Located in the heart of the beautiful village of Bourn, lies The Willow Tree. A charming countryside gastro pub that has recently opened a second kitchen, offering street food from their very own food van.

I wasn’t sure what to expect prior to my visit but upon entering I was immediately charmed by it’s historic interior. It has a rustic feel with a real unique countryside character, that also feels smart as well as polished.

The style of the pub is perfectly balanced to suit all occasions, from formal to casual. You won’t feel out of place in jeans and a t-shirt but you’d still feel right at home in smart attire.

🍺 I was pleased to see Cambridge Hazy Ale from the local Linton-based brewery, Wylde Sky.

There is a generous amount of seating outside in the decking area but this is not where the Willow Tree shines, oh no. The truly special thing about this pub is its beautiful, yet quirky, garden. It is filled with a variety of interesting things to keep you comfortable and entertained.

The garden is covered in deck chairs, perfect for summer time. A teepee is located at the back which hosts live music with a fire pit, just in case it gets a little nippy. Igloos, fairy lights, and a big plastic cow also add further character in that true Cambridge fashion.

We were invited as part of the Willow Tree’s live music event on every other Thursday.

Tonight, we were hosted by the fantastic Rich Young and Myke Clifford, who were offering their unique take on blues, rock, and jazz. Their engaging and lively sound really set the atmospheric tone and fun for the rest of the evening.

Now we were settled in the teepee (tapping our feet and roasting in front of a fire) we were ready for our meal. The menu consists of burgers, tacos, sweets, and sides.

Burgers

I started with this absolute gem of a burger, the Crispy Chicken. This bad boy is made from buttermilk fried chicken Caesar mayo, and Romaine lettuce.

This is one of the strongest examples of a chicken burger I have had in some time. The chicken had a wonderfully thick and crispy skin with a juicy and succulent centre. The balance was perfect 👌

The burger was a good size too, with a bun that could hold it all together without disintegrating in your hand. This was everything a chicken burger should be and may very well end up in my Cambridge burger league table.

Next, was the 8oz Herefordshire burger.

It came with an 8oz patty, American cheese, French mustard, pink onions, ketchup, and Romaine lettuce.

By eye this burger didn’t strike me as anything special. It just looks like an ordinary beef burger…but looks can be deceptive, as it turned out to be a robust, juicy, and moreish choice with real depth in the bite.

The Romaine lettuce was gorgeous. Not just because of its taste or beautiful green colour but for the satisfying crunch it added to the bite. As with the chicken burger, the roll was strong yet soft and condensed down with the cheese and tender beef to create a gooey texture of loveliness. Whoever made this knew the foundations of what makes a great burger! 👍

Tacos

I love a good taco but they can be really messy (especially when eating outside). Luckily, these are soft shell tacos, making them much easier to eat on the go (or when jamming in a teepee 🤣).

The menu comes with three options, the ‘spicy BBQ pulled pork’, ‘grilled honey chicken’, and the vegetarian ‘sumac smoked aubergine’.

Gluten free options are also available.

I was particularly fond of the pulled pork taco that stood out as the favourite of the three. I questioned it’s spiciness but it was definitely delicious. The soft shell made it much easier to eat and the house slaw, pink onion, and jalapenos gave it a satisfying crunch. Needless to say, the pork was mouthwateringly juicy.

The honey chicken came with spiced rainbow slaw, sesame and coriander. You can really taste the sweetness which adds an unusual yet pleasant dimension to the taco.

The vegetarian option comes with tahini, spiced rainbow slaw and pink onions. It was surprisingly chunky and packed generously. It had a squishy texture on the inside that I wasn’t really sure about but it tasted good.

Fries

The side dish menu gives  a choice of either fries or slaw.

We were lucky enough to try two of the fries options. I thought these were a good addition to the menu, as it not only give you the chance to bump your dinner with a little extra but also let you enjoy something light without having to order something big.

First, was the ‘garlic, rosemary, and parmesan fries’ followed by ‘smoked paprika mayo fries’.

Both were crispy, delicious, and well prepared. The parmesan fries offered a drier and saltier flavour compared to a lot of cheesy chips made with cheddar while still feeling lighter. It was a little different but it really worked. I could definitely see myself ordering it again 👍

Conclusion

Both my guest and I couldn’t fault the entire evening at The Willow Tree. We were tapping our feet to live music in a smokey teepee enjoying tacos and burgers. What more could you possibly want?

The rain was coming down but we didn’t care. The garden is well equipped to manage any weather with shelter in abundance. You can really tell that the team at The Willow Tree have worked hard to not only preserve the rustic historic beauty of the pub but also add another dimension to the experience with one of the best pub gardens I have ever seen.

The service was impeccable. The team are warm, friendly and highly attentive throughout. They were making sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed.

Keep an eye out for their next event coming soon and let us know on the Cambridge Foodies what you think.

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