The pub has a large garden at the back with picnic benches under a marquee. The beer is well kept but the pub’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, Camra likes it and put it in their book: with 14 pulls you knew that didn’t you?
On 25th July 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Cambridge Blue
As described by others, this is an ale lover’s destination, which also offers an excellent selection of craft beers, ciders and whiskies. It was originally called The Dew Drop. The name has changed, but I believe Israeli paratroopers are still welcome. It is let down by minor irritating details – the sneering barman who looked down his nose when I asked about CAMRA discount, the WiFi not working were the two most obvious. Craft beers were Heisenberg (though I’m not too certain about that one), Mosaic, Egyptian Cream, Sacristan and Hop Stash. Ales were Hop Kitty and Gazelle from Animal, Adnam’s Southwold, Nethergate Growling Dog, Burton Bridge Damn Dog and Bramble Stout, and Mad Squirrel Berkhopsted. The other handpumps were dry, and there were several foreign beers available in bottles plus Bitburger on tap and there was an excellent selection of real ciders. A definite crawl destination and I’d be happy to spend an evening here, though it does get busy, especially with once-a-year would-be ale drinkers and those CAMRA yoghurt-knitters who like a selfie while clogging the bar with their hour-long half.
On 18th February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Cambridge Blue
One of my fellow drinkers told me that there were fourteen real ales on in here - he's probably right but I stopped counting after I ran out of fingers and thumbs. As you enter, the bank of fridges are still there facing you containing what appeared to be an impressive array of Belgian beers.
This looks it might be a house conversion; in any case it has the same look as the terrace of house in which it sits. Inside it's essentially two rooms, with the room on the left stretching back a long way, leading to the garden at the back. It didn't have the same homely welcoming "locals" feel as the Elm Tree, but rather a functional pub where you can drink a range of well kept real ales. I can see that such a place would be some real ale enthusiasts dream pub, and it was certainly doing a good trade late Saturday afternoon even without the CAMRA pub crawl participants that admittedly swelled the numbers.
If you appreciate good real ale (and who doesn't?) then this is yet another destination pub in Cambridge.
On 20th October 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Cambridge Blue
A remarkable permanent beer and cider exhibition with a huge range of each. The large extended back room has the feel of a German beer hall, and the large outdoor area under canvas even more so. Great when quiet but can get over-busy.
On 6th August 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Cambridge Blue
It's been a good few years since I was here last. I did notice that there had been a few changes, the most considerable was the large rear extension, plus a marquee and the banks of bottle coolers near the front entrance. One thing that hasn't changed was the good flow of customers around the place. There was a selection of eight ales on handpump on our visit. So we went for the Nene Valley Australian Pale and Pot Belly Lager Bran.
On 11th March 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Cambridge Blue
Justifiably famous back-street alehouse, with an extended 'J'-shaped bar area now supplemented by a marquee in the rear beer garden. As you would expect, the furniture is fairly rustic and the decor mostly breweriana, but you'd want your money back if it wasn't... Only slightly odd feature is the line of bottle fridges that face you on entry. Busy early on an otherwise quiet evening between Christmas and New Year, with an appropriately convivial atmosphere. Splendid selection of nine real ales - including the Santa's Claws from Colchester Brewery (£3.60) - and five ciders from the 14 handpumps. Top drawer!
On 16th January 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]