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The Elm Tree, Cambridge
Cambridge
CB1 1JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Elm Tree
One of several excellent side-street pubs in the area, with a fairly compact bar at the front with a small raised seating are up a single step and a rather larger rear lounge - both parts traditionally furnished and full of breweriana and other curiosities. We found all eight handpumps in use, with a wide selection of cask ales including Mighty Oak's The Old Man and the Sea (£2.75, half). Numerous bottled Belgian beers also available.
On 21st April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Elm Tree
A very welcome return to this very good Cambridge pub, primarily because my last visit was at the end of a long crawl and for some stupid reason, I went for a bottle of strong Belgium beer which made my remembrances even more hazy.
I remember it had a very decent ale range but I don’t remember the interior at all, so it was very good to reacquaint myself with the opened out two room space with the main bar room and it’s collection of breweriana and the larger back room with its strange collection of witches hats hanging from the ceiling. Well, I guess it makes a change from beer jugs and glasses.
All 8 pumps in operation dispensing the beers and cider listed by Steve below. This time I ducked the bottled Belgium beer collection and went for the Siren Brewery's Bright Pale which, like Steve’s Anchorman, was in very good condition. A few of the group went for Mighty Oaks Old Man of the Sea and that was reputedly very good as well.
A very comfortable pub for a decent pint and no quality issues at our end of the pumps, so happy to give the Elm Tree the rating it deserves.
On 12th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Steve C left this review about The Elm Tree
The Elm Tree is a traditional backstreet boozer with a front laminate floored L-shaped bar area with a raised seating area front right and an L-shaped bar counter up the left that faces the door to the front and a fireplace in the right-hand wall. In the rear is a carpeted seating area with tables and chairs up the left and right-hand walls. The walls throughout are adorned with pub and brewery stuff, including a large collection of metal brewery signs. Oddly, there are lots of witches hats stuck to the ceiling. The eight hand pumps were all in operation drawing Adnams Southwold and Ghost Ship, TT Landlord, Brewpoint’s Anchorman IPA, Mighty Oak Brewery’s Oscar Wilde and The Old Man and The Sea, Siren Brewery's Bright Pale and Weston’s Rosie’s Pig. Craft keg was also available, but I plumped for the Anchorman which was well served. This is a decent pub well worth a visit.
On 11th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5250 recommendations about 5218 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Elm Tree
Another backstreet pub with lots of knickknacks and brewery regalia, much of it Belgian and all very traditional.
With a choice of seven on cask, I plumped for a half of Ghost Ship at £2.75 which really wasn’t great; I came close to sending it back.
This is a nice and quirky place, but the ale quality needs a kick up the arse.
On 8th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Elm Tree
An excellent locals' pub, liberally strewn with breweriana and equipped with nicely mismatched furniture. The sort of pub you immediately feel at home in, helped by the friendly welcome. Yet another good selection of 7 ales available, plus a boxed cider. Why are there so many good pubs in this area?
On 7th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Elm Tree
This is a Charles Wells pub, but most of the beers on the bar are from anywhere but. Just one beer from their new brewery, Brewpoint: a "fresh IPA" (whatever that means) called Anchorman (NBSS 3.5). See photos for the other six beers on when I was here. My notes made at the time say it was "quiet and welcoming", so maybe it had just hit a flat spot (7:30 Thursday evening, and pretty poor weather). Definitely worth a visit, and together with the nearby Free Press fits nicely in the gap between the Champion of the Thames and the likes of Cambridge Blue and Live & Let Live.
Date of visit: 28th February 2024
On 3rd April 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Elm Tree
One of three pubs in about a 50 metre radius and two of them are outstanding, this is one the Free Press is the other. This is one of those pubs that is filled with an eclectic collection of stuff, this one majors on flags/coats of arms, breweriana (of course), and witchy, skully things. As well as seven pumps of cask, a couple from Charles Wells, Wainwright, Black Sheep and a couple of more interesting ones, with Old Rosie on an eighth, there’s a good range of Belgian beers and not just the usual suspects. Naturally these are backed up by the ads and glasses. Physically it has a square room at the front with the counter and a larger room at the back with no dividing wall or door between them. It does occasional live music too. It’s currently missing a pub sign or indeed any signage.
On 25th July 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Elm Tree
A very pleasant city pub with an excellent ale selection and a comfortable vibe. It consists of a single narrow room formed by knocking through the downstairs rooms of a building whose origins are lost in the mists of time but are certainly interesting. There is an outside patio area, mainly used by smokers and comatose students. The barmaid seemed a bit unsure about anything to do with beer, but she was welcoming enough and reasonable company. Ales on were Razorback from Ringwood, Pedigree, Malt Starry Nights, Shefford Plum Mild, Banks and Taylor Dragonslayer, Cross Bay EPA, Otter Bitter and Oxford Craft Beer’s Matilda’s Tears. There was also a good selection of Belgian beers and English ciders. A very strong candidate for a revisit and inclusion in a crawl.
On 26th February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Elm Tree
This was my Cambridge pub of the day. As we entered we were met by the friendly landlady who was happy to engage us in conversation about the pub, which is apparently a Banks & Taylor pub leased(?) from Charles Wells. There were ten handpumps and all were clipped (I went for the Banks & Taylor Plum Mild - a bit under £4 a pint as I recall), plus they had a selection of Belgian bottled beers in a fridge. I didn't see any sign of food on Saturday afternoon.
Judging by previous reviews and photographs already here, this pub doesn't seem to have changed in years. That is definitely good news. It's carpeted, is furnished with normal tables and chairs and has loads interesting decor around the place, including breweriana. This is the sort of homely pub I really appreciate. I even saw a couple of ladies doing their knitting. This is definitely a pub for a return visit.
On 20th October 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Elm Tree
Another very traditional feeling pub. Took a bit of finding but glad I did. Ales are mainly by Wells and Banks & Taylor. Think there may have been a couple of guests too. I had the Edwin Taylor's Extra Stout at £2 for a half, which was pleasant enough.
Plenty of old signs on the walls and hats stuck on the ceiling, but also modern photos of customers enjoying themselves in the pub. In addition to the impressive 10 hand pumps for cask at the bar, a Belgian beer menu is on each table with a separate sharing menu for larger bottles.
I liked this pub and it is one you could probably spend quite a bit of time in.
On 17th May 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]