retiredmartin

November 2026. Histon.

A couple of days in Cambridge on funeral planning duties, staying in the “PLUS” room at the otherwise spartan Travelodge in Orchard Park. I really should review the Madri at the hotel bar.

I’m a regular there now, probably get my own pewter jug for the hot chocolate that’s one of the benefits of the “PLUS” room (Kit Kat, Lavaza coffee and WiFi the others).

With a gig in town on Bonfire Night I stayed local, which means lunch in Histon, a middle-class Cottenham.

For folk who care about these things (all seven of us Beer Guide tickers) GBG27 is a landmark year for North Cambridge. A first entry in Cottenham, and Histon’s perennial Red Lion (whose guvnor went to the Kingston to serve Bass) replaced by the “new” Rose & Crown.

An increasingly tired looking Everard’s house, recently revived by Milton Brewery (of Waterbeach, do keep up), you can tell a lot about a Milton pub’s audience from the social calendar.

I’m not exercising my (usual) reverse snobbery, their pubs are great, just with a slight post-graduate appeal reflecting the residents of Mill Road, Chesterton and Queen Edith.

The Rose & Crown retains some nice architectural features, unfussy seating,

and eschews paperbacks for proper literature.

My reading matter is Saturday’s programme from Histon v N’pton O.N. Chenecks. I’m sure N’pton O.N. Chenecks are a skilled team, and probably put up a better showing than Leeds United did in the FA Cup back in 2008. How the mighty fall (says a City fan).

Milton Brewery run some fine pubs, the flasgship Pegasus a solid 3.5 on a quiet lunchtime, but it’s the Diavoletta pizza I shall be taking Mrs RM back to enjoy later this week.

Though, as I said to the landlady, a pint of Marcus Aurelius would do her fine, please.