George Hotel, Huntingdon

This former coaching inn is well described by others, below. It is still owned by Greene King and remains a pleasant, lively local. It’s a pity that the beer selection is less ambitious than it could be – only Abbott and GK IPA on draft, and no real cider. It was a peaceful place, though, and certainly a nice change from the rowdier pubs in the town. I’d be happy to pop in again when passing.

A very fine coaching inn exterior,through the courtyard is a fine view of timber framed buildings .Sadly Greene King own the place and their dead hand has infected the interior.The hotel bar occupies a lot of the ground floor,with a raised section beyond the bar acting as a dining room.However furniture is sparse and it looks tacky.The high tables,fruit machines ,flatscreen , anonynmous muzak and a pub grub menu all lower the tone and with three handpumps only offering GK Abbott and IPA,it was a swift half and then off.Nothing to see here.

Greene King hotel bar with Abbot on hand pump. One big room after you get past reception.

This historic hotel is owned by Green King under the brand name of Old English Inns, The frontage has a classic Georgian look but some half timber parts of the building at the rear look even older and there has been a coaching inn on this site since before 1550. Many of the older buildings in Huntingdon allege to be the birth place of Oliver Cromwell, but this building has a more legitimate claim as his Grandfather was the owner at the time of Cromwell’s birth. Through the front entrance you will see the reception desk immediately on your left and a large open plan foyer with a rather grand staircase straight ahead, to the right of the stairs is the two room public bar area, this has high ceilings, a wood panel bar counter across the back wall and a central dividing wall opposite with a double sided fire place and log burning stove in it. In the back wall between the stairs and the counter are doors which lead to a lovely enclosed courtyard with several picnic tables and hanging baskets, this is where you can see some of the older timber parts of the original building. The left side of the reception area is a restaurant and the hotel has a total of 24 rooms. Regular ales are Green King IPA and Abbot Ale with no changing guest beers. I tried both ales over a few days and found them to be ok but nothing special. A decent enough place for a quick drink, I stayed here over four nights while on company business, the rooms were very nice and the food in the restaurant was excellent. The location is ideal as you are in the quiet town centre near to other pubs and eating establishments. Several of the locals were regulars in the bar which I thought was a good endorsement.