The Carpenter's Arms in Cambridge

Josh was an amazing host! A great evening, thank you

I frequent this pub often and there must be a distinct change in management or personnel recently as it appears that if you are now known to these particular employees you are able to “discreetly” vape in the pub whilst also being in the close vicinity to children.

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate this local. Lost my coat here last week (must have fallen off my bag when leaving) and I have been looking everywhere for it, wondering just on the off chance if I’d lost it at the pub. Popped in tonight and couldn’t believe it. Hanging up on the coat stand by the door was my coat! Still with my gloves and a very important item inside. Thank you so much Josh and Elise for running such a decent pub, and one with a range of great beers and amazing fresh pizza too!!

Waitress really went out of her way to get us a table despite not reserving. Good food and beer!

The staff are wonderful and the atmosphere is great. If there’s anything that can be improved, it’s probably the food, but it’s definitely worth going to. I’ll be back and bring friends.

First visit, the food was quick to arrive and good quality. The atmosphere was lively and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Appreciate the alternative vibe, but vegan pizza menu needs a bit of work. Bases are good but topping are gunky and lacking real vegetables - would recommend copying what Franco Manco or Pizza Express do as they are delicious. Also it’s often a little bit uncomfortably hot in the pub owing, I think, to the open pizza oven.

We have started to come regularly to the Carpenters with our 2 little girls. We always feel very welcomed, even with small kids. The staff is wonderful and very caring. The pizzas are delicious (the dough is simply perfect and the menu has a large choice of pizza and other dishes, as well as a great kids menu). The atmosphere is relaxed and there is a good selection of board games, and even a few colouring books for kids!

Long live our good old Carpenter's Arms! 2-4-1 Pizza night Monday never fails to please the crowd with its hand-stretched yummy pizzas.

Somewhat improved from my last visit here 14 years ago 😀. Good to see vegan pizza options though i wasn't able to eat this visit will seek to next time.

I recently visited the Carpenters Arms and had a very disappointing experience. The staff were incredibly rude and unwelcoming, which made the whole visit uncomfortable from the start. In fact I would go as far as saying this was one of the worst pub experiences I have had.The food was mediocre at best—nothing special and not worth the price. On top of that, the atmosphere was terrible. I definitely won’t be coming back and wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone looking for an enjoyable, fun evening out.

Very nice pizza, served quickly to a large group of us at lunchtime. I expect we'll be back!

Been here many many times and always loved it but my last visit completely ruined my opinion of this establishment. They used to have a great lunchtime deal which meant you could get a small pizza and a pint for £8 - the pizza was delicious & affordable so that’s what kept bringing us back. The service was never great to be honest, I found one member of staff in particular has always had a bad attitude and I felt she’s spoken to me on numerous occasions with a condescending tone. I overlooked this because I enjoyed the pizza, venue and games available to play. What has completely shifted my view is the new menu with “pizza sandos”… they are horrendous. It took so much longer for the food to come out, the order was completely wrong, it was more expensive and simply not nice. Both mine and my friend had ordered the same thing and both of ours ended up having bacon on it when it wasn’t meant to - which for my friend who doesn’t eat pork it was very upsetting as she realised after taking a bite. I had also asked for ketchup and one waitress said they had none but I had overheard another customer ask & another waitress said she would bring some for them… I questioned it and surprise surprise I got ketchup (I mean what pub doesn’t have ketchup?). I am truly disappointed by the changes, I will miss what it used to be.

Was not allowed to sit at any table at 6pm as they were all reserved for quiz night people at 8pm. Sat outside in the shack as was raining. All tables still empty when we left. Surely they would say the are reserved but you can sit until they arrive as you are only having one drink. Very rude about it too.

The pizza is amazing, but there isn't much option for desert and the cookies and cream are really terrible, extremely sweet and synthetic taste, and very at odds with the quality of pizza on offer. A real shame.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the carpenters over the years and it’s time I show some love to this lovely pub! It’s a testament to how much i love it that i keep coming back despite their cider (stowford press) being my least favourite of the standard pub ciders (carpenters if you’re reading this… i would love aspalls or similar). I love carpenters pizza, not traditional italian but always hot and fresh with a crust that’s delicious with their garlic oil. Fast service and high quality always. 2 for 1 deal on Mondays is a particularly great night - but be warned you need to book! But mainly i love the pub quiz - i’ve come with both my teenage friends and parents and all love this quiz! The woman who runs it is so funny and the pace is perfect, a nice long evening with breaks to chat but doesn’t go on excessively. Fun format, good questions, prizes for top 3 and the person second to last !! Love you carpenters

Warm and welcoming atmosphere with polite catering staff. I ordered the bbq wings with mac and cheese meal that came out within 5-10 mins, hot and ready to eat.😋 definitely recommend you try as well.

Very good food at a good price. Pizzas are lovely and the staff friendly. Good beer garden and clean toilets. Recommended.

A great spot in Cambridge with some of the best pizzas in the city, friendly and helpful staff and a great atmosphere. A solid selection on tap and some really tasty and different cocktails. Well worth a visit and can easily see it becoming a regular haunt

I love this place - we go a lot. It's wonderfully quirky, the pizzas are fantastic and there's always great music. This time, I fluffed up and booked the wrong date. The staff were brilliant and added an extra table for us even though it was busy. Thanks so much.

Incredibly hot inside. Staff confirmed there is no AC. Couldn't open any windows... sweat box

Have had some great evenings here recently, was looking for a local to call home and finally found it.... made especially warm and welcoming by the bar staff, one member in particular Elise is a credit to your company, look after her at all costs 😀

Great atmosphere, great beer and food

Excellent service especially from ollie and maria will definitely be coming back

Pleasant place for food a drink, friendly staff and reasonable waiting times all round. Chris served us and was very easy to deal with

Max was a ⭐ and sorted out my forgotten salad with a smile. Thanks to the chef too. 😊

Peter and Piero were great! Best pizza in town

It was the first pub we saw coming in to Cambridge for our sons Masters graduation, he was dying for fish n chips but soon as he saw the name that was it, the food was fantastic the wings were exquisite and even though I'm a Carnivore that aubergine dish was so tasty, oh thank you for letting me take your carpenters arms cutlery tin I'll send pics when we get some nice weather here Hull, thank you again for hospitality and when we return again to Cambridge we'll be back

Cheap drinks and good food. Check offers for pizza and BBQ wings

Chris was a great host and checked up on the meal a few to see if we needed anything.

Team friendly as usual, great pizza made by Peiro. GM very careing and does as much as possible to keep it great. Atmosphere was energetic. A few reviews, seem to be picky, and useless, especially those re atmosphere. Saw italy match and was fun even if they lost.to the team keep it up guys and heads up, dont worry about ignorant people , you are doing great. I think for a local pub, great pizzas, warm, friendly. And for Cambridge good value for FRESHLY made pizzas.well done Peiro

Best pub in Cambridge! Amazing pizzas and a great range of other food. The staff are welcoming and service is excellent!

Thank you, Matt and Tee! Fantastic service and delicious food for the whole fam!

Definitely the best pizza in Cambridge! I get the pesky pizza every time! Also has some of the best staff of a pub in Cambridge and a great atmosphere! Chris made us feel so welcome and we will definitely be back, he’s an asset to the team.

Popped in on the way home, ended up staying for the entertainment (the brilliant Simon Day) and having a great pizza to go with a very well kept pint.

Great atmosphere, great staff. Always friendly!

Good vibes, great non-alcoholic options. I really enjoyed the Beckenbauer pizza! Nice garden as well

Very nice experience! Pizzas are great, beers are cold and bubbly, super friendly staff members - we were served by Chris, he was really great! All EUROS matches shown! Finally found a pub were I can watch ITALY games!

Great vegetarian options (with some vegan pizzas as well)! Great place to watch the EURO games. Friendly staff and amazing food

Nice little boozer just out of town

Had a great time at 2 for 1 pizza - would definitely recommend! Tee was very friendly - great service!

Zee was great! Pizza is solid and good outdoor vibes! Two for one pizzas on Mondays are a great deal!

Max and his colleague were efficient, engaged, and attentive. Hats off to them for their excellent service and hospitality.

Had an amazing time at the pub , lovely food and drinks , served by Vacha. She’s very polite and sweet. Will be back soon ❤️

A lovely local pub with a great pizzas and a range of other menu items if that doesn't take your fancy. The staff are wonderful and very attentive. Often put on lots of theme events, so worth checking their Instagram to see if anything is going on. Swing by on a Wednesday for a very competitive quiz 😌.

Favorite family pub. Great pizzas!

Really great pub with fantastic, friendly staff and excellent pizza. Very entertaining pub quiz on Wednesdays too!

None of us live in the area any more, but we still come back every week because we love it here ❤️ (and the quiz is brilliant)

Very friendly and accommodating, lovely food (good veggie options), lovely atmosphere!

Amazing food!! The staff is really friendly I was served by vacha nice and kind. Will visit again.

Fantastic wood-fired pizzas, available all day every day (and 2 for the price of 1 on Mondays). Lovely ambience, friendly staff (say hi to Shaw!) and always great beer. Dog friendly, too - and there's a beer garden at the back. A perfect combination of food, drink and a great location.

Great Food Great Bar Great Service

Carpenters is always a safe bet, our food is always really tasty and made fresh. We had pizzas and you get lots for your money. Service is great too, Max served us recently and was really friendly and helpful in suggesting beers and wines

Great pizza, great menu, lovely outdoor area. Lots of board games to pass the time! Definitely recommend!

A very comfortable, relaxed vibe with great pizzas - with 2-for-1 on Mondays!

Great pizza, great people, great cocktail selection all around superb

first time visiting, very friendly staff, we were served by Elise and she was very friendly and made us feel most welcome. overall great place

Came here for drink with my husband and ended up staying for food. Absolutely wonderful evening! Our waitress Elise was very helpful and gave us great suggestions on what to eat! Lovely food, great drinks and even better service. Will definitely be returning.

Pizza was great beer was great Elise the waitress was fantastic

Food wasn’t great. Staff weren’t attentive. Pub is nicely done up & dog friendly just a shame about the food, burnt, tasteless and boring.

Favourite pub in Cambridge BUT: put a spring on the garden door, make WiFi access easier, no enforced tip on the card machine.

We are regulars at The Carpenters Arms, both for the pizza and 'pots'. We were there yesterday and although understaffed, as many places are these days because of covid, the chef made a special effort when I requested something vegan and made me a delicious mushroom shawarma which wasn't on the official menu for that day. There are always lots of games available to play at your table while waiting for your food, for kids and adults alike. I'd definitely recommend a visit!This is the BEST restaurant that is near my house!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic place! Delicious pizza and the gluten free base is amazing!

I just moved to Cambridge and decided to go to a pub on my first Saturday here. I came with my German shepherd and tried my luck to see if they accept dogs. What a lovely experience, the staff was so friendly and sweet, my doggy was in heaven getting a lot of attention and the singer had such amazing voice, I found my place for Saturday nights. Oh and since I have celiac disease they also offer 3 types of GF beer, that to me is amazing !

Had a very nice evening. I had the brisket lasagna and it was great. Drinks came right up, server was attentive and music was perfect for such a nice night.

We had a lovely pizza (the menu has gluten free options as well as vegan alternatives) and bbq wings all the food was really tasty and perfectly cooked. I had a lovely street lemonade which I throughly enjoyed.

Stopped in for a quick ping and loved it. Will be going back.

First time visit with friends. Great atmosphere, good range of drinks and plenty of seating, it was very busy but we were still able to find a table. Good selection of music playing also. Definitely worth a visit 😁 x

Warm pub with excellent pizzas. Good selection of beers and ales on tap, and a relaxed but fun atmosphere

Wonderfully welcoming atmosphere, aubergine parmigiana was amazing. And the quiz is always a good craic!

The most fantastic local to have by my home. Staff are super friendly and lovely. Food is lush and the general vibe of the pub is so chill and welcoming. Super dog friendly too which is a rare find nowadays! Couldn’t recommend the Carpenter’s more to anyone, even if I tried!!

Scran and quiz were amazing, solid pub and great fun

1st time her from Newcastle upon tyne. Loving the quiz, happy and relaxing vibe. Suits all ages. Loving all the quirky decor finds. Beer garden will be amazing in the nicer weather. Will be back!

Big vibes, big quiz on Wesnesday, high quality across the board. Impeccable service and delectable cuisine

Excellent pizza at an excellent price with the 241 deal, accommodating staff and quick service.

Had tacos tonight.better than taco bell in town. Lovely and very addictive. Great atmosphere and service Thanks to the chef and staff

Popped into The Carpenters Arms with friends and had a warm welcome by staff behind Bar. Interior is very quirky all had amazing pizza’s best in Cambridge we think A must try

This review has been written after few visits: as usual it is based on food quality, staff attitude, atmosphere and local-standard value for money. Not your typical British pub. No burger, no fish and chips, menu offers Pizza and others dishes… not specific cuisine-type (Tacos, Moussaka, Mac&Cheese, Curry…) I’ve been there twice and the staff has been friendly. Food quality on average and nice atmosphere. No your choice if you’re looking for a typical British pub. It's worth a visit if you’re not. Over the last twenty years I have been travelling for business (and not) reason and I have discovered a lot about the world of catering. All my reviews are for restaurants.

Have been visiting The Carpenters Arms for nearly 4 years always pleasant staff and a warm welcome. Pizza’s are amazing. Great place to pop in for a drink

Tasty appetizers and delicious pizza. Climatic and quiet places to meet with friends. I will definitely visit this place again.

always have a lovely time here!

Dingy pub. Pub has a lot of potential but it seems current owners/managers don’t care. Manager was rude to us, along with staff. Food was inedible. Toilets dirty. Bar dirty. Not worthy of a visit. Seems like Charles Wells needs to sort this pub out.

Loved my first experience at the Carpenter Arms. Really reasonably priced, great tasty pizzas. A quirky place on the inside, fun atmosphere.

The Carpenter's Arms is a lovely pub with a really nice relaxed atmosphere. The pizzas are amazing and the staff couldn't have been friendlier in accommodating my little gaming group. If you're looking for somewhere to hang out over a meal in the outskirts of Cambridge, this place is top-notch!

Good vegan pizza - cooked fresh in pizza pven

Cosy spot to spend a nice day at - beer garden was a lovely space to enjoy catching up with friends in. Prompt and friendly service and pizza was just as good!

Good food and atmosphere , loved it 👍

Great atmosphere and delicious food , working staff is very helpful. Overall a great place to hang out .

I have visited last night and the atmosphere of the restrarent is best I have ever seen and the food is too delicious and I suggest you all must try once

Food was excellent and It was perfectly cooked and the staff is very calm and the best thing I like there is the atmosphere 👍

Had absolutely terrible service at the Carpenters Arms tonight. My friend and I ordered three starters and they took over 90 minutes for ONE to arrive. I had to check on my order multiple times, and staff lied to our faces saying that they were in the oven. No taco takes over 30 minutes in the oven to cook! I had to leave before our final items arrived and, when my friend brought my portion home for me, it looked terrible - see picture below! The pub should not offer food service if it cannot cope!! No refund offered or any apologies for service.

Lovely pub. Used it as a pit-stop on a long journey and enjoyed some good food and good beer. Will definitely be back again when I can!

I love it here! I went with my little girl whos one and Maria, the lady on the bar was amazing with her, brought her out some little animal figures too! The food was really tasty and big portions for both adults and children! Would 100% recommend

Great service and wonderful pizza's in a friendly and peaceful environment. I would recommend it to anyone

Always having a good time at this pub, pizzas are really good and staff is friendly, would highly recommend!

Pizza terrible , minimal toppings and cold

Fantastic pub, great staff, food is a shadow of its former self. We have eaten here a lot over the years, lasagne used to fill the bowl, now an overheated dry half a bowl, pizza was lukewarm with minimal toppings and the dips and dollops pizza dough with house red and green pesto (£9.00) had no house red and green pesto , instead generic bottles sauces, VERY disappointed with the cost cutting measures.

Friendly staff, good management, amazing pizza!

I really like this place. Great atmosphere and a good selection of beers and to top it off delicious pizza!

Great atmosphere. Good pizzas.