July 2024. Cambridge.
The “problem” with walking as fast as I do is that it frees up time for an extra half in a busy schedule. Stafford Paul will be familiar with this “problem”, though I expect he’d have skipped “Dirty Hanks” on my route back from Cambridge’s colleges to the station.
“Dirty Hanks” ? Never heard of it.
It was “Tall Trees” for a few days, and Google still maps it as The Snug.
I still (just about) recall the Spread Eagle, always well off the Cambridge real ale circuit and seemingly more pitched for the night life trade or late.
Clearly a music venue, goodness knows Cambridge needs more of those, though What Pub says Most Improved City Pub so the glass over the Ubu hand pump might be a disappointment to some.
But not me. Gamma Ray is fine, and will probably be accepted as real ale by the time Dirty Hanks makes the GBG.
I’m about 4 hours early for the music, but I do get a soundtrack of Portishead jazz covers,
and a sense of curiosity sated.
And sometimes that’s enough.
retiredmartin 
“though I expect he’d have skipped “Dirty Hanks” – Yes, it won’t be on my itinerary in September ( unless I hear it’s got GK’s XX Mild on ).
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It’s a long shot, Paul.
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Haven’t been in there for 40 years. The pub just round the corner is where Stephen Hawking might have been seen on occasion (and the Panton Arms).
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