The Pickerel Inn in Cambridge

A true Cambridge institution with the best ales and gins in the city. Long live the Pick, and long may we drink there.

Great pub! Lovely team and a great bustling atmosphere. Has that traditional pub decoration we all love, with an added Cambridge twist. Excellent range of drinks - especially ales! My favourite pub.

I came here on a day trip and bought a nice cocktail before returning to London. The bartender was so kind to allow me to use his wi-fi to get my train times before I left.

Lovely old world pub in the heart of Cambridge. Attentive bar staff.

An absolutely delightful pub, which I always go out of my way to visit for a drink whenever I'm in Cambridge. Super atmosphere and a very satisfactory selection of beers

Awful experience… I pre booked a table here for me, my husband and two children. We requested one high chair and room for a pram when making the booking. When we arrived we stood at the entrance for a short while waiting to see a member of staff, one male member of staff walked past us to the bar without saying anything so I followed him to the bar and said we’d made a booking and he just said it’s not busy just find a seat which we instantly felt was rude. We had never been there before so I asked where is it best to go as we need a high chair and room for a pram, he suggested the front of the restaurant, we followed him round to the front and it was just all bar stools at that a tables, I repeated that we needed a highchair so that wouldn’t work at them tall tables. He then guided us to the back of the restaurant and showed us to a single small table with two chairs, which I said wasn’t going to work as we needed a highchair at the table and also room for the pram and explain this is why we pre-booked to make sure there was room for this. He then told us that there is tables outside, bearing in mind its 8 degrees outside and we have a 6 month old baby with us. I said no that’s not going to work. He also questioned if I booked a low table, I felt this was a sarcastic comment, I said there was not an option on the booking system but I did say we needed a high chair. At this point we just left, but there was no apology and the customer service was just not there. I’ve never experienced anything like it. We then had to walk around at peak time on a Sunday to search for somewhere else to eat. I will never return to this place.

Didn't eat there, but the food looked and smelled beautiful

Ian and Joe best bartenders in Cambridge. Get yourself to the pick RIGHT NOW!!! xxx

The Pickerel is hands down the best pub in Cambridge. During my year there, it became my friends' and my go-to spot—whether we needed a break from studying or just a relaxed place to unwind. The food and drinks are fantastic (shout out to Rachael and Mike in the kitchen), and the staff are genuinely wonderful. I loved it so much that I ended up working there for a few months, and the team became like family to me. Seeing the dedication of the staff, both as a customer and a worker, was inspiring—they’re truly passionate about the pub, its history, and creating the best experience for everyone who walks through the door. Every time I return to Cambridge, you can bet I'll be back at the Pick. Lots of love to the team, and I couldn’t recommend a better place for anyone visiting Cambridge!

We popped in for lunch; the staff were very welcoming and friendly, there was a range of well kept beers. Our food was very good, particularly the beef coquettes. Highly recommended.

Absolute number 1 pub in Cambridge! Hands down

Reasonable selection of cask ales, and food was good value

One of the oldest pubs in Cambridge, largely unspoilt retaining a lot of original features and charm. Cambridge prices though - expect to pay about £6.50 for a pint.

Really nice pub, just not set up for food. Staff really nice and welcoming, know there beers, watch out for the alarms 😂

We had fun with the £2 lottery at the bar, for which all proceeds went to cancer research🙏🏻

Good, old fashioned pub. Surprisingly good value for a couple of beers.

Great hole-in-the wall vibe and cool history

Beautiful vibe, near the Cam having a pint. Life couldn’t be any better. Cheers.

All was going well at the beginning. It's a fairly quaint pub with a bit of history. A sandwich (which had a LOT of bread) and some seasoned fries (which had a whole lot of salt) and a pint of quash came to £12.70. The chips were so salty I asked for more squash. This was going set me back £4.45. If pubs are complaining that the industry is dying, they might want to hand a look at this kind of thing. A few metres down the road a litre of flavoured fizzy water cost me 75p. Also, why does a pub need my date of birth and email to give me WiFi? Friendly staff though, they don't set the prices.

Awesome place for family lunch and refreshing beer. Outdoor garden with plenty of seats and shade. We would definitely visit again when in Cambridge

Fabulous little pub xx amazing staff xx dog friendly xx absolutely lovely atmosphere xx great food xx cute little beer garden too xx

Great staff, delicious food and great pints.

Currently in the UK to see a concert and came here based off a friends recommendation. It definitely lived up to the expectations.

Had a great experience on a vaca from the US here. Sat in the garden and staff was super friendly.

One of the best pubs in Cam. The steak and ale pie with a pint of Guinness. Also loved the team - lots of young people behind the bar plus the manager Ian. Super warm and welcoming. Just a great experience

Great food and great service couldn’t ask for more.

Great pub with great atmosphere. Great drink selection and drinks, and fantastic service from the team, especially Ian

Very nice pub, cozy and friendly staff

Wonderful place to visit! The people and service were great especially towards a foreigner like myself. Will say I had the Chicken Kyiv. Easily the best dish I had during my week there! 10/10.

food was great and service was amazing!

This was delicious! I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the great wait staff. I went with my friends and we throughly enjoyed our experience

Went here on vacation to meet some friends. I really enjoyed the environment and the drinks were great. Will definitely be stopping back in for future visits.

Food and drinks were absolutely delicious. I pity anyone who doesn’t come here when theyre in town. The staff are awesome and good looking as well. Just an all around good pub to be in

I thoroughly enjoyed the food and had a good time with friends. Service was good and it was a fun atmosphere

One of my favorite pubs, always a great time.

Excellent dinks/food and always friendly service. Great times all around here.

I recently ate at Pickerel, and the place is such a gem! The atmosphere and service were amazing, it is the perfect place for a casual night out with friends. Highly recommend!

This is my absolute favorite pub in Cambridge. Everyone who works at the Pickerel is so kind and makes the experience much better. Couldn’t recommend it more! Such an amazing atmosphere! Everyone should visit Pickerel!

Was traveling the area these last two weeks and stumbled upon this place. Great atmosphere personally and just a place to swing by and spend some time. Returned many times throughout my time here. Would recommend

This is the place where you and the lads ought to grab a pint!

One of the best spots in the area to grab a bite. Amazing customer service. Definitely recommend.

Great food, fantastic atmosphere, and even better service. I hope to come back to the UK for this pub!

Honestly my new favorite spot! Great customer service and the food is out of this world!!

The place is really nice. The food and customer service 👌🏻.. I’m definitely coming back 😊.

Good food I visit with my family and they love the place and environment I recommend it!

Really great food !! Love the friendly customer service.. pretty amazing vibe ! If I can put 6 stars I would !! 💯 % recommend

This is my absolute favorite pub in Cambridge. Everyone who works there is so incredibly kind and makes the experience much better. I came here so often during the course of my studies and it is emotional to be leaving the Pickerel and everyone working there. Couldn’t recommend it more!

This is my absolute favorite pub in Cambridge. Everyone who works at the Pickerel is so incredibly kind and makes the experience much better. I came here so often during the course of my studies and it is emotional to be leaving the pub and everyone working there. Couldn’t recommend it more!

I recently dined at Pickerel, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish! The ambiance is both sophisticated and inviting, with tasteful decor that perfectly complements the fine dining atmosphere. The service at Pickerel is top-notch. The American server we had was attentive, knowledgeable, and made excellent recommendations. She truly made us feel welcomed and ensured we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Pickerel is a gem of a pub, and I can't wait to return!

This place was so great! Would definitely recommend coming here. Food was amazing….the loaded nachos are a must have

I had the pleasure of meeting Elissa and the rest of the staff during my visit last week. I couldn’t have asked for better service and I plan on returning next time I visit Cambridge!

Great pub, friendly team, and well kept beer. Who needs more?

Absolutely spectacular! Great food and service!

Just great. One of the oldest pubs in Cambridge.

Great local pub! Loved the atmosphere and attentive, helpful, and extremely kind staff!

So happy we stopped in here on our trip to Cambridge! Great food & atmosphere. We had the cutest little American server, she made our meal even more delightful! We will definitely be recommending this spot whenever anyone mentions Cambridge!

A gastronomical sensation. tremendous sense of ambience, terroir, and pricing, while remaining frequented by locals. must visit if you're at cambridge

On a family group vacation we stopped for quick rest and drink while in Cambridge. It was an absolute delight to run into a fellow American working behind the bar. Great service and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Loved my visit to Pickerel! Such a friendly staff and the food was delicious, will definitely be coming back!

A perfect place to enjoy awesome food at a local pub. Lucky for my they had a wide range of glutin free beer. Was made to feel like a local. Will be back.

Great place - good vibes all round and Serra is star server as are the rest of the team 💯

Elissa was my server. She was super sweet and very on top of bringing out food, sides, and condiments. We had a party of four which can be a bit of a handful, but she handled our party with ease. She consistently checked in on us and the food was amazing. I can’t wait to come back here and hope to have her as a server again!!

Great pub with an amazing outdoor area and really friendly staff !

This is a must visit if you come to the Cambridge area. The staff is lovely and the atmosphere is very warming.

In a completely empty pub at 1:05 p.m. on a July day, they tell us that we cannot eat because there are seven of us, a maximum of 6 because the kitchen is very small. When we tell him that we will only eat 6 and that 7 will only drink something, the manager begins to raise his voice to insist that the kitchen is very small. Since being yelled at in a place where you pay to be served doesn't seem like the best idea, we leave without having a single beer. Anyway, it's not strange that it's empty. It is also surprising that on the booking page everything was busy and was completely empty. Maybe the public treasury should review the activity because it does not seem to be hospitality.

Great experience, great service the blonde girl was super kind (I think her name was Elissa). Loved it would recommend

Popped in for quick drink, staff are lovely, quick service and such a relaxed vibe

Had a lovely time at the pickerel tonight! Had pea soup, which was light and delicious, with fresh bread and tasty, soft butter. The special strawberry margarita was summery and full of strawberry, and the ale was absolutely proper. The lemon tart was also nice and well presented, but quite the portion! Service great throughout, will be back in this well kept, charming pub.

A Cambridge favourite. Try to get the Woodforde's Wherry!

Great Pub, great atmosphere. Nice bit of history too, some old don from the university was telling me Cotton Mather used to drink in the Pickeral before he set out for the West Indies in search of sunken plunder. Everyday's a school day.

Fantastic selection of beers, gins and good food 😋 awesome bar staff

Only two food choices left on menu by 8.15pm. My party of 3 all ordered the daily special- boar sausages with bubble and squeak. It was 2 anaemic sausages and a small portion of bubble. We were all still hungry after a £17.25 main course (which also took 30 mins to arrive). Tried to order some fries but the kitchen was closed. Avoid eating there.

Great place to hang out with friends! The atmosphere was great, the music was just right for the vibe, and the drinks were spectacular. Overall a great pub and I am glad we stumbled upon this place!

A very typical pub you can find around England. But if you are a Tolkien or C.S. Lewis fan, this place is a must. Couldn't have a cup of tea though as coffee machine was broken :(

Absolutely delightful old bar, super cheap beer

Love this place ,come here regularly with my family and friends , everyone so friendly and helpful great atmosphere, great food good selection of ales . Staff brilliant ,best pub in Cambridge .

Lovely pub just a shame about the toilets

Had yet another great night with the family . definitely recommend this pub . Always good atmosphere, Staff brilliant

Love this pub! Is my favourite pub go to in Cambridge. Staff so friendly and helpful. Bonus for me because they always have my gluten free beer in. Great food, great atmosphere. On my way there now 😊

The best pub in Cambridge! Great atmosphere, very clean, excellent food! And the staff are brilliant! Very friendly and always so welcoming! Me and my family are regulars at the Pickerel and we are very happy we have found this pub! 😀

Very close to the cam bridge - good old pub with excellent service and garden...

am always charmed by all the bar staff. lots of 💙

On May 3rd, 2024 at approximately 6:00 PM, my friends and I experienced extremely poor customer service at the Pickerel Pub. We had settled into a table with our beers, intending to stay for a couple more pints and some food while waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. However, a bartender placed a "Reserved 19:00" sign on our table, and told us we would need to leave by that time. This left us feeling unwelcome and mistreated as paying customers. The pub was not overly busy and there was no indication when we sat down that our table would need to be vacated within a specific timeframe. If reservations take precedence, this policy should be clearly communicated to customers upon arrival or seating. As no other suitable tables were available, we felt we had no choice but to leave the establishment entirely. It is unacceptable for a pub to kick out customers who have already purchased drinks and are looking to order more food and beverages. The Pickerel Pub thoroughly mismanaged this situation and exhibited a complete disregard for customer service. Needless to say, we will not be returning after being treated so poorly. It's truly a shame, as we had intended to spend more money and enjoy the evening at this establishment. I strongly caution others against patronizing the Pickerel Pub, lest they experience the same disrespectful treatment.

Walking past and decided to stop for a drink, sat in garden, lovely little sun trap, definitely be back again when visiting Cambridge.

What a place! I loved the vibes and the history behind this place.

Had to visit this place, oldest pub in Cambridge (1608) and was once a meeting place for Tolkien and C S Lewis!

We happened to walk past this place and so pleased we went inside! Gluten free beer much to my other half’s delight. Steeped in history and character. Tudor beams, wonky ceilings and a friendly vibe. Said to be the oldest pub in Cambridge and arguably dating back to early 1600’s. Great location (opposite Magdalene college) and slightly off centre.

Classic pub - expensive for central London.

Great pint of Guinness and steak and ale pie for food, Iwan was exceptional could not fault anything will return

Average food in a very historic pub. My burger was dry and not very flavorful and the bun did not appear to be fresh. Doubtful I’ll go back.

Tasty food, friendly staff, beautiful pub and great atmosphere. Could stay here forever.

Great pint and pie and mash. What more could you want?

Great service, lovely atmosphere and good range of drinks

Great spot. Enjoyed some perfect bangers and mash.

Always love coming here for a drink as it's a historic pub. The staff are always friendly and the pub has a great atmosphere.

One of the best pubs in Cambridge. Lovely staff and really good pricing. The atmosphere inside is warm and cozy, exactly what you want from a good pub.

Best fish and chips I've ever had in my whole life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!?!?!?!??!?!?!!!!! Witchcraft!!!!! Actually wait no I'm talking about the punter

The Landlord looks after his beers and has a frequent turnover of real ales on all styles, dark to light.

It's a lovely pub with a great atmosphere but quite expensive with the fish & chips not as good as I had hoped for. I would recommend a visit, though, just for the atmosphere and the selection of hand-pulled ales.

Not a bad little pub. Olde worlde type place. Smallish selection of reasonable pub meals served. Range of decent beers. Candles etc.