The Castle Inn, Cambridge

The Castle Inn is an Adnams run pub with bare board and tiled flooring throughout. The entrance leads to a central area that houses a big round table that is overlooked by a raised coal fireplace to the right. On the other side of the chimney breast is a seating area in the right side of the pub. A step to the left of the entrance leads up to the bar area with a counter that faces high tables along the front windows. Further to the left are small front and rear seating areas that are split by a central column. Out the back is a surprisingly large split-level patio garden with picnic tables and a couple of huts. The bar counter supports six hand pumps that were drawing Broadside, Lighthouse, Ghost Ship, Southwold, Mosaic and Balmy Days, which is a decent collaboration with Vocation Brewery. Craft keg was also available, as was food with the Castle Burger coming in at £14. I though the barman was very friendly and the back music was of my era with a bit of Lightening Seeds et al. I liked it in here so will return when next in the area.

Official site of The Castle Inn - thecastleinn.pub

Official site of The Castle Inn - thecastleinn.pub

CLOSED Sat 17:00ish.

This is an Adnam's house that unlike most of their tied houses is a long way from home. Since they took it over in 1994 it has become a regular GBG entry. Inside it is a single room with wooden floorboards and distinct areas spread around the central bar. There is a garden of sorts at the back that I didn't investigate. On the bar there were nine hand pumps with eight different Adnam's beers including the mighty Tally Ho their Xmas beer which is around 7% ABV and was going for just over a fiver a pint. I was very tempted by this as I hadn't tried it for many years but it was before midday so I went for the single guest ale, Lacon's Falcon (£3.65). This was in superb nick. Although it is a distance away from the main centre and even further from the station it's well worth making the effort to visit.