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From Engine Sheds to River Barges: A Peterborough Pub Adventure
Peterborough turned out to be a brilliant day for pubs and beer, with a really varied mix of places along the way. From drinking inside an old railway engine shed and aboard a historic Dutch barge, to traditional locals, micropubs and newer craft beer bars, there was plenty of character throughout the day. The Peterborough Beer Festival was a big highlight too, with a huge choice to work through. I enjoyed some excellent cask and keg beers, met plenty of friendly people and finished the evening out in Werrington. A long day, but definitely one of my favourite pub trips this year.
Peterborough grew around an Anglo-Saxon monastery founded at Medeshamstede in the 7th century, on the site where the cathedral stands today. After Viking attacks, the monastery was rebuilt and the town gradually developed around it. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey church became Peterborough Cathedral in 1541. For centuries it remained a fairly small market town, before the arrival of the railways in 1845 changed everything. New connections helped Peterborough grow quickly, bringing jobs, industry and new people to the area. Today, its cathedral and railway heritage are still a big part of the city’s story.
The Shed – Tap Room & Deli
Our first visit of the day was to The Shed – Tap Room & Deli. The Shed Tap & Deli sits in one of Peterborough’s most interesting railway buildings. Its home is part of the former Peterborough East engine shed, built from 1848 for the Eastern Counties and Midland railways. The Grade II listed shed later fell into poor condition before being restored as part of the Fletton Quays redevelopment and incorporated into Sand Martin House, which opened as council offices in 2018. The Shed opened in October 2024, bringing a pub back into this historic railway setting. It is a lovely example of an old industrial building finding a fresh and welcoming new use.
Inside, The Shed has a mix of old railway character and relaxed modern touches. Exposed brick walls, chunky timber beams and the high roof make the room feel open, while warm lighting keeps it cosy. The wooden bar is a real focal point, with copper-style fittings and plenty of character around it. Railway memorabilia is dotted throughout, including old signs, signal lamps and a large Peterborough East station sign. Simple wooden tables, benches and a few colourful chairs give it an easy-going feel. It is spacious without feeling empty, and the historic setting gives the whole place plenty of personality.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a range of keg options. I went for Nene Valley Bitter by Nene Valley Brewery, a traditional session bitter with smooth malt flavours and a full, balanced finish.
Peterborough Beer Festival
We next headed to Peterborough Beer Festival. Peterborough Beer Festival has been part of the city’s summer calendar since the late 1970s, developing over the decades into one of the largest CAMRA beer festivals in the country. Organised by Peterborough & District CAMRA and run with the help of a large team of volunteers, it has become closely associated with The Embankment beside the River Nene, where huge marquees create a temporary beer village each August. The festival was unable to run during the pandemic years, before returning in 2022 and building back up again.
The 2026 festival was the 47th edition and ran from Tuesday 25th to Saturday 29th August. More than 550 beers from the UK and further afield were advertised, alongside a large cider selection, wine, gin, food and live music. New additions for 2026 included an Independent UK Lager Bar and a special US Cask Bar, featuring dozens of American cask-conditioned beers. With the Great British Beer Festival not taking place in 2026, Peterborough was also billed as CAMRA’s largest beer festival of the year.
I visited on the final day of the festival, with the huge marquees on The Embankment still offering a choice of beers to work through. It was a great chance to experience an event that has become a real Peterborough institution and to see just how much choice a volunteer-run festival of this size can bring together in one place.
With so much choice at the beer festival, I tried a good mix of styles. I went for Gunner’s Daughter by The Old Cannon Brewery, an English strong ale with rich malty flavours and a smooth finish; My Lovely Horse by Other Monkey Brewing, an English stout with roasted malt flavours and a rich finish; Creeksea Kraken by Mud Island Brewing Co., an ESB with dark fruit and malty flavours; Wahoo by Brewpub De Kromme Haring, an American IPA with tropical fruit flavours and a balanced bitterness; and BlipStream by Tonewood Brewing, a session bitter with bready malt, light citrus and a gentle bitter finish.
Charters Bar
Charters is certainly one of Peterborough’s more unusual pubs, sitting aboard the Leendert-R, a Dutch cargo barge built in 1907. For decades it worked the rivers and canals of Holland, Belgium and Germany, carrying loads including sand and grain. The 176-foot riveted-iron vessel remained in commercial use until 1990 before being brought across the North Sea and converted for a new life beside Town Bridge. Charters opened in September 1991 and has stayed moored on the River Nene ever since. Today, the lower deck houses the pub, making this historic working barge a distinctive part of Peterborough’s riverside scene.
Inside, Charters feels every bit like a proper pub tucked into the lower deck of an old barge. The long, narrow room has low ceilings, dark wooden beams and plenty of wood around the bar, giving it a cosy, quirky character. Tables and chairs run along the sides, with cushioned bench seating in places and chalkboards above the bar adding to the traditional pub feel. It is a compact space, but that is part of its charm. The unusual shape of the boat is always noticeable, making it feel different from a normal pub without losing that relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
The pub was hosting a beer festival with 20 cask ales, alongside a great line-up of keg beers. I went for Open Sesame by Rockingham Ales, an American pale ale with citrus flavours and a long, hoppy finish.
The Wonky Donkey
I walked to nearby Fletton to visit The Wonky Donkey Micro Pub, PBoro City Council Community Award Winner 2026.. The Wonky Donkey opened on Fletton High Street in 2019, founded by brothers David and Andrew Williams. It occupies two rooms that were previously home to a florist and became Fletton’s first micropub, bringing a pub to an area CAMRA describes as previously pub-free. From the start, community and fundraising have played a big part in its story, with money raised for charities and local causes. CAMRA recognised the pub with branch awards in 2021 and 2024, before naming it Peterborough City Pub of the Year in 2025. In 2026, it also received a Peterborough Civic Community Involvement Award too.
Inside, the Wonky Donkey is small, simple and full of character. The long, narrow layout runs back from the High Street, with seating arranged around the front bar area and a couple of snug little spaces further inside. Décor is unfussy and traditional, with plenty of pub touches rather than anything too polished or modern. It feels cosy and pleasantly informal, the sort of place where people naturally get chatting. The different sections give it a little more room than you might expect from outside. At the rear, there is also a partly covered courtyard-style beer garden for warmer days.
There were 4 cask ales, a variety of ciders and a choice of keg options. I went for Light Load by Steam-Shed Brewing, a session IPA with bold fruity hop flavours and a crisp, refreshing finish.
The Yard of Ale
Next was to two pubs a few doors away from each other, starting with The Yard Of Ale. The Yard of Ale has been serving the Woodston area in one form or another for around 120 years. The pub was built on land that once formed part of the nearby Palmerston Arms’ stable yard and originally opened as the New Inn. Over the years it has traded under several names, including JBs and The Office. After a refurbishment, it reopened as the Yard of Ale on 7 July 2017, run by the team from the nearby Swiss Cottage. It has since become a popular independent local and was named Peterborough & District CAMRA’s overall Pub of the Year for 2026.
Inside, the Yard of Ale has a warm, modern pub look while still feeling relaxed and traditional. The main room is large and open plan, decorated in soft grey shades with a lovely wooden bar as the centrepiece. A central structure breaks the space into four different areas, so it never feels like one big empty room. There is a mixture of tables, chairs, booth-style seating and plenty of natural light from the windows. Towards the back you will also find a pool table and dartboard. Overall, it feels comfortable, friendly and easy-going, with plenty of character throughout the place.
There were 5 cask ales alongside a range of keg beers. I went for Electric Landlady by Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co, an English pale ale with tropical mango flavours and a fresh, hoppy finish.
Palmerston Arms
A couple of doors down was Palmerston Arms. The Palmerston Arms on Oundle Road sits in a lovely old stone building dating from the 18th century. Built from coursed rubble stone, with a steep pantile roof and brick chimneys, it has kept much of its traditional character over the years. The building was Grade II listed in 1973, recognising its historic and architectural interest. The pub has long been part of the Woodston area, and its former stable yard once extended onto land later used for the neighbouring New Inn, now the Yard of Ale. Today, the Palmerston Arms remains a classic two-room local, with a strong traditional pub feel.
Inside, the Palmerston Arms has a wonderfully traditional, lived-in pub feel. The two-room layout keeps things cosy, with patterned carpets, wooden tables, upholstered seating and plenty of framed pictures and pub memorabilia around the walls. An open fire adds extra warmth and character, while the bar feels simple and old-fashioned rather than overly polished. The real talking point is the large glass window behind the bar, where you can look straight into the cellar and see the casks lined up ready for serving. Overall, it feels friendly, comfortable and full of the sort of character you hope to find here.
There were 6 cask ales, a range of ciders and plenty of keg options. I went for Five Generations (5G) by Batemans Brewery, a session IPA with peach, pineapple, mango and passion fruit flavours and a smooth, fruity finish.
The Coalheavers Arms
Next up in Peterborough was to The Coalheavers Arms. The Coalheavers Arms on Park Street dates back to the 1850s and has a lovely bit of Peterborough history behind it. During the Second World War, it became the only pub in the city to be hit by a bomb. The bomb went through into the cellar but failed to explode, and remarkably the pub reopened the same night. Over the years it has remained a traditional local pub, keeping its place in the Woodston area through plenty of change around it. Today, the Coalheavers Arms is still going strong and continues to be a well-known part of Peterborough’s pub scene.
Inside, the Coalheavers Arms has a warm, traditional pub feel, with wooden tables, mixed chairs, dark wood panelling and comfortable bench seating. The rooms have plenty of character, with old pub signs, framed pictures, motorcycle memorabilia and a dartboard adding to the relaxed, lived-in look. It feels cosy rather than polished, with different little areas to sit and plenty to catch the eye. Out the back, the beer garden stretches away from the pub with rows of wooden picnic benches, some covered seating, string lights and umbrellas. It is a friendly outdoor space that fits the character of the pub really well.
There were 2 cask ales alongside a variety of keg choices. I went for Norfolk Gem by Lacons Brewery, an English pale ale with light citrus flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
Bottle & Board
I headed back into Peterborough centre for my next few visits, starting with Bottle and Board. Bottle & Board opened at 11 Wentworth Street in April 2020, taking over premises that had previously been used as a recruitment agency office. The independent business was created by Gina and Eddie Baines, who brought beer and hospitality experience from their work with Utobeer at London’s Borough Market. Their Peterborough venture began as a specialist bottle shop, offering a range of British and international beers, with customers also able to drink on the premises. Over time, Bottle & Board developed further as a bar and tasting venue, while keeping its original bottle-shop character at the heart of the business.
Inside, Bottle & Board is small, bright and pleasantly straightforward, with a relaxed bottle-shop feel rather than a traditional pub look. The single-room space has white walls, large front windows and a simple bar counter, with a few wooden tables and bench-style seats dotted around. Rows of beer fridges line one side, packed with bottles and cans, while beer signs and a few rustic touches add some character without making the room feel cluttered. It is a compact place, but that suits it well. Overall, it feels friendly, informal and easy-going, with the beer selection very much taking centre stage.
The choice was huge, with 4 cask ales served straight from the cask, a variety of keg beers covering different styles, plus hundreds of cans and bottles in the fridges. I went for Summer Pale Mosaic by The Kernel Brewery, an American pale ale with floral citrus and stone fruit flavours and a dry, refreshing finish.
Home Listening Bar
A very short stroll brought me to a new venue Home Listening Bar. Home on Church Street has a fairly short history, but the building has already seen a couple of different chapters. It became a bar in July 2016 when Stoneworks opened in a former betting shop. The small independent venue built up a good following for its craft beer, with keg lines alongside plenty of cans and bottles. Stoneworks traded here for around nine years before closing in 2025. The premises were then taken on by new operators and reopened in 2026 as Home. It is still early days for the new bar, but it is nice to see the little Church Street venue back in use.
Inside has a warm and relaxed feel, with plenty of character packed into the long narrow space. Exposed stone walls and chunky wooden beams give it a rustic touch, while the wooden floor and soft lighting keep things cosy. Seating is a mix of deep green sofas, bright red booths, stools and small tables, so there are plenty of different spots to settle in. Music is a big part of the look, with vinyl records, album artwork and a colourful collage wall adding personality throughout. The bar sits towards the back, surrounded by more records, shelves and quirky little details.
There was a fantastic line-up of keg beers across the back wall. I went for 300 Laps of Your Garden by Verdant Brewing Co, a hazy pale ale with mango, citrus, gooseberry and grape flavours and a soft, refreshing finish.
Bumble Inn
Onto The Bumble Inn next. The Bumble Inn opened on Westgate in June 2016, becoming Peterborough’s first micropub. It was created in a former chemist’s shop by local licensee Tom Beran, who had previously spent years running the Coalheavers Arms. The idea was simple: a small, friendly pub focused on conversation and a changing choice of well-kept beer rather than the usual distractions. It quickly became a popular part of Peterborough’s independent pub scene and earned recognition from local CAMRA. The Bumble Inn was named Peterborough & District CAMRA Pub of the Year in both 2018 and 2024, cementing its reputation among local beer drinkers.
Inside, the Bumble Inn is small, simple and cosy, with the relaxed feel you would expect from a traditional micropub. The room has a clean, unfussy layout, with wooden tables and chairs arranged around the compact bar area. The décor is fairly minimalist, but little beer-related touches and displays give it plenty of character without making it feel cluttered. Because the space is quite small, everything feels close together, which helps create a friendly, sociable atmosphere. There is also a small amount of seating outside at the front. Overall, it feels comfortable, welcoming and nicely suited to a relaxed pint.
There were 5 cask ales, a couple of craft keg beers and a variety of local ciders. I went for Summit About Nothing by 8 Sail Brewery, an English pale ale with light hoppy flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Ostrich Inn
Another very short walk in Peterborough brought me to Ostrich Inn Peterborough. The Ostrich Inn has been part of North Street since around 1840, making it one of Peterborough city centre’s long-standing pub sites. Over the years the building has seen several changes of use and name. After trading as the Ostrich, it later became a home-brew shop before returning to pub use under the name Bogart’s. In August 2009, following a major refurbishment, it reopened once again as the Ostrich Inn, bringing its traditional name back to North Street. Today, it remains a characterful survivor close to Westgate, with nearly two centuries of pub history tied to this corner of Peterborough.
Inside, the Ostrich is colourful, cosy and packed with character, with a large wooden bar sitting right at the heart of the pub. Red and green walls are covered with framed pictures, posters, chalkboards, old signs and plenty of quirky bits and pieces, while wooden panelling, bench seating and the chequered floor add to the traditional feel. There are little corners and booths tucked around the room, making it feel warm and well lived-in. Out the back, the covered beer garden is just as colourful, with red wooden tables, lots of plants and bright hanging lanterns filling the space with personality.
A fantastic line-up was available with 5 cask ales, a great range of lagers and craft beers on draught, plus a variety of ciders. I went for Half Pint Rat by Ossett Brewery, brewed in collaboration with Marble Brewery, a hazy white IPA with fruity, hoppy flavours and a refreshing finish.
Hand & Heart
We jumped in a taxi to avoid the rain to get to Hand and Heart. The Hand & Heart on Highbury Street is a well-preserved Peterborough pub dating from 1938. It was purpose-built for Warwick & Richardson’s Brewery of Newark in a late Art Deco style and has changed remarkably little over the years. Its original layout survives, including the public bar, drinking lobby, former off-sales area and rear smoke room. Original fittings include the bar counter, bar-back and fixed seating, while a Second World War memorial remains on the wall. CAMRA gives the pub its highest three-star heritage rating, recognising an interior of outstanding national historic importance and a rare piece of pub history.
Inside, the Hand & Heart feels like a proper old-fashioned pub that has barely changed over the years. The public bar is simple and cosy, with its original wooden bar counter, bar-back and fixed seating still in place. A narrow tiled drinking lobby runs through the pub, with the old off-sales hatch and glazed screens adding loads of character. At the back is a separate smoke room with more original seating and its own serving hatch. There’s also a real fire and a Second World War memorial on the wall. Overall, it feels warm, traditional and wonderfully untouched by modern pub fashions.
There was a fantastic line-up of 6 cask ales. I went for Hornindal by Rockingham Ales, a blonde ale with pineapple flavours and a light, refreshing finish.
The Butcher’s Arms
For my last 3 visits of the day I headed out to nearby Werrington, with my first visit being to The Butchers Arms – Werrington . The Butcher’s Arms is one of Werrington’s newer pubs, opening in 2024 at 68 Canterbury Road. The premises had previously been a butcher’s shop, which gave the pub its fitting name. Planning permission for the change of use was granted in March 2024, followed by a temporary licence before a permanent premises licence was approved that June. The venture was opened by Holli Posnett and Andy Simmonds, who had previously run the nearby Ploughman before it closed in January 2024. Some fixtures and fittings from the Ploughman were brought across, giving the new pub a link with Werrington’s pub past.
Inside, the Butcher’s Arms is a comfortable, single-room pub with a relaxed, lived-in look. The space is bright and fairly open, with upholstered bench seating around the walls, wooden tables and stools, and the bar set towards the back. Pub signs, framed pictures and bits of memorabilia cover the walls, giving the room plenty of character without making it feel cluttered. Some of the fixtures were brought across from the former Ploughman, adding a nice link to Werrington’s pub history. It feels cosy, friendly and unpretentious, with a traditional pub style that suits the building really well throughout the room.
A fantastic warm welcome from Holly and it was great chatting to you. There were 6 cask ales, a great choice of ciders and a selection of keg beers. I went for Ropsley Gold by Sigma Brewing Co, a golden ale with light citrus and fruity flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Blue Bell
Up next was Blue Bell Werrington PE4. The Blue Bell has been part of Werrington for well over 100 years, standing beside the village green and becoming a familiar part of the area. The building dates from the 1890s and the pub has kept the Blue Bell name for more than 130 years. Over that time it has served generations of local people and remained a traditional village pub. It was already well established by the early 1900s, with records showing a coroner’s inquest being held there in 1906. Today, it still feels very much part of old Werrington, with its long history tied closely to the village.
Inside, the Blue Bell has a relaxed, traditional pub feel with pale blue walls, patterned carpet and a mix of wooden tables, chairs and stools. The walls are packed with framed music posters and old gig artwork, giving the room plenty of colour and character. Large windows with white blinds keep things feeling bright, while the different seating areas make it easy to settle in for a pint. Outside is where things get really quirky, with covered wooden seating pods, sheltered tables and plenty of greenery. There is even an old helicopter in the garden, making it a pretty memorable place.
There were 5 cask ales, a great selection of ciders and a range of keg options. I went for Brewer’s Series English Pale | Szy by Lacons Brewery, an English pale ale with light malty flavours, gentle fruit and a dry, bitter finish.
Frothblowers
My final visit of the day was to Frothblowers Micro Pub – Cambridgeshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2019. Frothblowers opened in February 2017 in a former tanning studio on Storrington Way in Werrington. It was created by John Lawrence and Steve Williams, who transformed the shop unit into a friendly local pub centred around good beer, cider and conversation. It quickly built a loyal following and became well known within Peterborough’s real ale scene. In 2019, Frothblowers was named Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year and also Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year, retaining the county title in 2020. It has remained a popular community pub ever since, with a strong reputation for traditional cask ale and cider.
Inside, Frothblowers is small, simple and cosy, with the relaxed feel of a traditional local pub. The room is long and fairly narrow, with wooden tables and chairs, bench seating and a patterned carpet adding plenty of character. Pale blue-grey walls are decorated with framed beer posters, pictures and other bits of pub memorabilia, while large front windows keep the space bright during the day. The bar sits towards the back and is straightforward rather than flashy, fitting the unfussy style perfectly. It feels warm, friendly and comfortable, with everything arranged to encourage people to sit, chat and enjoy a drink.
There were 6 cask ales alongside a huge choice of 39 ciders. I went for SPA by Brentwood Brewing Company, a pale ale with light malt flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
Micropub Adventures 