The Moon Under Water is a fictional idealised pub described by George Orwell in a 1946 essay, a pub based on the basics of ale, food, convivial company and attention to important details. Before refurbishment the St Radegund possessed many of these attributes, in a timeless environment of intimate size, with unique features….a six inch wide table, signatures of regulars burnt in the ceiling, a cluttered back of bar with cassettes, CDs, jars of nuts, books and guides and random pillars and barriers dividing the dark drinking space. The beer was excellent, especially the poetically named delights from the Milton Brewery.
So what has changed? Well principally the whole pub is now higher and lighter with more windows exposed and the ceiling raised, the burnt signatures have gone and the bar has moved and been tidied. A long-lost fireplace has appeared, though not hosting a fire yet. Milton Brewery beers seem to have gone. Some of the original tables and wall decorations have been retained, such as the history of the Saint, sports team photos and a picture of Vera Lynn as this pub has an appreciation society…
The atmosphere is still buzzing, the regulars and others having enjoyed the six nations rugby viewed on the usually discretely hidden television above the bar. The size of the pub is a strength, it is the smallest pub in Cambridge. If I was a visitor to the city I would feel very lucky that I had found this compact gem, but as a long-time resident I can’t help but feel that something has been lost…
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