Evenings in Cambridge

What happens in Cambridge once the sun sets… 

Cambridge is not only a wonderful place to explore during the day. The city’s historic architecture and cobbled streets are certainly a sight to behold. But, if its evening entertainment you are looking for, Cambridge will not disappoint.

In this blog post we find out what Cambridge has to offer on those long drawn out summer evenings.

Cambridge like many University towns isn’t short of a pub or two, well… 80 actually. This number is reserved for the ones that are “pubs” in the traditional sense (an establish offering predominately the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages).

If you want a traditional pub then the Cambridge Blue might be your new ‘local’. It predominantly focuses on “real ale” however they also serve cider, Perry, wine, gin and malt whiskies. Located on Gwydir street just off mill road in the south east part of the city, it has a large pub garden with plenty of bench seating, perfect for whiling away those warm evenings. This is a great place to visit if you you’d like to sample different types of beer from all over the world in a traditional English pub with a welcoming, friendly atmosphere.

There is even a pub in Cambridge that dates back to the 14th century. The Eagle is a pub with a history and also a bustling atmosphere in the evening. The site itself is owned by Corpus Christi College and is managed by Green King. It is a large pub serving all manor of drinks and food and has a large outdoor courtyard seating area to enjoy. The Eagle is located on Bennet Street in the centre of the city and is famed for being the pub in which  Francis Crick interrupted patrons at lunchtime on the 28th February 1953 exclaiming he and James Watson had “discovered the secret to life”, after they had come up with their proposal for the structure of DNA. It is also home to the RAF bar where you can see Graffiti from the world war 2 airmen scorched into the ceiling with candles or etched on by their female counterparts lipstick. The Eagle is well worth a visit even if for just a quick drink as part of a summer evening stroll through the lovely city centre. 

Moving on to one of Cambridges most iconic pubs, The Anchor is the perfect place to watch the sun go down with a few drinks. Located at the Mill Pond in the South West part of the city you can watch the “self hire” punters trying their hand (and usually failing) at punting from the large riverside patio. The pub itself is famed for being the former hangout of Syd Barret the founding member of Pink Floyd and in the sixties you could have heard them playing here on a regular basis. Serving traditional pub drinks its a great place to get into the summer spirit and enjoy those long evenings with a Pimms or two!

However, there is more to the evenings then pubs (even though this is a firm classic in Britain). There are also a range of bars and clubs in Cambridge. If you are looking for a more relaxed and atmospheric evening then the Piano Bar at De Luca might be something that interests you… Piano Bars offer a truly unique entertainment experience especially whilst you sip on some of De Luca signature cocktails. If instead you want an evening with friends or a partner for a more seated-service drink, then the Hidden Rooms would definitely fulfil your evening. This is a bar located in the basement of an impressive former Victorian Roman Baths, designed in 1863 by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt. With the slogan ‘passionate about drinks, proud of our independence’ this bar really does give more than just a drink. They serve beautiful cocktails and also provide masterclasses, put on Jazz evenings, Cocktail Clubs and even Cocktail Shows. Keeping to the underground theme, on Trinity Street there is another basement bar called 2648. With quirky features like a secret library, this bar offers both food and drinks and also events which are normally free to attend, from DJ’s to open mics they have something for everyone’s taste. 

If you’re looking to carry on the evenings merriment, then there are a couple of clubs in Cambridge which will see you dancing to the early morning. Firstly, there is Lola Lo, a Cambridge well known club, with themed parties five nights a week and decked out in hand-carved wood with tiki booths, it a fun place to dance away your ‘tropical’ night. Or alternatively you have Vinyl a more recent club with a retro disco vibe. It plays party tunes from the 70, to the 00s, and has an illuminated dance-floor and glitter ball, so its perfect is you are a disco-dancer at heart.

Some people nevertheless might choose to spend their evenings away from crowds or alcohol. If this is the case then Cambridge also has some activities that might suit you. Firstly, of course, there is a chauffeured evening punt tour which runs from around 6pm onwards. The busyness of the summer days are then drawing to a close by six, and the River Cam becomes peaceful and romantic. With the sun setting, it provides a great light for seeing Cambridge from a different perspective. Bring food and drinks onboard and enjoy the tales of Cambridge University as you are glided along the Cam. Or you could the evening by sitting back and enjoying a film in a quirky outside venue thanks to The Star and Mouse Picture Show. This trinket-cinema is a great affair, with enchanting lighting and deck chairs for comfort it allows you to see films in different outdoor locations. Make sure to book online for their up and coming showings.

Lastly, in the summer months Cambridge does become alive with al fresco performances that go on into the evening, including the likes of Jazz in the Park on Jesus Green and The Big Weekend. Amongst these events is the Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the more premier music events that has been running since 1965, and also the Strawberry Fair, a visual extravaganza which is free to attend. If music is not your thing then you could always go for a comedian or theatre and dance show at the Junction. This place is committed to art and entertainment that is up-and-coming and is a place to visit if in search for ‘out of the ordinary’ evening entertainment.

Hopefully this blog has given you some inspiration for your summer evenings in Cambridge that are on the horizon… As you can see Cambridge does have a lot to offer and we hope that it is the city you choose to spend those sunny summer evenings this year.