The Rad, Cambridge

When I last came to Cambridge I missed out on this pub as it doesn't open on weekday afternoons. It really is extremely small and quite basic, there are bare wooden floors and all sorts of bric-a-brac. Surprisingly for a pub where there isn't room to swing a cat there was what looked like an operational dart board. On the bar there were eight hand pumps, surely too many for a place this size. One was unused then there was London Pride, Spitfire, Saffron Dawn Til' Dusk & Silent Night, a White Park beer and Milton Medusa & Minerva. I went for the Silent Night which was in very good nick. I rather liked this pub, it's a basic drinking den, the sort of place that is becoming more and more difficult to find nowadays.

A small pub sporting five handpumps – three from Milton, Leeds Monsoon and London Pride. None of the ales we tried were particularly inspiring and the interior felt a bit unkempt and scruffy. I wasn’t as taken with it as others seem to be and would give it a miss next time based on this showing.

This pub is small and therefore easily busy hence the sensible "service area" and queue system at the bar which allows seating at bar stools at the other end. Dark inside, no gimmicks like gaming machines, a quiet background jazz music. Fullers beers, a bit bland for a London based drinker but had also a guest from the local Milton brewery, I forget which one but a straw coloured enjoyable ale around 4.5%. The barman was friendly and informative, helping us with our maps and route and suggesting some alternative options. The "Hall of Shame" seems to be for those who cannot handle their ale, looks like there have been plenty. I enjoyed it here, a traditional and characterful gem.