The Square and Compasses in Great Shelford closed in late January with tenant of 20 years, Bill Tiley, citing “an impasse with brewery Greene King”. Bill will continue to run Great Shelford’s other pub, the Plough, which is a Hawthorn Leisure owned pub.
The community owned Plough & Fleece in Horningsea has reopened under the temporary stewardship of Andy Cross who has run this and other local pubs previously.
Having been closed since mid-January following the death of landlord Andy, the Sun Inn in Waterbeach has now reopened. Andy’s wife Helen will continue as licensee. The pub will now be open Wednesday until Sunday.
We’re delighted to hear that the Kingston Arms on Kingston Street will soon return to being a destination pub for real ale drinkers. The Kingston is one of Cambridge’s all too few free houses. Being free means it isn’t tied to any brewery or supply company so can purchase beers from whichever breweries they want. Having been a Good Beer Guide regular for many years, sadly for the past two years it has been a wine and hummus bar. Soon it will return to being a must-visit pub. Mark, formerly of the Red Lion in Histon and Jethro from the Cambridge Blue are teaming up to reopen it as a wet-led pub once more. In their words it will be “a local in the city”. There is a bit of work required to get it back into shape but an early March reopening is planned.
Spencer and Laura, who have done an excellent job running the Black Horse in Rampton since taking it on in April 2022, have sadly decided to move on in late June. They have already run one beer festival in August and are planning on running another at the end April. We hope that the pub’s owner will be able to find new licensees as enthusiastic and able as Spencer and Laura.
If you have news to tell us about pubs in our area, email our team.