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The Elm Tree, Cambridge
Cambridge
CB1 1JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Elm Tree
A good backstreet boozer, that's well worth a visit. There were ten handpumps in operation on our visit, so we went for the Crouch Vale Chinook, which was in excellent condition. Another major attraction here, was the extensive collection of Belgian Beers listed in booklets left on each table. The young barman was very knowledgeable about his beers and also gave great info about other pubs in the area.
On 11th March 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Elm Tree
I remember first visiting this pub almost forty years ago when Charles Wells beers were unheard of in London, and this one was noted as it had their beers served without top pressure. It was in the very first GBG back in 1974 but was subsequently omitted. In modern times it's back in the Guide and as noted below is a joint venture between Wells and B&T breweries. As you enter the bar is on the left in a square room with a narrow carpeted room further back. Numerous old brewery signs decorate the walls. On the bar there were ten hand pumps with one unused and Charles Wells represented by Directors and their Good Stuffing beer. I also noticed two B&T beers, two from Crouch Vale and two from the Colchester brewery.
I went for the Crouch Vale Anchor Street Porter (£3.50) which was in excellent nick.
After numerous visits here over the years it remains one that is well worth a look.
On 23rd December 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Elm Tree
Another Cambridge back street pub, this time a joint enterprise between Charles Wells and the enterprising B&T Brewery. The pub is an absolute beer paradise with the long bank of handpulls supplemented by a vast Belgian beer focussed menu that several customers seemed totally overwhelmed by. The ale options on my visit were Wells Eagle IPA, Youngs Special and Waggledance, B&T Shefford Bitter, Midsummers Ale and Dark Mild, Colchester Trinovantes Gold and London Porter, Elgoods EP and Castle Rock Harvest Pale. I tried the Dark Mild and found it a great example of the style that I could barely keep in the glass. The bottled range is detailed in a menu, which is worth perusing as many options are kept in a back room, rather than displayed in the limited fridge space behind the bar. The bar staff seemed very clued up on the range and were able to help guide the daunted towards the type of beer they were looking for.
The pub has two notional rooms, essentially opened out into one long space, but each with its own feel. The front half is the bare boarded main bar area with the servery running down the left and a simple seating area opposite focussed around a nice fireplace. The room is decorated with a vast array of brewery signs, mirrors and the like, much of which is from Belgian breweries. A few pump clips are dotted around, mixed in with photos of the locals enjoying themselves. Beer bottles run around a high shelf and there are collections of coins and heraldic emblems on the ceiling. Past the bar, you enter a cosier, carpeted lounge style area with padded benches, nicely upholstered chairs and low stools. The space is also chock full of brewery signs and adverts including two huge enamel signs for Oakhill Stout and Allsopp's Milk Stout. Any gaps on the walls have been filled in with various photos and a most impressive collection of branded glassware runs along another high shelf. There are shelves full of books and board games that are worth a look through and a very quiet heavy metal soundtrack played throughout my stay.
I really loved this place and would have happily stayed here much longer had my itinerary not demanded more pub research elsewhere. Anywhere else in the country a Charles Wells house next to a Greene King house would sound like an unappealing prospect, but here, alongside the excellent 'Free Press' a few doors down, we have a double header that should not be missed.
On 17th September 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Elm Tree
There's a heavy concentration of pubs in this corner of Cambridge, but The Elm Tree is certainly one that is going to be sought out by fans of British & Belgian beer. B & T Brewery of Shefford lease the pub from Wells (hence the sign) and offer 3 of their own ales, along with a few from Wells and other microbreweries. Lager drinkers can select Red Stripe & Estrella Dam among others. A beer menu lists a large selection of Belgian brews - not something we were inclined to try early afternoon, although it was an interesting read.
The pub itself is little more than a single room, with tables squeezed in amongst the breweriana, bric-a-brac and board games. A large selection of photos adorning every spare spot of wall suggests a lively social scene here. Towards the front there is a raised area which lends itself to occasional gigs.
Bar service was up with the best: a knowledgeable barman was more than happy to discuss the beers on offer. Certainly one to spend some time in and I can see why the regulars like it.
On 15th September 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Elm Tree
The pubsign carries the Charles Wells insignia but don't loose hope,B&T lease the pub from CW and operate an extensive guest ale policy besides featuring three of their own brews.It's a small pub,with one side running down an alley way so the first thing you notice on entering are ten handpumps with CW Youngs Ordinary,Youngs Bitter and Eagle IPA;B&T Shefford Bitter,Dragon Mild and Fruit Bat while the guests comprised Colchester Red Diesel,Bateman's Summer Swallow,and Phipps IPA.To one side are four keg pumps with upmarket continental lagers and on the tables are extensive Belgian beer menus,including a 33cl Westvleteren 12 at £80,but with many bottles at far from wallet busting prices.
This is a treasure trove for bottled beer fans and the real ale is also very well kept,samples are given and there is knowledgeable service from behind the bar.
There is a small raised stage at the front on the pub for occasional live music and the interior has wooden settles and benches and decent sized tables if you want to use any of the pub's extensive collection of board games.The walls are covered with much breweriana,many items from defunct breweries.Any spare wall space is taken up by photos of the regulars in various states of inebriation.
I really like the friendly atmosphere,and traditional interior ;this seemed to be to be a quintissential drinkers pub and one not to miss on any visit to Cambridge.
On 14th September 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Elm Tree
Rob from the Hobgoblin in Reading is still at the helm but Dom and Jo have moved on to manage the revitalised Milton Brewery owned Devonshire Arms.
Still 10 draft ales from micro and regional breweries on the go, supported by over Belgium bottled beers. I had one of these that I had not had before, but don’t ask me what it was as it had been a long day and my notes were being written by a dyslexic spider by this stage.
Anyway, top ale pub and one to visit when in Cambridge.
On 2nd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Elm Tree
A great pub for the real ale fan.Up to 10 real ales from far and wide served in a small traditional pub by a friendly guv'nor.Also has a real cider in a cask on the bar.Off the beaten track and well worth seeking out.
On 17th February 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Elm Tree
Formerly of the nationally-renowned Hobgoblin in Reading, this is Rob’s new venture and he has bought Dom and Jo with him so expect some ragging from behind the bar. The pub is tucked away (aren’t they all in Cambridge?) in the back streets. Wells and Youngs own the pub but Banks & Taylor have got the lease, so three W&Y beers appear along with three B&T ones. However there is room for four interesting guests along with an excellent selection of bottled beers and a couple of ciders. The pub interior is fairly straightforward, being a single room decorated in brewerania with a bar area that looks brand new. An eclectic soundtrack is provided by the bar staff’s choice in music. Board games are offered and there’s no sports shown here which many may find a blessed relief. One of the few ‘better’ Cambridge pubs to open all afternoon and a straightforward inclusion on any crawl of the city.
On 10th October 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Elm Tree
Very enjoyable visit yesterday, good range of ale on the ten handpumps, friendly and well informed barman, fairly eclectic soundtrack at background volume. I recall this pub from a Cambridge jaunt a few years ago when it was a fairly run of the mill Charles Wells outlet and music venue. It now has a relaxed, slightly bohemian feel, decor is mainly old tin signs plus other artifacts including the famous Hobgoblin, salvaged from the landlord's previous pub in Reading. A sign outside states that the pub is a football free zone, so no TV/Sky Sports in here. Shelves contain a few board games and old copies of the GBG and other beer books.A broad selection of Belgian beer too, with menus on the tables.
Yesterday's selection was, Banks and Taylor Dragonslayer, Shefford Bitter and Shefford Dark Mild, Sharps Atlantic IPA, Oldershaw First Class Bitter, Nottm Rock Bitter, Oakleaf " I can't Believe its not Bitter" ( a cask lager), plus staples Wells Bombardier, Youngs Bitter and Courage Directors. A cider was on behind the bar too, but I didn't record the name. It should be recorded that one of our party ate two pickled eggs here. Highly recommended.
On 27th April 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Elm Tree
The Elm Tree is a back street pub that is in a nice area of Cambridge.
When i went in this pub it was a Charles Wells tied house and once inside there was one room that was L shaped and it also had a bar billiards table in it.
There were two real ales on the bar i had a drink of Eagle bitter and this was very nice the other beer was Bombadier.
Pub visited 17/6/1989
On 17th June 1989
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]