The Punter
An old coaching inn with a planted courtyard, minutes from the Quayside.
The Punter is at 3 Pound Hill, on the Castle side of the river. The building is an old coaching inn, which its own website says has left it higgledy-piggledy, with nooks to settle into and some low ceilings. The pub says it is in its 18th year, and it has previously traded as Town & Gown and as Sino Tap.
Rooms and courtyard
Inside, the bar rooms are small and irregular. For more headroom the website points customers to the Barn, a separate room with a vaulted ceiling. The courtyard is planted and looked after by the pub, and it is the main draw on a summer afternoon. the CAMRA survey also noted a former stable block turned into dining and function rooms.
Eating and drinking
The pub says its food is freshly made, hearty and unpretentious. Food is served from midday to 3pm and again from 5pm to 9pm every day. the 2016 CAMRA survey recorded a house beer and guest ales; the beer range will have changed since, so check at the bar.
Nearby
The website puts the Quayside two minutes away and the centre of town five, and recommends calling in at neighbours Kettle's Yard and the Museum of Cambridge. Across the river, The Free Press is named on the website as another pub that takes its food seriously. Tables can be booked online, and the phone number is 01223 363322.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
