The Open Guide to Cambridge - Differences between Version 14 and Version 13 of Panton Arms

The first time I visited the Panton Arms I thought it was closed due to half the bar having the lights off. Walking round and through the beer garden made it quite obvious it was very much alive.

Very much a back street pub, however don't expect any reduction in the price of a pint. The decor is charming and I am sure the beer garden is good in the summer, though I have never experienced it.

The pub also plays host to members of the Chemistry Department on Fridays as quite a few groups go down for a pint and less regularly it is used to keep warm when the fire alarm goes off.

In the evenings the pub can get quite busy and crowded, however they have never opened up the second half of the pub on the few occasions I've been there, but perhaps they are willing to after a certain threshold of people have arrived.

Very good for food at weekend lunchtimes, when the other part of the bar (the bit with the pool table) has been known to be open, despite it being far quieter. Good, and genuinely home-made, soup is very nice at this time of year.

See also:

• Beer in the Evening comments
• CrawlPlanner comments
• Cambridge Online comments
• Ian Kitching's review