Cambridgeshire is home to a wide number of historic and much-loved pubs. No matter where you live in the county, you will have no problem finding somewhere to relax with a pint or enjoy a classic British pub lunch.
But no pub in the region has stood the test of time quite like The Pickerel Inn in Cambridge. The historic boozer, which is now part of the Greene King chain, has a rich past dating back to 1608 which makes it the city's oldest pub.
Although I had never been before, learning about the pub made me more and more curious to try it out, especially when the menu described it as 'a passport stamp' when visiting the county. So I made a visit one lunchtime to see what it was like.
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The venue
The first thing that immediately caught my eye about the pub was the building itself, which is believed to have been around since the 1500's. Despite its modern appearance, it still looked like it retained some of the charm from back in the day, so being up close and personal with the pub allowed me to truly admire it.
When I went inside, the pub was moderately busy, with tables filled by a mix of locals and tourists. I sat near the entrance so I could have a look around the entire venue from my table.
I found the pub to be small, or at least smaller than I thought it would be, but it definitely made me feel comfortable. There was historic brickwork, beams, pictures and articles of the pub from years gone by, and a fireplace which all added to the atmosphere.
Outside, there was a spacious courtyard garden which was surprisingly empty when I went. I did actually consider sitting there as the weather was quite nice, but decided not to as I wanted to have the full experience of being inside the pub.
The food
Since it was a Greene King pub, I was able to order my food from my table through their app. When I looked at the menu, the Vintage Cheddar and Bacon Burger sprung out to me straight away. There were other menu items, ranging from fish and chips to steak and ale pie to sandwiches, but I had already made my mind up the second I saw the burger and ordered it with a glass of Diet Coke.
After a 45 minute wait, my food arrived. The actual burger itself was fantastic, with each bite being better than the last, and both the chips and onion rings had the perfect amounts of taste and crispiness. Needless to say, I finished the entire meal and it is definitely something I would order again, as long it takes less time to arrive.
Verdict
After finishing my lunch and paying, I left the pub and I was pretty satisfied overall. Despite taking a long while to arrive, the food was great and the venue had a very comfortable and charming atmosphere that almost felt like a journey back in time.
For anyone visiting Cambridge for the first time, this unique pub is definitely worth a visit. Its historic surroundings alone make it a truly fascinating place.
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