Best Bars near Fancett's

The Devonshire Arms occupies a corner site at 1 Devonshire Road in Cambridge. This gastropub maintains a straightforward layout with a serious beer list that draws locals and visitors alike. Opening hours vary by day, with service beginning at midday on weekends and extending late on Thursdays through Saturdays. The interior features a distinctive arrangement that sets it apart from standard pub formats in the area.

An independent wet-led pub on a quiet residential terrace just off Mill Road in Cambridge, the Kingston Arms focuses on well-kept cask ales and ciders in a screen-free, conversation-led setting. The compact Victorian building includes an L-shaped interior with two real fires and a walled rear garden that remains usable year-round thanks to canopies and heaters. Awarded Cambridge CAMRA Pub of the Year 2025 and Dark Ale Pub of the Year in consecutive years, it operates as a true neighbourhood local rather than a destination venue. Visitors typically arrive on foot from the station or by bus along Mill Road, order at the bar and settle indoors or outside with board games, crib or skittles. The atmosphere stays relaxed and local even on busier evenings, with food limited to snacks or delivered pizzas.

Independent wet-led pub on Mawson Road in Cambridge, a short walk from Mill Road and the railway station. This Victorian backstreet beerhouse offers cask ales, real ciders and an extensive rum selection in a wood-panelled single bar with a rear snug. The atmosphere centres on conversation rather than screens or music, drawing a steady mix of locals, students and beer-focused visitors. Simple seating, a wood burner and modest scale create an unhurried setting suited to one or two pints rather than meals or events.

A large late-Victorian corner pub on Tenison Road, between Cambridge station and Mill Road. It operates as a neighbourhood Wells & Co craft pub with a visible wood-fired oven producing stone-baked pizzas and one-pot dishes, plus real ales and weekly quiz or live-music nights. The interior retains the original three-room layout with mixed seating and beer-festival posters. Visits centre on meals and drinks rather than sightseeing, with a small rear courtyard for outdoor seating. The setting suits rail arrivals, locals, families and dogs for unhurried lunches, dinners or evening sessions lasting one to four hours.

The Petersfield occupies a 19th-century corner building at 2 Sturton Street in Cambridge's residential Petersfield area. Originally the White Hart, it later operated as Backstreet Bistro before returning to pub use with five real-ale handpumps, seasonal British food, and a garden terrace. The L-shaped bar and smaller dining room create a relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere distinct from central tourist pubs. Visitors walk 15 to 25 minutes from the historic core or 10 to 15 minutes from the railway station for pints, meals, or garden time. It suits mixed groups, couples, families during daytime hours, and dog owners seeking an authentic local experience.

The Cambridge Blue occupies two Victorian railway workers’ cottages on a side street east of Cambridge station. This independent freehouse maintains up to fourteen cask ales, a broad cider list and an extensive whisky range in a single-bar room that opens onto a large rear garden with picnic tables and a heated marquee. The pub draws locals, CAMRA members and visitors seeking straightforward real-ale drinking rather than themed or chain surroundings.

An unmarked independent cocktail bar on Cambridge's Mill Road, 196 occupies a compact corner unit with a dark-grey facade and minimal signage. Inside, the dimly lit space features candlelight, tight seating, framed photographs and a small heated terrace. Visitors settle in for owner-crafted cocktails, wine, bottled beer and sharing boards of charcuterie or cheese. The atmosphere stays neighbourhood-focused and unhurried, attracting couples, small groups and enthusiasts rather than large parties or tourists seeking loud nightlife. Established around 2012 by mixologist Darren Brooks, the bar maintains a low-profile presence on a diverse Victorian-era street of independent shops and housing.

A modern Young's pub directly beside Cambridge railway station, serving cask ales, seasonal British food and Sunday roasts from a ground-floor spot inside the Ibis hotel. The industrial interior of bare brick and open kitchen backs a peninsula bar, while the terrace offers quick drinks between trains. Regular live sport, a Sunday quiz and a private function room called The Sidings complete the practical offer for commuters, locals and visitors.

Nestled in a quiet corner of Cambridge, The Geldart is a distinctive gastropub celebrated for its exceptional ales, creative hot rock dining, and a vibrant retro music atmosphere. With a cozy interior featuring vintage musical instruments and a welcoming courtyard, it offers a unique blend of traditional pub charm and contemporary culinary flair, making it a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

The Blue Moon occupies a long-standing pub site on Norfolk Street in Cambridge's Petersfield district. It stands out for a rotating selection of around twenty craft keg lines and changing cask ales, monthly brewery takeovers, and an events calendar that includes quizzes, comedy, drag nights and live music. The two-bar layout offers a brighter front room with local photographs and a larger rear space used for events, plus a small rear yard of colourful tables. Opening hours run late on weekends, drawing a mixed local and student crowd for extended evening sessions rather than quick tourist stops. The venue operates as a sister pub to The Cambridge Blue and functions as an inclusive community space with a late licence uncommon in central Cambridge.