please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Roadside Greene King pub with two decent-sized rooms, possessing character. Sunday lunches were being served on my visit. Greene King ales were IPA, London Glory & Abbot Reserve. Guests were Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Rocket Titan IPE & Mighty Oak Winter Wonder. The cider was Lilley's Cherries & Berries. I believe they offer a CAMRA discount. But I forgot to ask for it. Nice pub that is a fair walk away from the centre. But that does help to reduce the crowds.
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A Nick Drake live music concert this weekend.
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I have to disagree with the last comment. This is my work local (you're allowed 2). Great ales, good conversation, great live music and above all, I feel completely comfortable popping in at any time.
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In the current climate the local pub is closing at a ridiculously high rate. I love a local pub & so do not like to see a former favourite become a block of flats.
However in reality we have to face the fact that we are not only in a recession & therefore money for leisure is not as free as it once was but also the fact is big business now rule our world meaning the smaller business is left to compete.
Last night was my first & last visit to the Portland Arms on Chesterton Road in Cambridge. Now, bear in mind I'm 43 & this was a Wednesday evening. I am not an 18 yr old making a nuisance of myself on a Friday or Saturday night. I can state with no doubt that I have never been spoken to as disgustingly as I was last night by the so called landlady of the Portland Arms. I am more disgruntled by this because it simply wasn't warranted & in the current climate this 'lady' is deluded if she feels her attitude makes a great place to be or would ever encourage repeat custom.
The Portland Arms competes directly with the Old Spring - a great pub just across the road serving lovely home-made food, great wine, has a big garden & is lovely & clean inside, there is also the Boathouse with a large outside terrace & views overlooking the River Cam & the Tivoli if you fancy cheap & cheerful.
The Portland on the other hand has not been updated since the 1800s & certainly hasn't had a clean since then! The fact that it was empty is no surprise considering the landlady's attitude. If you choose to go into the hospitality industry it is simply not acceptable to view human beings (who pay hard earned cash for what you are offering) as vile creatures. I have absolutely nothing good to say about the Portland arms & would bet good money on the building becoming flats within a year - it has nothing to offer, no parking, no charm, every table was sticky, the ladies toilets were vandalised (no seat, no lock, no paper etc). Then there's landlady Hannah who can verbally deliver a punch in the face then stomp off feeling she's won. Sadly Hannah, there are other far better places to spend money than the sticky, broken, grotty Portland Arms - RIP the local pub!
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Was open early April 2010. Really good pub, friendly staff and excellent beer. Was strangely quite on a weekday lunchtime. Probably the best value food you can get in the centre of Cambridge, and very big portions too!
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Large GK pub that had a beer festival at the time of my visit so a good range of beer (about half GK and half true gusts). Agree with Love Real Ale about the Moonshine - Orange Chocolate Stout and I'm not normally a stout drinker. Barmaid was knowledge about all the beer on offer - apparently having sample several of them the night before! :o)
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Large traditional G/K pub. We were very glad we timed our visit for their 4th annual beer festival. A good number of beers not owned by G/K were available. We took 6 halves of beer we had not had recently or for the first time. Favourites were the Orange Chocolate Stout from the local Moonshine brewery and Nautilus from Oulton. I noticed that they also stock one of the rare St Edmunds pumps with the North/South head choice. I knew I probably would not like but you have to try before you can moan about it. It's served far to cold and even though it is supposed to be a cask it tastes like a keg. The bar we were in is quite small for a pool table and we kept being asked to move. It is also well known as a live music venue.
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Good place. Pub/venue where the pub part of it is actually quite nice. Venue side is a little small, but that makes it more intimate on nights when the bands don't pull in a big crowd. Relaxed and friendly staff made it a good evening all round.
anonymous - 21 Mar 2007 09:27 |
An interesting place, clearly not swayed by recent marketing campaigns! Good beer and some choice, but a bit lacking. No music on my night but with a character that would live on!
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Cambridge's best live music venue and pub serving real ale and great food.
Scatman Steve - 25 Apr 2005 14:12 |
