A short cycle ride from Cambridge alongside the guided busway soon gets you to the neighbouring village of Histon, very generously populated with pubs for its comparatively small size. The starting point was The Red Lion, a free house with a large selection of beers; our choice of the day was the hoppy Bateman’s QED (4.1%), and Seamless(3.6%) from Redwillow brewery of Macclesfield (you have to like a brewery where all the beers end with ‘less’; Wreckless, Shameless, Headless etc…). The eye is drawn by the old advertising signs around the bar and the hundreds of beer mats embedded in the ceiling, the food looks good and on a warm Sunday afternoon the garden was a perfect refuge.

Then on to the unusually named The Boot, less of a beer range on offer here but the pint of Woodforde’s Wherry (3.8%) was as always a fine default choice. The pub dates back to 1686 and seems to have a good family atmosphere with extensive playground and terrace space.

The Railway Vue was rumoured to be under threat of demolition when the guided busway was planned but then the track was simply moved a few yards south and the pub lived on! It was buzzing for a late Sunday afternoon, with unobtrusive football on the big screen but there was the choice of the quieter bar and conservatory rooms. Outside in the front garden there was a band, playing smoky improvised blues, providing the perfect accompaniment to a pint from a fresh barrel of Milton Brewery’s Justinian (3.9%), its bronze colour and fresh taste definitely a favourite of mine.

There are three other pubs too, a return visit will be necessary…

http://theredlionhiston.co.uk/
http://www.thebootinnhiston.com/
http://www.therailwayvue.co.uk/