The Maypole, Cambridge

Although there’s an old building at the heart of this pub you are faced with an awful 1960s side extension, it doesn’t get any better inside. Bland and transport caff-like would probably sum it up. I didn’t see a vast blackboard unless it’s behind the big mural, there’s a blackboard on a window to the side of the counter, there’s also a small one that lists “premium” i.e. expensive cans, and another covert one at the other end of the counter that lists the casks. Looking at previous glowing reviews I thought I had the wrong pub but no that’s it. It certainly wins out on the pump count, 8 hand pumps and 10 crafty kegs, the back room was closed for a graduation party but not much to see there either. Not many complaints about the beer however, the decent quality and the high pump count no doubt gives it a place in the GBG 2022. A lot of outdoor side space is taken up with tables and benches most of which is under cover, a window cum hatch provides service to fresh air lovers. The place is further marred by a building site next door.

I don't think that this pub has changed much, if at all, since previous reviwers' visits, which is a very good thing indeed. The licensees are still Mario and Vincent Castiglione, and the pub is still rightly a GBG regular. There are two separate rooms, with the one at the front a bit more roomy and seemed to be where those wanting something to eat were sitting - or perhaps they avoided the back bar as it was full of CAMRA types on a pub crawl. There were far too many beers to list (luckily the pub lists them on a board), but I had a pint of the excellent local brew Milton Justinian. This is a destination pub that should be included on any Cambridge crawl. In fact Cambridge seems to be full of great pubs, and I shall clearly have to pay a return visit to do the place justice.

Just off Jesus Common and tucked away from the tourist hot spots,this pub is now a free house and has been in the capable hands of Mario for 34 years and has just won the local CAMRA pub of the year.You enter into a front room with the interior quite like a canteen,simple furniture and flooring.Check out the vast blackboard to find out what's on from 14 handpumps and 15 keg taps.There is a quieter back room to the side,again simply furnished but functional.Finally there is an upstairs function room used as an overflow for terrestrial sporting events such as rugby and football internationals.Courtyard seating for good weather drinking. There were too many ales to note fully but there was a lot of Locales and a number of light golden ales on my trip but with a few different ale styles as well.The keg options were often the more pokey ABV choices and again with a mix of styles.Over two sessions I consumed Nene Valley Australian Pale,Crafty Beers Sauvignon Blonde and Grain Smash all in perfect condition on a very hot day.Other brewers featured on the ale line up were Mad Squirrel,Milton and Colchester while the keg line up was even more diverse. This is a drinking institution in Cambridge popular with a wide cross section of people and it would be a major mistake not to call in when in town.I will most certainly return.

This pub is a little tucked away but well worth seeking out. Almost too many cask beers to choose from! The beers are split across two bars, so worth checking out both before making your choice. One had 9 pumps and the other had 7 or so. I had a half of Simple Stout by Three Blind Mice at £2.25. Seems to be popular with students and was fairly busy at the time of my visit. The pub seems to have some history and there is a timeline above the rear bar of who the various owners have been over the years. Found it quite interesting to look at while supping by drink. Definitely one to seek out.

This looks like a post war build pub and is definitely one I hadn't been to before. It's tucked away by the entrance to a multi-storey car park. The building seems to be split into three with a "public" bar to the right a "saloon" bar to the left and an off licence room in the middle. I went in the "public" bar which was a small wooden floored room with a bar on one side and a few tables and chairs. As the owner is of Italian origin the food served has an Italian slant. The bar is dominated by eight hand pumps which included two Mauldon's beers, Church End Fallen Angel, Three Blind Mice Simple Simcoe Says and Grain Winter Ash. I later spotted a board with more beers that were on in the distant "saloon" bar. I went for the Fallen Angel (£4.10) which is expensive but I failed to look up the 20p CAMRA discount which would have eased the pain slightly. The prices are off-putting here but there is a big selection of beers to choose from and no national brands that I could see.