The Empress Pub in Cambridge

72 Thoday St, Cambridge CB1 3AX

About This Pub

Ah, The Empress – it's one of those pubs that just draws you in with its proper local charm in the heart of Cambridge. From what I've gathered from the reviews, it's got this brilliant buzz about it; imagine settling in with a game of darts or pool, or kicking back in the beer garden that's kitted out with heating for those cooler evenings. The festive decorations are a standout – they really go to town, especially around Christmas, making it feel like the merriest spot in town. And let's not forget the pizzas; they're getting rave reviews for being tasty and reasonably priced, which is always a win when you're out for a casual night. On the downside, it can turn into a right scrum during peak times, leaving you feeling a bit like a sardine, and there've been a few mixed bags with the food where things didn't quite hit the mark initially, though the team seems keen to sort it out. All in all, it's a solid choice for a good laugh and a pint, but I'd suggest checking the timings and maybe avoiding the busiest nights if you're after a more relaxed vibe. Worth a visit if you're in the area, mate!

Pros and Cons

Pros

The atmosphere is absolutely spot on – it's lively, friendly, and full of character with things like a dart board and pool table to keep things fun.
They go all out with festive decorations, especially around Christmas, creating one of the most cheerful vibes in Cambridge pubs.
The beer garden is a real winner, with heating and plenty of seating, making it a great spot for an outdoor pint even when it's a bit nippy.
Pizzas get high praise for their taste and value, and the overall prices are fair for the quality you get.
With a solid 4.4 rating from heaps of reviews, it's clear this place has built a loyal following for its welcoming feel and good times.

Cons

It can get incredibly crowded, particularly during busy periods like Christmas, turning it into a bit of a squeeze and making it tough to nab a table or even move about.
Some folks have had mixed experiences with the food, like one person who wasn't thrilled at first but appreciated the team's effort to make it right.
The operating hours seem a tad confusing from what's listed, which might leave you scratching your head about when to pop in.

Contact Information

72 Thoday St, Cambridge CB1 3AX

+441223247236

Pub

Closed today

Opening Hours

Monday	16:00 - 23:00
Tuesday	16:00 - 23:00
Wednesday	16:00 - 23:00
Thursday	16:00 - 23:00
Friday	15:00 - 01:00
Saturday	14:00 - 01:00
Sunday (Today)	14:00 - 23:00

Location

Recent Reviews

A proper local pub, dart board, pool table, plenty of seating both at the bar and away from the bar, fair sized beer garden with heating and seating, juke box and food is served here, can not comment on food as i didn't have food during my visit.

Miles Bailey

Around Christmas the decor was absolutely stunning and easily had one of the most festive atmospheres across Cambridge pubs. However it was absolutely PACKED to the point where I felt like a sardine in a can. Zero chance of getting a table meaning I can't comment on what the food or drinks are like here. If you are going to come here, definitely make sure to get here early or book in advance (if that's an option).

Nepheli K

A lively local pub that's friendly and fun. Good pizzas too. They always go mad for Christmas with the decorations. Definitely one of my favourite pubs in Cambridge.

Naich Roolz

Amendment: 30/12/23. After my earlier experience (below), the landlord of the Empress reached out. They asked whether I would like to return and try the pizza again at another time and hopefully they can meet my expectations, as they agreed that the pizza in the first instance didn't meet their own. I was very pleased to do so, as this is a lovely pub! My friend and I had the Empress Bad Boy & the Sausage & Onion pizza today. We were very impressed. Really as nice as every other review says, and with this quality, very well priced! It's great this pub has a team that cares. Image below amended to reflect just the pizza from this visit. 23/12/23: 3/5 stars. Disappointing! This place is a great pub, so love the drinks there but decided to try the pizza the other day and I was massively underwhelmed. I ordered the mushroom pizza, with vegan cheese (appreciate the option being there!), and a picture is below. There was barely any mushroom on the pizza, and I thought the pizza was just very lacking in flavour. Not much in the way of herbs or seasoning, even though I think the menu said it had a bunch of stuff going on. For all the reviews, I was expecting a bit more? The garlic bread was good, but it's a low bar as I don't think that is too difficult to get right!

Thisath Ranawaka

What a wonderful place. I loved my staying here. The decorations were maybe a bit too much but I liked it. The atmosphere is great, friendly staff that provides good services. The prices are fair for what you get. As a pizza lover I must say that I love your pizza! Great taste and I could feel good quality ingredients that were used. Overall we had a nice experience here and we're thinking to return. Thank you!

Raul Gavris