Royal Standard, Romsey Town, Cambridge

The Royal Standard is a surprisingly busy place, with all tables inside and most outside occupied early on a Saturday evening. The garden does have some heaters, which makes a stop outside just about tolerable. The pub is at least 5 minutes walk from the nearest pub, which is a bit unusual in this part of Cambridge, so maybe that accounts for the crowds. Since the pub is run by the same folk as The Cambridge Blue, it's not surprising to see a few choice Belgian and German beers on the fount, with around half a dozen independent brewery ales on the handpumps. Service is a bit perfunctory, but The Royal Standard is certainly worth a few hundred steps added to your daily total.

This is a deservedly popular Good Beer Guide pub doing great business on a Thursday evening (to the extent that it was quite difficult to find a suitable perch). Now has a U-shaped layout, although no extra seating can be found at the right-hand extremity. Traditional furniture with Belgian breweries and Camra awards as the main decorative features. With a bank of three handpumps at each end of the central counter, I found Nene Valley Brewery's Loop Daddy (£4.20) and Egyptian Cream plus other local cask ales from the likes of Mighty Oak.

Official site of Royal Standard - www.instagram.com

Official site of Royal Standard - cambridge.pub

Official site of Royal Standard - cambridge.pub

Official site of Royal Standard - www.instagram.com

An unusual pub with an extension tacked onto the front, whose tiles are echoed in the bar counter which is facing as you enter. It's a traditional bar, but with two sets of hand pumps, three at either end. I got the impression this was more like a cafe than a pub, but that's probably because I was here mid-afternoon when the only other customers were eating, and had a very young child with them. There were three beers on, plus several ciders (listed on a blackboard) and plenty of bottles of Belgian beers. I went for Hawkshead Mill Yard Mild, maybe chosen because the pub is on Mill Road? I found this beer a little underwhelming, though it was in good enough condition (NBSS 3). I was left unimpressed by this pub, but this is likely because I was here at a quiet period on a Thursday afternoon. Date of visit: 29th February 2024