please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Interesting pub on different levels with a great riverside aspect, with plenty of room. Decent food at a reasonable price with a reasonable range of beer other than GK. Would visit again.
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very average pub with poorly kept beers that monopolises- wastes? - a prime location.
surprisingly average place given where it is and how good it ought to be. the beer was awful last time we visited.
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Punches below its weight and comes close to wasting its prime riverside location (not unlike a similar pub in Oxford, The Head of the River. Still, the introduction of guinea fowl and ceps and a duck egg blue coat of paint might have an adverse effect - at least for the moment it's welcoming to all.
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The recent reviews are accurate. Beautifully placed by a mill pool, plenty of space on a patio to drink, adequate Greene King beers etc but too obviously a tourist place. Still if it's a sunny day, hard to fault as a place to sit and sup a beer
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Agree about the food - nice place for a drink though. Good views, bar staff seem to know what they're doing. Decent atmosphere. Whenever I go you can always get a seat.
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We waited 40 minsher reviews obviously for food which I thought was a lot but reading ot got off lightly. Was told the food would taske 1/2 hour but after I ordered which was annoying. The order was also wrong at first & sent back,
Food was poor, cheese sandwich boring & fishcakes obviously bought in frozen
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Had 2 hours in Cambridge on Friday 1st May. Met my friend who was a chef and went to the Granta. Wow - what a place. Joined a small queue at the bar for an excellent pint of real ale and sat on the balcony overlooking the river. This must be idyllic. It had taken me 7 hours to get here due to rail problems (as usual) but the visit made the trip worthwhile. Didn;'t eat! Didn't have time but the food coming out looked very nice. I have to confirm previous comments that there was a delay. 40 minutes was announced to several people ordering. Hardly surprising as we found the chef collecting glasses! My friend asked him why he was collecting glasses and said he wouldn't allow that if he worked for him! So you take your choice. I don't have any problem with the place but I can see why others might.
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This pub's in an envious position, with an idyllic setting over the Cam to enjoy a pint. However, if you intend eating here then be prepared for the wait. Also, the food tends to be mediocre. Last time we went all the meals were luke warm instead of piping hot. I've been in Cambridge eight years and throughout that time the Granta's always had problems with its kitchen. OK if all you want is a drink though.
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I echo the comments about service, I speed-read the pub's newspaper while waiting for bar service. We too were offered a 1 hr wait for food; when it came, it was ok but not stunning. We saw customers who left - food uneaten because it had taken so long.
A shame for a pub with such stunning outdoor atmosphere, great for overlooking the water on a sunny afternoon. So much potential but we won't be going back because of the service, friendly but slooooow.
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Fine if all you want is a drink, but don't be lured by the promises of food.
I went here with some friends on what felt like the loveliest day of the year, to cap off the great weekend we'd had. Too bad then that it took around ten minutes to get served at the bar, and that the food we ordered took an hour to arrive. The fancy-pants vibrating contraptions they gave us to let us know the food was ready didn't work and when we did get the food, the orders were variously wrong, cold and inedible. Some orders were sent back and refunds received. Others just sat on the plate looking sad and unloved, a few bites taken from one edge, the owner having neither the energy or patience to face the management.
All the stuff about the great location, outdoor seating is true - they should just accept they don't have the resources to do food as well. (Even we had to smile when they said it would be an hour wait for a slice of cake...) A true stinker.
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Best of the pubs around the mill pond only let down by the lack of bar staff on saturday afternoon leaving long waits for much needed refreshment.
Ale good and plenty of outside seating overlooking the mill pond.
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great location, average range of beers, very good food. one of the better cambridge pubs.
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Agree with IITC - the trees over the road are a sight to behold - the bark takes on an almost medical level of detail.
The six foot fusilli twist was a regrettable marketing ploy since the man inside the foam pasta squiggle was a chain smoker and a misery to boot. But it's not everybody that can say they've seen a giant piece of dough smoking a silk cut and scaring small children and for that i am grateful.
The pub itself is unremarkable in many ways and were it not for the millpond it wouldn't be worth a mention. Drab decor, usually a little too quiet. It sounds like it's been turned around by new owners - will increase rating following revisit with the dashing Mr P as I am pleased to announce that I am moving to the area. But not too close, because it's too expensive.
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Agree with IITC - the trees over the road are a sight to behold - the bark takes on an almost medical level of detail.
The six foot fusilli twist was a regrettable marketing ploy since the man inside the foam pasta squiggle was a chain smoker and a misery to boot. But it's not everybody that can say they've seen a giant piece of dough smoking a silk cut and scaring small children and for that i am grateful.
The pub itself is unremarkable in many ways and were it not for the millpond it wouldn't be worth a mention. Drab decor, usually a little too quiet. It sounds like it's been turned around by new owners - will increase rating following revisit with Boris
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Haven't been for a while but this pub is host to many fond memories. As described, a seat by the milpond in summertime is a treat of the kind that makes you realise life can be blissful after all. Once watched a man dressed as a giant piece of fusili pasta attempting to lure people into the naff restaurant across the water. He seemed to have the opposite effective, everyone noticeably quickened their stride. When you leave the pub look carefully at the trees across the road: some intriguing bark formations.
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One of the best Cambridge pubs, especially in Summer. Good views over the water if you like ducks, punts and cows. Good stop on a summer pub crawl.
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went to the granta awhile ago. i was surprised to see it packed! The pub has new management now apparently. they've really turned the place around. it is now much cleaner and friendlier... the staff are always looking out for the customer and often banter with the clientel... the food is also so much better than it used to be. they also sell steinlager, so good news for the kiwis!!!
Lena - 11 Aug 2004 01:48 |
This pub doesn't have doormen, I'm certain. Are you sure they weren't just pretending? Good beer, good atmosphere, even in the winter.
Iain - 2 Dec 2003 14:01 |
the doormen here are extremely polite and friendly
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Great pub in a great location: overlooking the millpond and fen. Perfect on a summer's day when you can sit outside on one of the terraces and watch the river go by. The interior of the pub isn't much to write home about, but the staff are friendly and the exterior more than compensates. The food has recently got a lot better - had a great lunch there the other day, huge portions, good food, good service. Note for Aussies: they sell Victoria Bitter! There is often live music and BBQs etc in the evenings. The Granta Punting Company hires out punts from the mill pond below the Granta - you can punt yourself, or get a punt chauffer to do the work for you.
Harriet - 6 Jun 2003 13:19 |
