Best Bars near The Centre for Computing History

The Corner House is a lively and welcoming pub located on Newmarket Road in Cambridge. Known for its excellent pub food, generous portions, and diverse menu including vegan and gluten-free options, it offers a friendly atmosphere with attentive service. The gastropub features a beer garden, wine bar, and hosts wine tastings, making it a popular spot for locals and visitors alike seeking quality food and drink in a casual setting.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Nestled on Newmarket Road in Cambridge, The Burleigh Arms is a vibrant gastropub that blends traditional pub charm with innovative Pan-Asian and British-inspired cuisine. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, creative dishes, and excellent service, it offers a welcoming space for casual dining, drinks, and social gatherings. The venue features a lively bar area, cozy dining rooms, and a courtyard, making it a versatile spot for locals and visitors alike.

The Tram Depot is a vibrant pub located at 5 Dover Street in Cambridge, known for its welcoming atmosphere, quality craft beers, and locally sourced food. It blends a traditional pub feel with a lively social scene, featuring live music nights and a variety of sharable dishes. Popular among locals and visitors alike, it offers a comfortable setting for casual dining and drinks in the heart of Cambridge.

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.

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.