Ely

Better arriving by train and heading into the town Just after the roundabout turn right into Annesdale. The end of this road brings you to the canal side and The Cutter Inn.

Since my visit two other pubs have opened up along the river, either side of The Cutter.

These are Grand Central (mainly an American diner) and Riverside Bar & Kitchen (orange icons)

Leave the canal side walk to the Jubilee Garden and walk up through this towards the cathedral. At the next road walk to the right along Broad Street to a large car park appears on your left. Walk through this to discover the rear entrance (and patio) to The Royal Standard on the right-hand side. Opposite the front door is the Liberty Belle now The Drayman's Son (Ely's micropub). Leaving here walk up the hill and then along the High St turning first right at the market and along Brays Lane. At the end of this short walk turn left to Bar 62 just a little along the road. Visible, diagonally, to the left is The High Flyer.

Continue along this road and veer left at junction and as you walk you should see the Cathedral. When you reach a crossing of roads and lanes turn right onto Market St. Along on the right is The Townhouse and opposite it is The Herward. Continue along the road and turn left at the junction and walk down to The Lamb (towards the Cathedral). Diagonally opposite, towards the cathedral is The Minster Tavern. Go back towards The lamb and turn left and on other side of street is The Kings Arms.

You are now on St Mary's St which curves round past Oliver Cromwell's house. Keep walking until you reach an open junction where you can turn right along West End. Not far along here you will find the West End House. Return to the junction and walk back up St Mary's Rd. Cross over and turn right into Silver St (If you reach Cromwell's House you have gone too far). Half way along Silver St is The Prince Albert and at the end of you find The Fountain. Go through the old gates diagonally opposite The Fountain and a walk through the park takes you back to the Jubilee Gardens and the canal.

The Cutter Inn is one of the few pubs in Ely to be able to take advantage of the canal side. (One more have opened since my visit - The Riverside Bar & Kitchen). However, it only manages small balcony of outside seats and tables to watch over the canal and these are highly prized. The right hand side of the building houses a restaurant while bar means are available all day in the bar which is to the left. The front of the serving bar is shaped like a small boat. The ceiling is low and the floor is big stone tiles. Three gaming machines lower the tone in a very attractive room. There is another room for seating through from the bar. Lunch and evening meals

Have one here.

Good Pub Guide 2013

Real ale : Dragonfire; Doombar; Explorer (Adnams); Wherry

Lager : Fosters; Hoegarden; 1664; Peroni; Becks Vier

Cider : Aspalls Suffolk Cider Guinness

The Royal Standard is a large dining pub. The entrance and the exit to beer patio and car park are both by narrow corridors yet the pub itself is quite large. There is seating facing the road, with a bar in the middle of the room. An extensive dining area is further on from the bar. Always a friendly group of locals at the bar. The same people run The Prince Albert. Lunch and evening meals.

Have one here

Real ale : Greene king IPA; Proper job(St Austell); Abbot ale Betty Stogs;

Lager : San Miguel; Fosters; 1664;

Cider : Aspalls Guinness

Liberty Belle now called The Drayman's Son

Now called The Drayman's Son (formerly Liberty Belle) is Ely’s micropub, which means no lager or TV, although it does have wine and Ely gin! You pay at the upstairs counter and the beer is fetched from the room where the beer is racked. Some seats are up by the counter but the majority are in the shop window at the front. Interesting mixture of curios and decoration. Dog friendly

Regular in Good Beer Guide including 2023 (Local Pub of the year 2022), 2025

Have one here.

Check opening hours as it did unfortunately only open all day at the weekend otherwise it opens at 5.30.

Real ale : Railway sleeper; Comet; Norfolk Kiwi; Jubille Porter; Wellstream; Amnesiac; Blackberry Porter; Strawberry Blonde (usually twelve real ales from less well known breweries)

Real Cider : usually 5 -20

The High Flyer is a Charles Wells pub and diner. Entrance takes you into a smart stone floored bar with carpeted lounge are with tables and chairs up a few steps to the right. Three members of staff cannot keep the lounge tables clean. Darts is played in the lounge area where the throwing prevents access to the patio area. As it is a corner pub the patio can be entered from the side, though to get a drink you may have to dodge the darts. The diner can be entered from the patio or from the bar.

Have one here (in the bar)

Real ale : DNA; Bombardier; Eagle

Lager : Stella; Fosters; Carlsberg

Cider : Strongbow Guinness

What’s in a name? - after an 18th century racehorse

The Townhouse is one of the nicest bars in town. Entrance (up a few steps) leads you to a pool room, however, it gets better. Through the back is a large wooden bar room with not a lot of seating. This has a conservatory, with tables, off of it. There is a large outside paved patio area. Food is offered at lunch time. Transforms itself from drinking pub to loud with a resident DJ attracting a young crowd. There is usually a live act on a Sunday afternoon for an older age group. CAMRA discount was offered.

Have a couple here

Ely & district CAMRS pub of the year 2013

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2013

Real ale :Polar Star (Buntingford); Nuptu’ale (Oakleaf); Shannon IPA (Potton); Nightboat stout

Lager :Carlsberg; Carling; Krombacher pils; Krombacher dark; Bud; Becks

Cider :Aspalls; Strongbow Guinness