The Clarendon Arms, Cambridge

A lovely little L-shaped back street pub with a friendly jocular welcome from the presumed landlord. The main area where the bar counter is has a blackened flagged floor, a drinking ledge with stools opposite the bar counter, pickled chillies and garlic in jars and a shelf of board games and newspapers in a rack. It steps to the rear where doors open out to a rather miniature courtyard garden. The return side has a trip up risk slight step to a boarded area with paintings on the wall by an art student and for sale at what my untrained eye thought were ambitious prices. The windows have I assume original ornate leaded opening top lights but clear plain panes beneath. The pub is GK branded but in addition to IPA and Abbot there was Black Sheep Bitter and Proper Job (a bit steep at £4.50). They do food but I was in at about 4pm of an afternoon so nothing to see. I liked this pub quite a lot and it feels like the sort of convivial spot you could settle in with a couple of mates for a few pints and a good chat.

Yet another charming street corner pub which Cambridge has so many fine examples.There is the bar immediately infront of the front door,with a small room to the right with 4 seater tables feeling more dining orientated.Opposite the bar there is a drinking shelf with stools,the dark stone floor and low ceiling add atmosphere.There is lower area seating section with a couple of tables,leading to a small walled courtyard with metal circular tables. Food is popular here and the short menu looked interesting with main £10-17 with a median price of £14,and that price also extends to Sunday lunch.With such limited space booking seems sensible,and tables are marked as reserved but telling you from what time,so you can use them just to drink until the party arrives. It's tied to Greene King but with guests allowed.On my visit that meant GK IPA and Abbott with guest Black Sheep Bitter and St Austell Proper Job in very good nick which saved the day ! Tempting to come back to try the food,if on a real ale crawl call in to see if there are any interesting guest ales.Lots of charm here and the female bar staff were friendly and chatty.I enjoyed my visit.

We popped in here on a Tuesday afternoon and were made most welcome by the friendly and jolly landlord. There was a lit open fire in front of the bar which was well received. The bar counter was low and unimposing and along with the flag stone floor, both were original. There was also a cosy corner room leading off the main bar area. Five handpumps, with four in operation, three from GK and Nottingham EPA as their guest. The EPA was well kept and condition was superb.

The Clarendon Arms is a small back street pub that is not to far from the middle of Cambridge. I thought this was a really nice pub inside and there was also a garden at the back of the pub which was also nice,this pub is a Greene King tied house and there were two real ales on the bar i had a drink of Greene King IPA and this was a decent drink the other beer was Abbot. Pub visited 17/6/1989