No doubt the Police will be thrilled at having to cope with its patrons, plus those from Borders and the Fez nightclub in the narrow Market Passage. [Borders, planning to open in the former Eaden Lilley store, standardly operates as a bookshop plus music shop plus cybercafe, open till 11pm. Hippy Capitalism gives an interesting view of them.]
The plan is for a wine bar on the ground floor and live entertainment (music/shows/films) on the first. The upper floor is allowed to be an overflow bar on Friday and Saturday nights. Apparently McMullens included a sweetener of £20,000 towards a limited night bus service.
Meanwhile down the far end of Mill Road, the former Grasshopper may be replaced by 10 two-bedroom flats.
Just over the Mill Road railway bridge, the Earl of Beaconsfield is being transformed by new, keen management, Alan and Ana Thompson. The pool table will be swapped for bar billiards and the range of beers will expand from four to five. On recent visits the Sheps Spitfire, Young's Special and Adnams Bitter were on fine form.
All being well, it should join the cluster of fine pubs in that area, emphasising it as Cambridge's hotspot for real pubs with good beer and food. Paul Ainsworth reviews the pub in Beacon of Quality.
Timothy Taylors Landlord is now a permanent addition to the range at the Empress, Thoday Street. It proved so popular as a guest that landlord Dave Lewin didn't dare remove it.
All information is believed correct at time of going to press. If our spies have got anything wrong, please contact the editor, who will be happy to print a correction.