“ad” – Why is this here?

Cambridge Food & Drink Week is currently in full swing, so I decided to spend a sunny May afternoon seeing what it was all about and then sharing it with you!

For those who haven’t come across it yet, the event is a city-wide celebration put on by Cambridge BID. The idea is simple: they’ve laid out several themed “trails” that you can follow to discover different spots across the city. You’ve got the Cocktail Trail, the Sweet Treat Trail, and the Independents Trail, all covering a different aspect of Cambridge’s wide range of restaurants and bars. Simply head over to the Love Cambridge website and download the maps straight to your phone, which makes navigating the side streets a lot easier.

Watch our video on my Sweet Treats Trail here

While the Sweet Treat and Cocktail trails offer plenty of specific deals (like the week-long “happy hour” where cocktails are pinned at £7.50) the Independents Trail feels more like a “rubber stamp” of approval for the city’s best local spots. The maps are centralised and all walkable, taking you through the historic points of the city. It allows you to slow down and soak in the general vibes of Cambridge in a way that you simply couldn’t if you just got off a coach, took a load of photos, and vanished a few hours later. It’s about doing the city at your own pace while taking advantage of some tasty promotions along the way.

You can see my experience during the Sweet Treat Trail over on my social media, but for this visit, I decided to mix the Cocktail and Independent trails together to cover as much of the event as possible for this post.

The Orator

I kicked things off at The Orator on the Cocktail Trail for a tequila based “Shrubbery cocktail”. Since the Monty Python gang were students in Cambridge, I presume the drink is a nod to the iconic “Holy Grail” sketch. Either way, £7.50 for central Cambridge isn’t to be sniffed at!

The bar inside is stunning, with some fantastic beers on tap if you aren’t in a cocktail mood, but the real draw is the garden. It is a peaceful escape from the chaos of central Cambridge, and having the historic wall of the Round Church backing onto it adds a stunning bit of heritage to the place.

Bridges

​Next was Bridges on Bridge Street. I’ve always wanted to visit Bridges, but never quite got the chance. That’s the value of an event like this; it gives you that final nudge to actually cross a place off your list. This is a beautiful café sat in a historic part of the city, and as it was a sunny day in May, it felt like being on a city break. I went for a classic gammon and cheddar sandwich on white bread. It’s very English, very Cambridge, and I’m glad the trail finally got me through the door.

Bird & Blend

I then made my way to Green Street, which is my favourite street in Cambridge for a stroll. I stopped at Bird & Blend, where they have dozens of sustainably sourced teas and incredibly helpful staff. I had a vanilla matcha made with coconut milk – fresh and a great shout for a walk down the cobbles. This was another place that I had not been too, proving that the trail is useful to visitors and locals alike.

Kous Cypriot Cuisine (The Market)

You can’t talk about independent food here without mentioning the market. It’s often overlooked, but it’s the best place to grab something delicious and quick in the dead centre. There is so much to chose from, including old English sweet stalls, noodles and dumplings, and lemonade stalls. I treated myself to a lamb gyros from Kous Cypriot Cuisine. The lamb was juicy and tender – a great reminder of the variety available right in the middle of town. The square itself is overlooked by the university church of Great St Mary with cobbled floors and a historic fountain in the middle where people sit and enjoy their food together. It is a great feel-good springtime activity that really captures the essence of summertime Cambridge.

The Graduate Hotel

Next, I circled back to the Cocktail Trail at The Graduate Hotel to take advantage of another cocktail deal. This is where I used my Love Cambridge Card, a voucher scheme setup to encourage people to eat our in the city centre (more info here). All the cocktails during Food & Drink Week are set at £7.50, which essentially makes the entire event a week-long happy hour across the city. I had the Citrus Lagoon, a vodka-based drink that was so fruity you’d hardly know it was alcoholic (very dangerous indeed!). Sitting on their sun loungers overlooking the Mill Pond is a proper way to spend an afternoon.

Hot Numbers

I finished the journey at Hot Numbers on Trumpington Street. Their promotion for the week was a ham or veg focaccia and a coffee for £10. Hot Numbers is an incredibly popular coffee roastery in Cambridge with locations popping up across the city (read our review of their Shepreth location). I love that they use data in their roasting process; it gives the whole thing a scientific element that is classic Cambridge. Some may say that this takes the love and emotion out of the roastery process but you can’t argue with results. This is the only coffee brand I can comfortably drink black, proving the smoothness and complexity of their coffee.

Don’t Miss Out: Get Involved Before Sunday

If you are local and haven’t had a look yet, you still have time to get involved before everything wraps up this Sunday, the 17th of May. I suggest downloading the maps and having a wander while the deals are still live – it is a great way to support the independent spots that keep the city centre interesting (especially for you cocktail lovers who are thinking of going out this weekend!)

For anyone reading this while planning a future trip to Cambridge, this event is worth keeping on your radar. If you want to see the city properly – beyond just the main tourist tracks – timing your visit with Food & Drink Week is a great way to do it. You get to explore the historic centre at your own pace, discover the side streets, and take advantage of some decent prices at the same time.

Whether you are here for the £7.50 cocktails or just to find a new favourite hidden corner of the city, it’s a fun way to spend a few hours in Cambridge.

Thanks for reading.