Pickerel Inn, Cambridge

Quirky old interior with a front and back bar. 10 real ale taps between the 2 bars 4 doubles on the taps.

Old multi-roomed pub right next to bridge over Cam. Two banks of handpumps serving same beers front & rear bar; Woodforde Nelson's Revenge & Headcracker(7%), Oakham Inferno, Salem January Sale. Quite studenty but good homely feel. Not crowded on our early evening visit, one wonders how these houses survive outside term-time.

This looks like a late Georgian frontage, which is in light blue brick, with some darker blue paintwork. There is a patio at the back, once called Fisher's Lane, so I guess it was an anglers' area - hence the pub name, possibly? Anyhow, the interior looks older and I believe there are c16th century timbers at the back. There are two areas. The bar is at the front and the back is more for dining - I didn't eat so can't comment on that. The décor is one of cream, brick, wood panel and supporting beams. The bar has a small grate fire, a wood floor and a TV showing silent Olympics. There is a large fireplace at the back and both areas have some nice wood bench seats. The music was general and very quiet. The walls had a few maps, old pictures and the odd stuffed Pike on them. The service was friendly and the clientele mature. Beer; usual tap stuff with Theakston's Old Peculiar, Brains SA, Woodforde Nelson's Revenge and a decent Wherry. I really liked this place and would definitely return.

If The Pickerel is the oldest pub in Cambridge, I see no reason to doubt it. I just wish there was, I don't know, a bit more inspiration about the place. Maybe the lunchtime crowds had all departed by the time we arrived, but we felt no real inclination to stick around ourselves. The beer range was one of the oddest I've encountered: just Woodforde Wherry and Old Peculier, the latter surely there to appeal to tourists rather than in any expectation of shifting large quantities of strong ale to regulars. No less than 3 ciders as well, although it seemed that there may have been a bit of a cider promotion going on. The local CAMRA magazine suggests that the pub intends to expand the range of ales shortly: I would be investigating the progress of that scheme before returning.

Pickerel Inn page at the Taylor Walker site - www.taylor-walker.co.uk

Pickerel Inn page at the Taylor Walker site - www.taylor-walker.co.uk

The Pickerel claims to be the oldest pub in Cambridge, dating from 1608. It certainly looks and feels old, the timber beamed ceiling dips and bends, old wooden boarded flooring and the very low duck through internal doorway hints at age too. Lots of interconnected areas inside, the bar itself is split in two however the bank of five handpumps repeats on each side so not much chance of missing what is on offer. I gather that the Theakston Old Peculiar and Woodforde's Wherry and Norfolk Revenge are regulars. They were supplemented by Pot Belly Aisling and Oakham Bishops Farewell. Watch out though as some of the beers are dispensed using sparklers which may be all well and good for Old Peculiar but less so for the southern brews. A pickerel is a young pike, and the theme is displayed around the pub with a stuffed pike in a glass case and various musings about the fish and folklore surrounding it written on the walls. The pub itself is located by Magdalene Bridge over The River Cam, so perhaps gets its name from a prevalence of said fish in years gone by? Very busy indeed on Saturday evening with a mixed clientele of students, townsfolk and visitors but it seems to be de rigeur to share tables. Beyond the bar towards the rear a door leads out to an outdoor courtyard area with some covered seating. Food does appear to be served now, a board advertised a few specials.