Free Press

Close to Parker's Piece, this intimate, friendly pub serves high-quality food and great beer. The rare Greene King XX Mild was its best seller until Greene King stopped brewing it regularly. Pub regulars still cuss when GK are mentioned. Guest beers are from Greene King's seasonal and guest lists. Weston's Old Rosie cider is also available. It has an interesting selection of unusual spirits such as English whisky and a range of bottled beers. A pub since 1834, it just survived the 1970s Kite area redevelopment. It is identified by CAMRA as having a regionally important historic pub interior. Only the tiny snug is from the original pub. The other two rooms are a loving reconstruction. Local pictures, historic newspapers and printing type cases containing nick-nacks decorate the walls. The rowing eight bow hanging from the front bar ceiling is from the crashed 1984 Cambridge varsity boat. When students relished a frivolous challenge, Downing once got 59 in the snug. Bench seating out front and a walled garden at the rear.