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Picture Source: Keith Edkins

The Merton Arms was situated in Northampton Street, closing in 1988. This grade-II listed pub has now been converted into student accommodation.

My friend Roger Chappell and I ate lunch at the pub at mid-day and drank Wells and Winches mild ale of an evening during our last year at university, 1961. The landlord was Arthur Houghton, a Yorkshire-man, and his wife, Dot (I think her name was) cooked excellent, and cheap, lunches. Arthur had recently taken the pub over and he certainly knew his business, for he created a cosy atmosphere and the catering side was good. I recall managing to drink a yard of ale one evening, in 50 minutes or so, a time which was soon reduced by two-thirds. It was a fine public house and I was sad to read it had closed, though Mr and Mrs Houghton must long since have retired and surely died. Arthur took Roger and me fishing one summer afternoon and we caught a pike, which we ate, though it was not very appetising. John Crompton.

John (May 2015)

The Cambridge Pagan Fellowship used to hold monthly moots at the Merton. In 1986 there were 36 participants.

Nigel Pennick (September 2023)

Drank there a lot from 1970-1973 when I was an undergraduate. My friends and I drank a lot of Greene King IPA there as it was a tied house at that time. Bar billiards in the saloon bar was very popular. A real drinkers’ pub, with no frills and little food being a ham sandwich - but very friendly. At that period the landlord’s name was Gordon.

Peter Dixon (December 2023)

Listed building details:

C18. Timber-framed with C20 public house frontage, plastered above. 2 storeys, 3 windows, sashes with glazing bars. Hipped tile roof.

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