The Portland Arms, Cambridge

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!

17 May 2012 08:47