The Open Guide to Cambridge - Differences between Version 19 and Version 18 of Fort St George

The Fort St George In England (to give it its full name) is a historic pub, situated on the edge of Midsummer Common. The old sprawling pub building appears much larger from the outside than from within. It has three rooms of differing sizes and styles: the large open wooden-floored bar area, a traditional dark snug, and a light (dining) room, with windows overlooking the river. It includes a large pleasant pub garden, on two sides, and a substantial covered area overlooking the Common. In the evening, and especially during events at the common, and during the high summer, the pub can become rowdy and unpleasant. During many events on the common, such as Midsummer Fair, the pub often closes to avoid trouble. During afternoons and early evenings, however, the pub can be a rather pleasant place to drink, particularly if you are unused to Greene King ales. Local to many of the houseboat residents on the Cam.

According to cam.misc, as of June 2008, following the recent refurbishment, the only real ales available are Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale.

Comment from Ben, June 2008: Just been in for a spot of lunch and a drink as it has been newly refurbished. The place looks nice but almost submerged due to the recent downpours. Unfortunately the experience within the pub is something different. The staff are rude and slow, the food is expensive, and when I went to complain to the landlord about the service and small, cold portions he decided to get abusive.

I first visited this pub in May 2005, when smoking was still allowed. I recently visited with another friend who had been there on that first visit, nearly five years ago, to find the black wood of the ages replaced by expanses of blonde pine and expensively priced bottles of wine ranked brasserie style behind the bar. The beer was still fine, though, and they seemed to be doing a roaring trade in food, often sausages, to young people and tourists. We had a snack of tiny salami, which was a bit of a mistake given that my companion was a vegetarian, although it's probably only a matter of time before he succumbs to the ceaseless onslaught of of the Cambridge sausage.

See also:

• Another Food Blog reviews: November 2008, May 2009
• Fancyapint review
• Local Secrets review
• Beer in the Evening comments
• Ian Kitching's review
• Itchy Cambridge review
• Virtual Tourist comments
• Tod's Cambridge Town Guide review
• Gourmet Chick review
• Pocket Pubs entry