Geldart, Cambridgeback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I made a return visit to the Geldart yesterday afternoon. It was much quieter than on my previous visit. But little else has changed. The ale selection this time was Oakham Citra, St Austell Tribute, Adnams Ghost Ship & Mosaic, Jenning's Cumberland Ale, Castle Rock Harvest Pale & Laine's Small Boi.
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Another of those decent back street locals that Cambridge does so well. Has two separate rooms with the one bar. They had five ales on - the Exeter Avocet went down well.
It appears that new entries aren't accepted on here anymore - which is a pity with the constant changes of closures and new establishments. As they can't be added I though I'd comment on three that are in the vicinity of the geldart but aren't listed
CALVERLEY BREWERY TAP- Hooper Street. Basic small room in brewery with a couple of benches with a few more benches and outbuilding. Tried the porter and the pale both quite palatable. They have a food truck parked in the street outside. Only one single toilet so expect to queue for it.
STATION TAVERN - ground floor of new building outside station. A Youngs/Wells corporate house - bland in all respects.
THE OLD TICKET OFFICE - Part of the original station building with five ales on offer. Forgot the one I had but it was a decent pint. In another town this would probably make the GBG but there are too many other good pubs in this town. Worth a swift pint before catching your train though (and preferable to the bland Youngs pub opposite)
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this is one of those very few pubs that feel good on entering and just gets better.We felt so at home here that simple things like trains etc.were completley forgotten. As the previous poster points out seven real ales and most were interesting. The plan now is to go again.
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The GBG didn't do this service! Was expecting Deuchers, Youngs and St Austell, wasn't expecting 4 other beers from more unusually breweries! Predominantly light and hoppy beers (as with everywhere else now it seems) but there was a Toffee Porter.
Quirky pub that's done out well, had a traditional jazz feel to it (music and decor) which isn't normally my thing but worked really well. An excellent pub for a couple to sit and relax but also well worth a visit for a group of ale enthusiasts.
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This is in an oasis of pubs all close together and all with something to recommend them. Backstreet local not too far from city centre. 8 pumps all on on a Tuesday evening. Dancing duck dark drake, Orkney old macgregor, rooster blind jack, Oakham Citra, castle rock harvest pale, Youngs Special, which I avoid on principle now, Tribute and Deuchers IPA.
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Corner pub in an area of terraced housing. This seems like a community local. It hosts many events. A book club was about to start during my visit. There is a main bar and another couple of nicely decorated rooms, with an outdoor area at the rear. Food is rather strange, with delicacies such as kangaroo. They have a reasonable selection of ales too. Although there was nothing too unusual - Jennings Sneck Lifter, Flack Manor Hedge Hop, Mordue Northumbrian Blonde, Oakham Citra, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Youngs Special, St Austell Tribute & Caledonian Deuchars IPA. Good pub that's worthy of a visit.
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Having spent the afternoon in Bury pub ticking & watching football a couple of us decided to add a few more ticks to our day by stopping off in Cambridge.
After a walk from the station we came across this fairly hidden back street pub.
It was around 7.15pm & it was already pretty busy in the large front bar area. There are 10 hand pumps 5 of these were guest ales. No new ales for me so I opted for a pint of Adnams Lighthouse @ 3.4%, more than drinkable.
The open fire in the bar to the left as you enter was burning nicely. Food was being served from the open kitchen hatch, it looked and smelt cracking especially the cook at your table food!
Old juke box in the front bar with a box of vinyl that you could help yourself to. Continuing the musical theme there was an accordion hanging on the wall.
A thoroughly decent back street pub that surprised me and made the walk from the station worthwhile.
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Wonderfully hidden away in seemingly forlorn backstreets of Cambridge close to real ale trail that includes the Cambs Blue and Kingston this is perhaps the most understated and best. Now up to 8 real ales , always changing, stunning whisky selection, & the most properly lit ale pub (eg nice and dark with candles only) and excellent Landlord and staff.
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A great pub for a drink. But worth a special trip for the food. The Hot Rocks may seem like a gimmick, but... the cut of meat served is typically excellent, and you can just like you like it. And every mouthful is hot.
They served the best oryx I've ever tasted. (Actually, it was the only oryx...)
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Interesting and very good in most respects, would not be out of place on a Manchester N/4 crawl. Tribute was excellent, justifying the new GBG listing; food looked expensive but interesting, decor was great. Not the most comfortable pub round here though.
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Excellent pub with nice locals, top landlord, pretty barmaids (sorry but it's true!), six real ales and food. The menu does have restaurant prices for some of the food but it is very very good. A great place to drink away a weekend afternoon. Also lots of rums and whiskies. Closed Mondays, not open all day weekdays.
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Elvis' transformation of this place was total, the pool table has been replaced by a sofa, no drum and bass, only his eclectic mix of vinyls played at a comfortable volume. The Geldart seems to have built up a good regular crowd and can get very busy. As it's a food pub you might want to book a table to eat. Last time I was there, the reserved tables were already laid so I felt I could not sit down and have a few beers before the reservation arrived as at the Kingston. The food is fantastic, as mentioned, the range of exotic meats is very nice although I'm not personally a fan of this hot-rock thing it does allow you to cook your meat exactly how you want it! Bit pricey for me but the food is great so that's just a personal thing. Ale is kept well and there is always a decent range of at least 4 including a darker one in the winter. All-round good atmosphere.
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The Geldart used to be notorious as a dirty, dodgy, awful after-hours refuge for alcoholics and excitable students in the fays before relaxed pub hours. As soon as everyone else was allowed to serve after 11 too, its only selling point disappeared and it shut. You could stay in the White Swan and get til 1 am instead, legally. Nobody missed it, and it could easily have been lost as a pub.
It has since been re-opened by the charismatic Elvis, who used to work at the nearby (and well respected beer and food pub) The Kingston Arms. It has been completely refitted with tasteful, modern, restrained decor - leather, dark wood, low lighting, you get the idea. It aims for a similar clientelle to the Kingston, and the other quality beer/food pubs in the area (which are numerous and intimidating rivals for such a venture). But the Geldart holds up very well.
The beer quality and range is good - at least 4 handpulls from largely Anglian brewers (e.g the excellent Woodforde's Wherry). The food menu is limited but also good. The gimmick is the 'hot rocks', whereby your food arrives still cooking on a hot...rock. They had steak, venison and kangaroo when I visited, for about �13-16 including chips and salad - about standard for the area. There are starters like a plate of pitta and houmous, and deserts. It's somewhat better value than the Kingston these days, which has been trading on a faded food reputation involving high prices and cheap ingredients for some time (10 quid for mackerel!).
Certainly worth seeking out if you're in the area, fitting in well with the Cambridge Blue, Kingston Arms, Empress, Live & Let Live and Salisbury, but still enough below the radar to not be packed.
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