Peterborough, The Home of Oakham Ales

What sort of person would have a Weekend in Cambridge and not visit the Sights?

Some may call it late morning, for Hector it was still quite early when we marched into the Centre of Cambridge. Petty Cury, well one side of it thanks to The Planners, the Market, Christ’s College and The Cam. Marg and I retraced our steps from the last visit but were determined to try a new Coffee House.

Benet’s Coffee and Crepes supplied Hector with his first ever Smoothie – Mango Tango. Being a variation on the title of my Favourite Album of All Time (by Can) I had to have it. Minutes later it was sent back. Mango? It looked disgusting too. It was replaced but was no better. So much for Smoothies.

Clive and Maggie arrived at Cambridge Station in plenty of time for the train to Peterborough. Who was panicking? Just under the hour across the Fenland on the Direct Train. A Group Ticket only available if we go all around the houses. Why does the UK have such a ridiculous Transport System?

What sort of person would spend the day in Peterborough and not visit the Sights?

The tortuous path from the station was abandoned and we entered the Old Town via Cowgate. The Market Town origins of Peterborough are most apparent. As it boasts a Cathedral, we now have a City.

The official photos were taken then some unexpected business was conducted. Maggie did not manage to get a hole punched in her Bag Strap, Hector did find a pair of shoes suitable for his purposes after a search lasting months. And they were a bargain!  This is important.

We approached Charters from the Bow-side along the River Nene. People were sitting out on the banks of the river, this would suit Marg, she would not enjoy sitting indoors on the Bottom of a Canal Barge.

Last time the Ale here was nothing Spectacular, however Oakham Ales have become Spectacular since my last visit to Peterborough. Scarlet Macaw (4.4%) for kick-off and Bishops Farewell (4.6%) to continue. Green Devil was planned for later, AT SOURCE!

Supping Ale on a Sunday Afternoon is alien to Hector. That it is a very English Custom is most apparent given the number of folk sitting at adjacent tables. This was relaxation at its finest, and with a lovely Oakham Ales Umbrella to shade us from the Sun, a perfect location. Two Chaps even performed on the Stage, but not intrusively. We consulted other Oakham Pubs on The List but they were all too far out of the Town Centre. Maybe we have to come and stay here, and have an Peterborough Weekend? Had there been no other agenda, we could easily have stayed here longer. Marg purchased some Chinese Food from the Barge, she was being amused. Meanwhile the rest of the Cambridge Weekend Chaps were in Norwich. There was absolutely no sense of Competition regarding who had the Best Bier…

The Drapers Arms is a Wetherspoons, for the record it is also the location of where Hector first ever used a Wetherspoons Token. There was nothing outstanding available and so I went into Nostalgia Mode – Directors (Wells and Young, Bedford, Bedfordshire) at 4.8%, brewed by Courage? – No… This was one of the first Real Ales ever consumed by Hector in the mid 1970s in a pub on Great Western Rd, Glasgow. Neil will remember the name, he may have told me already. As far removed from the Hops favoured today as one can imagine. It was fine, but not what one currently desires, and after Bishops Farewell very ordinary.

The Brewery Tap

Inferno at 4.0% was the Ale of choice on the last visit. There has been an Ale Revolution in this Brewery in recent times. The Green Devil was not on – Your Friends drank it on Friday – Mein Host assured us. I spent considerable time at the bar chatting with Mein Host who showed me new Ales – Coming Soon – but not in the misleading Wetherspoons use of this term. What was Seasonal may well become Permanent. Jester’s Ferret at 3.6% may have charm, however Helter Skelter at 5.0% will Hop-fully be another Belter!

The Brewery Tap is a Spacious Room, the Largest Micro-Brewery in Europe I read elsewhere. Some Micro-Brewery. Again, one could just have sat there enjoying the Ale, the Ambience, and risk someone mentioning Thai Food. Hector had other plans. The Royal Spice turned out to be a Highlight of The Weekend, yes it was time for Curry-Heute.

The plan was to take the train back in time for more Hanssens Kriek at the Cambridge Blue. Jonathan informed us that all Cambridge Pubs would be shut at 22.30 on a Sunday, what a ridiculous scenario. So much for Tourism. What sort of age does the UK live in? This meant decanting to the Ostrich Inn and settling for JHB (Oakham, Peterborough) at 3.8%. Now with The Brewery Tap along Westgate, and having to pass it en route to Station, here lay madness. Still, it was the only new Pub in Peterborough I visited today.

Meanwhile back in Cambridge

The Norwich Chaps apparently went to bed. With the new route from the Station to the Travelodge nearly complete, we passed the Earl of Derby. The lights were on, Morlands Old Speckled Hen (Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk) was available, more Nostalgia. Now this Ale used to be one of the most easily identifiable Ales in the country. It is still available at 5.2% in Bottles, it may still have The Taste. The Cask version at 4.5% simply does not trigger the memories on the Tastebuds.

Courtesy of a Social Media Application, Jonathan managed to find us. He too witnessed a flag on the ceiling and heard the songs being sung. This is not the sort of venue Hector feels comfortable in. I shall not be back.

There was a Full Moon.  Where Wolf?  

The Pubs and Brewery Tap visited today:

Charters – Town Bridge, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1FP

The Drapers Arms – 29-31 Cowgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1LZ

The Brewery Tap – 80 Westgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 2AA

Ostrich Inn – 17 North St, Peterborough PE1 2RA

Earl of Derby – 129 Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 1PG

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