Cambridge – Eating Out

Atmospheric Cambridge – cosy up at The Eagle

Posted by Clare Chase on January 13, 2017
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out, Clare Chase - books, light stuff, Uncategorized. 6 Comments

The weather’s closing in here in Cambridge* and conditions are perfect for holing up in a pub. One of the city’s most famous is The Eagle. From my point of view, it’s significant because Nate and Ruby meet there for lunch in One Dark Lie. If pushed, I’ll also admit that it’s quite well known for being the hostelry where Francis Watson and James Crick went to celebrate their discovery of the structure of DNA. The Old Cavendish Laboratory where they worked (then just the Cavendish Laboratory, though it was already quite old) is close by on Free School Lane. Rosalind Franklin’s  work was crucial to their breakthrough.

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The Eagle is also known for the ceiling in its RAF bar, where WW2 airmen wrote graffiti using cigarette lighters, charcoal, lipstick and candles. Apparently the words were gradually obscured as the ceiling became stained by cigarette smoke, but there’s an article here that explains how they were uncovered.

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The idea of the airmen, coming back from perilous sorties over Germany to unwind and add their words to the collection on the ceiling always moves me. Their hopes and fears must have been so intense.

All in all it’s an atmospheric place, which is why I was so keen to include it in my book. And on top of that, the food and beer are pretty good too.

So if you’re within reach of Cambridge, go ahead. What better excuse is there than wintry weather to hole up somewhere warm? And if you want to take some reading with you, to enjoy over your beer, One Dark Lie is on-topic. Just saying.

 

* Well, it was when I wrote this post. I think the sun’s coming out now. Just goes to show I should get my act together more quickly. But I still think a trip to The Eagle is a good idea.

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Grantchester Meadows

Posted by Clare Chase on September 19, 2014
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out, Places to visit. Tagged: . 2 Comments

As ever, I’m finding it hard to let go of summer. In the last week, the warmth’s returned to Cambridge, but it’s been overlaid with the signs of autumn. The spiders are everywhere in the garden and I need bike lights if I’m out after 7.30pm. 7.30! What happened?

I’m also missing the freewheeling that goes with being properly away on holiday, so this time of year finds me determinedly making the most of weekends.

Recently, this involved a family picnic on Grantchester Meadows, the area by the Cam between Cambridge and Grantchester village.

It soon became clear we weren’t the only ones clinging on to summer. I can report that we witnessed advanced frolicking on our travels, along with some genteel relaxing:

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The Meadows themselves are atmospheric and you can lose the feeling of modern day life once you’re there. Punts glide by along the river whilst cows graze, and the smell of earth, grass, water (and indeed cattle) is brought out by the warmth of the sun.

Pink Floyd’s song about the place gives you some idea, and here it’s been set to a video of the real location.

Grantchester village is interesting too. It’s awash with famous and infamous residents, past and present. Rupert Brooke lived at the Old Vicarage, which inspired his poem of the same name. Nowadays, it’s home to the scientist Mary Archer, and her husband Jeffrey, of books, politics and prison fame. The sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld also lives in the village.

Going further back in time, Lord Byron was said to swim in the local pool named after him.

If you’re looking for refreshments, The Orchard Tea Garden offers everything from the innocent cuppa and cake the name suggests, to champagne if the need should arise. They serve light lunches too, and the setting’s incredibly picturesque.

My favourite bit of Grantchester folklore refers to a tunnel that’s meant to run for two miles, from the Old Manor House in the village to King’s College in Cambridge. It’s said a fiddler once began the journey, his music becoming ever fainter, and was never seen again.

It seems to be a place that inspires stories. The village is the setting of James Runcie’s Grantchester mysteries, which are being adapted for television. There’s been lot of evidence of filming in town, too, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.

Meanwhile, I’ve just responded to the first set of edits for my own mystery novel, Anna in the Works. I hope I’ve done OK! I’m very excited to have got to this stage, and the editor at Choc Lit has been brilliant. It’s line and copy edits next…

A Visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum – Quentin Blake – Drawn by Hand

Posted by Clare Chase on February 18, 2013
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out. Leave a comment


We had a wonderful time visiting the new Quentin Blake exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, on Friday. The collection includes lots of pictures I’d never seen before, several of which had been created for hospitals in the UK and France. As well as the artwork, there are cabinets in the centre of the room containing paints, plates used for etchings, sketchbooks and press cuttings. 
The exhibition is compact and manageable in size (one smallish room with maybe twenty-five to thirty illustrations) and so is suitable for those with small children (or those accompanied by an art-averse husband who would really rather be in the cafe downing a coffee…)

Entry is free, but by timed ticket, first come, first served – see here for more details. It does mean you might be disappointed if you drop in mid afternoon, but on the upside, you can see what you came for without the stress of having to nudge your way through the crowds. The exhibition runs until 12th May 2013.
For more background, Quentin Blake’s website has a “How I Draw” section, including a really interesting ten-minute film outlining the process of producing an illustration. 
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Other Attractions at the Fitzwilliam Museum…

In spite of the aforementioned art-averse member of our party I managed to get round the Fitzwilliam’s permanent 20thCentury art display, another current exhibition, “China’s White Gold”, and part of one other room too… For anyone not familiar with the Museum, it contains a wide range of material, but it’s possible to plot ahead so that you can march straight to the bits that are most likely to appeal. There’s an interactive floor plan of the Museum available here which is very useful. 
For small children, the Sculpture Promenade outside also seems to be a huge hit, involving opportunities for running, hiding and interactive play. This ends on 31st March 2013. 

The Museum shop is good fun. It always stocks Quentin Blake merchandise relating to Cambridge (including posters, mugs and postcards with the illustrations the artist did for the 800th anniversary of the University). To accompany the exhibition, this has been extended and there are lampshades and even Mrs Armitage-style bike horns. I was sorely tempted… And then of course there’s the cafe – not a budget option but set in a light and airy location, and good for a treat.




The Fort St George (in England!)

Posted by Clare Chase on January 28, 2013
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Yes, the full name of the oldest pub on the River Cam really is The Fort St George in England. Apparently it was named after another Fort St George – the original being the first British fortress in India. So, the “in England” bit is a useful reality check, in case you’ve forgotten which continent you’re in. We’ve all been there… Though usually on the way out of a pub, rather than on the way in.
Parts of the Grade II listed building date back to the 16th century, and it also benefits from an attractive location, on the edge of Midsummer Common, right next to the river. Originally, the pub was on an island, until the Cam was rerouted in the 1800s. 
View of the river and boathouses from The Fort St George
The decor has changed over the years, and it’s less quirky these days. The number of rowing blades on the walls has plummeted, and the stuffed fish seems to have disappeared too… However, there were fairy lights aplenty outside when we visited, and a roaring open fire made the eating area cosy.
The staff were helpful and friendly, and the service prompt. The pub is owned by the brewery Greene King, which has a standard food menu. The starter and main courses were regular pub fare, but the size of the helpings varied. There was very little bread with the soup, and no potatoes with the lamb casserole, which cost £8.95. The breaded halloumi came with a lot of chips and a small salad garnish, but with hindsight a side salad or potion of vegetables would have made the meal more balanced. However, we did put in additional side order requests, mid-meal, and these arrived in double-quick time. In conclusion, I would say it’s worth asking exactly what’s included if the menu doesn’t make it clear, and budgeting extra for the side orders that may be required.
The food really came into its own at pudding time and the dark Belgian chocolate torte, oven-baked brioche bread and butter pudding and the hot Belgian chocolate fondant all went down very well indeed. Good-sized portions and, we felt, great value for money at £3.75 – £3.95 each.
In warmer weather, there’s some good outdoor seating, and lovely views on both sides of the building. This does mean that the pub really fills up over the summer though, and waiting times increase, so it’s worth arriving early. 
Outdoor seating, overlooking Midsummer Common on one side, and the river on the other

For more information about the surrounding area, the Friends of Midsummer Common provide an interesting history.

Partyish Pizza Express

Posted by Clare Chase on January 21, 2013
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out. 2 Comments

I suppose the food at Pizza Express ought to be the same wherever you go, countrywide – which as far as I’m concerned is a good thing, since I’m a big fan of their pizzas. However, the company is creative when it comes to choosing venues, which gives each eatery a streak of originality too.

Apropos of this, I have to put in a special word for the branch of Pizza Express on Jesus Lane, Cambridge. The restaurant occupies the ground floor of a Grade II listed neoclassical building, originally constructed as a Victorian Turkish bath in 1862. You can read more about the building’s past incarnation – and Victorian Turkish baths in general – on Malcolm Shifrin’s fascinating website here.

As you can see from the photograph, it would be quite possible to walk past without noticing that it’s a Pizza Express at all. Inside, the rooms on offer give a real sense of occasion. There’s a choice of a wood-panelled library – all dark corners with flickering candles in the evening – and a vibrant, conservatory-style room with roof lights and large mirrors. The restaurant also has a grand piano in the foyer/bar area, where musicians entertain two nights a week. If you’re not already familiar with the menu and online booking system, you can click here for details. I continue to be impressed by the reasonable prices (around £9 average for a classic pizza) and the service I’ve had at Jesus Lane has always been friendly and efficient, too.

The building is owned by the University Pitt Club which still occupies the first floor. I keep reading articles that claim the scurrilous rumours about the club are untrue, but I’m prepared to overlook this.

Cafe@the Library

Posted by Clare Chase on January 7, 2013
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out, Cambridge - Events. Leave a comment


The post-Christmas period seems like a good time for seeking out more frugal options for eating out in Cambridge. For a budget breakfast, lunch or tea, I really recommend the cafe at Cambridge Central Library in the Grand Arcade. The food’s delicious and imaginative and you can get a filling meal for £3 – £4. I’ve known two professional food photographers in my life, and having tried to make this plate of quiche and salad look attractive, I can understand why it’s a job you have to train for…

However, when I tell you the quiche was stilton and walnut, and that there were multiple salads to choose from, with dressing as required, and all for £3.85, I hope you’ll be convinced. The other quiche on offer was sausage and bacon, so there’s something for meat lovers too.

Pizza and salad cost £2.30 at the time of writing, baked potato £1.80 plus fillings at 80p each (beating Tatties on price…) and paninis start at £2.55.

One of the other great bonuses, of course, is that you can pick up a book on your way in and read and eat at the same time. 

You can find up-to-date cafe opening times here and, if you’re living it up, you’ll note from this page that it’s possible to buy a glass of wine to go alongside your meal (and indeed, mulled wine at Christmas time. I like that attention to detail). As you can imagine, it does get fairly busy at peak times, so it’s worth turning up early for lunch.


 

Tatties Cafe Restaurant

Posted by Clare Chase on December 10, 2012
Posted in: Cambridge, Cambridge - Eating Out, Cambridge - Events. 2 Comments


Tatties Cafe Restaurant sometimes gets some poor reviews, but my most recent experience was positive. Being able to get a hot meal that really fills you up for around £6 is fairly good going in central Cambridge. My potato was nicely done, the jacket just right, with mountains of cheese and beans, and a reasonable side salad with dressing. A cup of tea cost £1.75, but it was big – mug rather than cup quantities. The range of cakes on offer for pudding was also impressive and you can by beer or wine if you want to live it up. You queue up at the counter, rather than waiting at your table to be served. It’s not cordon bleu – the potato fillings aren’t wildly imaginative and the atmosphere’s definitely more cheap cafe than restaurant – but I’d certainly go back.

The Tatties I visited is at 11 Sussex Street, Cambridge, tel: 01223 323399.