The Cambridge Blue, Cambridge

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.

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?

Official site of The Cambridge Blue - cambridge.pub

Official site of The Cambridge Blue - cambridge.pub

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.

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.