The Free Press

A pub worth seeking out

Prospect Row sits in the terraced streets of the Kite, just off the busy centre, and the Free Press feels like a local rather than a tourist stop. That is the appeal: a proper pub with a historic interior, where the conversation matters more than the TV. Expect a handful of small rooms rather than one open bar, which keeps groups apart and the noise down. The fittings and layout are the reason to visit, so take a look round each room before you settle, and expect to share space at busy times.

The interior

CAMRA lists the pub on its Regional Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors for East Anglia. The fittings date from the 1940s or copy that period closely, and the smallest room measures roughly 30 square feet, small enough that a handful of people make it feel full.

When to go

Weekday afternoons and early evenings are the best time to get a seat and enjoy the rooms at their quietest. It makes a natural pairing with a walk across Parker's Piece or Christ's Pieces, and the Cambridge Tap and other Mill Road-side pubs are within easy reach for a short crawl.

Highlights

• On CAMRA's regional inventory of historic pub interiors
• 1940s-period fittings
• Possibly Cambridgeshire's smallest pub room
• Quiet backstreet setting near Parker's Piece

Good to know

• Small rooms fill up quickly, so arrive early at weekends.
• Five minutes' walk from Parker's Piece.

Frequently asked questions