please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now closed - perhaps, for good.
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The Hopbine was probably the most disappointing of the 10 Cambridge pubs we visited yesterday. But in every other town, this would be an above average pub. It's just that Cambridge pubs are very good. Only 5 ales were on (God forbid!)- Stod Fold Red, Red Squirrel Mister Squirrel, Colchester Brass Monkey, Oakham Bishop's Farewell & Tring Side Pocket For A Toad. Cider was Abrahalls AM. A CAMRA discount I offered and there is also a happy hour from 5pm (I assume on weekdays only). But we were still slightly too early for the happy hour. Friendly service and generally a nice pub.
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A nice selection of ales and 10% CAMRA discount make this a good pub to visit if in the vicinity. We popped in for a couple of pints and a game of pool on a Saturday afternoon to find the pub fairly full, with a nice hubbub of conversation. The Buntingford Chinook was a lovely beer and in very good nick. Will return on another trip to the city soon.
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Good range of beers, CAMRA members' discount. Handy if forced to visit the Grafton Centre.
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Good range of real ales - Hellhound Black Shuck. Pub worth visiting again.
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The redecoration did make the pub a little less atmospheric but it's spacious and convenient and, as a free house, has acquired a reasonable diversity of beers with a decent turnover, allowing the odd and the new to turn up. I would nearly always chose the Maypole across Jesus Lane if I'm in the area.
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seems to have been made over recently, without totally destroying the atmosphere but i can't help feeling it was probably better then. still, it's OK and they keep a good range of beers and ciders. i like where it is very much so it's one i go to a fair bit.
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The Hopbine reopened in August, it's now free house run by the same people from the Portland Arms, which is just across the river. A lick of paint and sanded floors gives it a brighter/lighter look.
Not too keen on the colour of the outside though.
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Soon to be reopened.
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Added this pub to the St Radegund end of the King Street run on a Saturday lunchtime as we needed food and had seen it mentioned in the local CAMRA newsletter. Food was good and reasonably priced, staff were frieendly and the beers were pretty good too. In addition to GK IPA we sampled the Caledonian Old Sea Dog and Woodfordes Wherry, both well kept. There are plenty of Betty Boop items on display - we didn't ask why though! The pubby front bit is supplemented by a fairly large back room for music.
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