Drayman's Son, Ely

One of three GBG 2025 listed pubs in Ely, a square room micro, on two levels, seating on the lower and the short counter on the upper with more seating. No equipment on the counter but four pumps lurk in the back cold room as well as ten keg taps, 8 ciders are available. Everything is described on blackboards. It has two toilets on the upper level; both main genders are cared for. Eclectic decor of old enamel signs including a London bus stop sign and railway stuff. It has piped music but otherwise pretty much an old skool micro, apart from the live music set up in the front window. Friendly micro and a don't miss when in Ely.

Located at the lower end of the High Street down towards the river, this might well be termed a micro-pub in as much as it has a decent beer selection, stripped back ethos and no TV, pool table etc., but there was nonetheless background music playing so probably doesn’t qualify in the strictest sense. It’s split across two levels with a few steps up to the higher level at the rear. The bar counter is at the very back, although there are no pumps on the bar, you select your order from the chalkboard menu and then the barmaid would disappear in to the rear room to fulfil it. Décor wise, both halves are broadly similar with some old parquet wood flooring, plain whitewashed walls and ceiling with fairy lights and exposed filament light bulbs and various old metal signs on the walls, many food related such as Colman’s Mustard and Brooke Bond tea as well as several tobacco ones, but also Shell and a large “Engines not to pass this point” notice. A few other odds and ends were dotted about, such as an old radio up on a shelf and some old cine projectors in the window. There was also a stack of board games to play, and we amused ourselves with one called Logo which I’d not come across before. Seating was mostly red padded benches and chairs, as well as some fitted bench seating in the corners. The barmaid was proficient enough at her duties, but seemed to be lacking much in the way of any personality. There were only three cask ales on when we visited, Three Blind Mice’s Old Brown Mouse, Papworth Session Porter and Artefact Ixworth. Keg options were more extensive with no less than seven from Three Blind Mice – Juice Rocket, Lonely Snake, Milk Worm, Pukka Up, Rocket Nun, The Confessor and Pirates in the Courtyard along with Papworth Kouba. Ciders meanwhile were well represented with Cockeyed Devon Jasper, Blue Barrel Thorn Perry and Barbourne Oak Cask along with a trio from Cromwell’s – Oliver’s Session, Oliver’s Extra Drey and Oliver’s Sweetheart as well as both Rhubarb and Mango from Lilley’s. Overall I quite liked it here, but I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to make a special visit.