June 2026. Cambridge.
Dad’s appetite was back on Sunday afternoon, and ours was raised by the sight of the Wrestlers opposite our £25 Travelodge on Newmarket Road, a rare Cambridge bargain.
Charlie Wells have subtly worsened the sign after what feels like 30 years, but the menu is unchanged since my first Pad Thai back in 1988 before a cup win against Peter Shilton’s Derby in the John Beck days.
Of course, Charles Wells pubs don’t sell what you think of as Charles Wells beers anymore, just weird stuff called Brew Origin.
Honestly, the Bombardier here was as good as anything to wash down the green beef curry (why, oh why, had Mrs RM ordered me chicken while I sought free street parking ?), and Broadside would have been a decent replacement, except it was off.
More wisely, Mrs RM had chose herself the Landlord while I picked a Southwold and then Tribute as slightly lacklustre substitutes.
“Another Timothy, please” reinforces the extent to which Landlord dominates the middle class pub diner in 2026.
The Wrestlers is as busy as it ever was, but the drinks trade is more coke than cask these days.
Perhaps at seven pounds thirty-five (£7.35) that’s not surprising; it’s never been a cheap pub.
But it’s still the best pub for Thai food in the country.
retiredmartin 
Best thai food pub in the country you say…??
Churchill Arms Kensington would like a word 😁😁
https://maps.app.goo.gl/N3KSztbmzUayqRM89?g_st=ac
LikeLike
It can have a word (I gave eaten there) but I’ll stick to my guns. Better beer in the Churchill, mind.
LikeLike
And Churchill would say you were wise to stick to your guns, as in reality, compared to me and 99.999% of the population, you have tried all* the pubs and know !!
I think my enthusiasm for it was, on my first visit, thai food was a new thing, there were no thai restaurants or takeaways in Coventry at the time, you couldn’t even get lemon grass or thai basil in the supermarkets.
LikeLike
Best Thai food pub in the country you say…??
What about the Bulls Head, just a cockstride from the Beacon Hotel and Holdens at more like £4.35 a pint ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s £3 a pint cheaper than in the Wrestlers !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know what the Barton’s Arms in Brum’s like these days, but was always a challenge to follow back in the day – for those who liked basically Chinese food with a bit of sugar and chilli added.
LikeLike
Unfortunately it’s gone, looks like for good this time.
LikeLike
Looks bad, but we’ve thought that before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, sadly closed again, but as its listed at a high level I believe, Hope springs eternal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Barton’s Arms is Grade II* listed.
About eleven other pubs are Grade I listed including three in Chester.
LikeLike
We can put whatever legal protection we want on the Barton’s Arms, but while folk are apparently scared to travel out from Birmingham to visit it there’s no chance of it staying open.
LikeLike
That’s absolutely right Martin.
The mile walk westwards from Aston railway station is the grimmest I’ve known anywhere.
Then last time several yards from the pub I was approached by a man asking if I wanted to buy some bargain meat.
The first half of the walk southwards towards the city centre isn’t much better.
It needs rebuilding brick by brick in Solihull, but that would be rather costly.
LikeLike