retiredmartin

July 2023. Cambridge.

Congratulations if you guessed this pic from Mill Road was the maternity hospital where baby Retired Martin was born (blue plaque currently being cleaned of graffiti).

For a second rapid Cambridge pint in my 2 hour respite I headed across a quiet Parkers Piece,

and found the market place and colleges unexpectedly rammed. The Asian and European tourists have returned,

though they seem keener on the Eagle (actual DNA invented here) than the Pint Shop (actual £6 pint invented here).

A decade ago this was a cutting edge addition to central Cambridge, and the quality food helped it gain a place in my coveted Top 100 pubs (no. 556).

But a concentration on the tried and tested (Nene Valley, Northern Monk),

the 7.5 scotch egg,

makes it seem a bit pedestrian, and the formula failed in Oxford and Brum.

I’ve seen the front bar packed at 5 on a weekday before. Today just a handful of postgrads discussing NASA and a tourist from Norfolk (wherever that is) joining me on the Thornbridge (2.5).

As etu just commented, that dimpled mug automatically knocks 0.5 off the score. But you know what ?

That Norfolk chap started chatting rain and beer and England’s chances that night, and though we violently disagreed on virtually every point (this is NOT a golden generation, mate), I was delighted to chat for 20 minutes. Almost made that £6.40 worthwhile.

The couple staring in disbelief at the beer board weren’t quite so convinced.