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Detail Pages
The Grain & Hop Store, Cambridge
Cambridge
CB2 1AB
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Grain & Hop Store
Very much as described by Steve below, except the name has changed from The Avery to The Grain and Hop Store. There are two small electronic chutes that look like mini-skittle alleys on the ground floor, but no-one seemed interested in using them. There were also a couple of gaming machines, also unused. The upstairs bar was full of rowdy young drinkers banging about and stamping to create as much noise as possible, while the lower floor bar was mainly people waiting for food. We waited for an hour then cancelled our food order. The young bar staff were ambivalent to the whole thing, seemingly more interested in their iPhones than actually doing any work, and they didn’t seem to care about the delays. There was a cold draught blowing in every time someone came in or out, and it was just generally uncomfortable. Ales on were GK IPA, Ruddles County, Moreland Original, Abbott and GK Yardbird. I had the Ruddles which was in average condition. It’s really not somewhere I’m in a hurry to revisit.
On 14th February 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Avery
This was formerly a Hogshead venue but changed its name back in 2007 when it was taken over by Green King (yawn, like they needed another pub in Cambridge) who renamed it The Avery due to the fact that it was previously a factory where the Avery scales were produced.
So good to see an old factory building continuing life as a pub and it’s fairly spacious on two floors (main bar and dining area downstairs and pool tables and large screen TV’s upstairs), and is well situated over looking Parkers Piece.
But that’s where the plaudits end unfortunately. Internally it’s a modern clean space with large wooden tables and chairs and some sofa type soft seating at one end. However it’s set up for sport with multiple teles, and difficult to avoid them. And although its got a great location overlooking the green space, there is no outside seating, but a small outdoor area out the back that looks out over a small courtyard. And even though some of the original factory fittings , like the air condition ducts remain, its still a bit characterless internally.
And then, even leaving to one side the standard GK beer choice with no guests offered, their low cost Wetherspoonesque food menu attracts the inevitable crowds of students. And on perhaps the hottest weekend of the year so far, when the Parkers Piece green space was heaving with people they were woefully understaffed to deal with the throng , either serving or clearing glasses from the tables.
Didn’t take long to find better pubs in Cambridge.
On 30th May 2012
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]