Eagle Public House

Nice pub but packed with tourists. Was worth a visit for the history but not somewhere I would linger. Beer quality was average at best.

Halt ein Pub. Die Tische kleben und das Glas bis zum Rand gefüllt. Okay, besonders ist, das hier die Entdecker der DNA hier immer zum Lunch dich trafen.

You can imagine Watson and Crick sitting and talking, over a pint, about their research into DNA. Something we take for granted these days.
Lovely atmosphere in the pub although, expectedly, full of tourists. So finding a table can be a bind. Service is good with a reasonable selection of beers and the food looked in large portions and smelled appetising. I cannot describe the taste as we had eaten elsewhere. Nice seating outside where you can get all the info about the pub from the many guided tours that stop outside. Saves a few quid and you can have a DNA pint at the same time LOL

Consistently overrated and overpriced. Mainly targeting tourists for the RAF signatures and DNA connection, which the chain who own it have been casing in on for years. If you want to see the history, just stick your heart in the door, or at most get a drink.
The food is honestly not worth it and you can get exactly the same from any of the other pubs in the same chain, or better from several other places nearby. There is plenty enough history to go around in the town!

Super pub avec se multiples petites pièces vraiment typiques de la bonne bière et des plats typiquement britanniques !

The Eagle is a good place to hang out if you can get a table and it’s not too crowded. I went on a Sunday at 12:30 and we were fine. Oddly, it started to get crowded closer to 2pm.
For me it’s more just a place I can now say I’ve been to. The fish and chips were ok. The batter on the fish was very good actually, but the fish itself was a little mushy, and the chips were not worth finishing. Portions are large and service is friendly. I wouldn’t mind coming back if I had friends visiting who wanted to go, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to come back. Of course, it’s so central that it’s also practically on your way anywhere in Cambridge!

Came here to meet with friends over lunch. Ordered the scotch egg and lamb on the lunch menu. Also ordered the DNA beer as recommended by reviewers here. The beer was excellent. My friends said the scotch egg was good (we split the egg four ways). I liked it because it costs the same in Harrods sans the salad (here they serve a salad on the side). Don’t really remember how the lamb tasted…

A pub with a story behind it is one of my favourite things. In a time when character is being wiped out for yet another chain it’s great to have somewhere that stands the test of time and the Eagle doesn’t just have one interesting story but two!
We only stopped by for drinks and they have a good selection behind the bar so you can wet your whistle before tramping around Cambridge. Price wise it is pretty reasonable and they have bar snacks for you to tuck into as well if you’re not feeling like a full meal.
The pub is filled with tourists so you might find it hard to get a table, but well worth a stop if there’s space!

The place is great! The staff, especially Danny, was awesome. The food, drinks and history were amazing.

The bar really is the best of both worlds.
1. You got a sense of RAF and Watson and Crick history.
2. You get genuine British food that is cooked well in the traditional British manner. Some knocks on this place has simply because people don’t like the style of the more traditional British food. BUT… for those who can appreciate the difference between good British food and bad British food… this is on more of the good hearty type.
I got the traditional fish and chips and my friend got a shank of lamb. YES… my fish and chips and mashed peas in it of itself was rather bland… BUT I could definitely tell they used a whole… relatively fresh fish and relatively fresh cut potatoes. I had to put the ketchup, salt, and vinegar to give it flavor (the British way).
My friend’s lamb shank (I had a sample) was very well made and did indeed need some shakes of seasoning, so you had to damp it in the broth that it came with.
Do it the British way and you’ll enjoy it!

Super pub ! Très anglais ^^ bière au top, tapas au top, décoration de vieu pub anglais très apreciable
La terrasse est super conseille par une (rare) journée ensoleillé à Cambridge !

It’s a pub! Exciting things happened here! It was really busy on a Saturday lunchtime!
I get that businesses want to fit more customers in but wow this place was rammed and all the tables are very close together. I began to wonder if people in Cambridge were simply far thinner than their Northern counterparts as I became stuck between tables and chairs numerous times while adventuring through the pub.
I first had a lager (I don’t know what as my friend sent to the bar) which was refreshing and tasty. I ordered a burger and then began to regret it while I was waiting, as pub burgers can be incredibly crap. However this was a pleasant surprise as it was genuinely really tasty. The meals came out very quickly, indicating it might be a defrost and microwave sort of place, but honestly this is what I expect from pub food and it doesn’t bother me at all. My friends enjoyed their steak and ale pie and pork fillet.
After food we stayed for another pint and I tried what I think was the house ale as it was called something like Eagle DNA ale. This was really nice. The crowd thinned out a bit and we were able to find a more comfortable place to sit.
Overall it’s a nice pub, nothing too special but worth a visit.

This is a must see for anyone visiting Cambridge for the first time. A local gem, this pub has a great history and comfortable atmosphere.

At the outset, let me be clear that the star is for the atmosphere, not the food!
The pub is quite atmospheric with actual candles and friendly service and is a great place to grab a drink
They tout their homemade food a lot, but it was a complete disappointment.
The potted ham hock was just salty with no flavour and very dry for potted meat. The red onion chutney along with it was the only thing that made it slightly palatable.
The side of Rosemary Roasted Butternut Wedges with sour cream was completely tasteless except for an extremely mild hint of rosemary. I used the ham from the potted ham hock to get some salt into the dish (People who know me, know that I am someone who NEVER adds salt to my food)
The barmen recommended the Slow Cooked Pork Belly which was very soft and coming apart at the gentlest touch, but again there was no seasoning or flavour, either in the pork or the accompanying vegetables. The only thing palatable in this dish was the creamy mashed potatoes on the side.
We had, had a really long and tiring day, otherwise we don’t normally order everything in one go. And we really regretted it, especially given all the other options around.

We love this pub and its history. Unfortunately it’s quite crowded most evenings, but really worth a trip if you’re about for lunch.

It’s a tourist trap that you have to go to.
They do an a-​ok gin?! — But in England I think it’s illegal to fail on this front! — or it should be.
I would book it was too busy for US to eat. Interesting stories about this place. Would be better if it was cleaner. –It was v. busy!

I do like this pub. The ambience is typically warm and inviting making it the perfect place to meet for a drink with friends. The pub itself is steeped in history and its location opposite St. Bene’t’s church, the oldest standing building in Cambridge, is ideal for the city centre.
It’s a shame then that, despite booking five days in advance, they managed to completely mess up our recent restaurant booking. After a short wait we were ushered to a cramped corner table in the main bar and given a standard menu. Unfortunately, this was far from ideal as the main body of the pub becomes extremely busy and seating rapidly becomes a precious commodity.
The bar menu itself is varied and offers the kind of choices of food you’d expect from a pub. That said, I ordered the pie of the day and it was drier than that sense of humour people often think they have. I almost had to pour my drink over it to get any moisture on the plate. Don’t get me wrong, the accompanying vegetables were cooked perfectly and the pie was tasty enough. It just would have benefitted from some gravy. Disappointing. However, my companions all ordered burgers and apparently they were quite good.
It’s fair to say that there is a good bar and a wide variety of ales on tap. And that’s just it — if you can handle the fact that the Eagle is seemingly becoming a tourist trap, complacent in its own popularity, this is a great place to meet and grab a beer. However, I would suggest dining somewhere else.

Interesting history and neat ambience but I wasn’t very impressed with the food. I was disappointed considering it received a ton of good reviews. Perhaps I’m just American and don’t know good quality pub food when I get it. The food was edible but not that enjoyable. It served as fuel for the rest of our day in beautiful Cambridge.
I got a bland chicken and chorizo salad and my husband got fish and chips. He said his fish and chips was good but nothing extraordinary to go out of one’s way for.
Service was at least good… speedy and friendly servers. I’d say this would be a good stop if you want some local history and quick food… But don’t expect something delicious.

The reason I like to travel so much is that sometimes you get to walk in the footsteps of greatness. The Eagle, which opened in 1667, is one of those places. Such great history here! 3 quick stories. In world war II, this pub was a popular hangout for the Royal Air Force men that flew in the airfields close by. In 1945, pilots from all over the world who returned from the War signed their names on the ceiling and walls using only cigarette lighters, candle smoke and lip stick.
Francis Crick and James Watson, along with generations of other students used to come here and drink while developing their brilliant ideas. At lunchtime on February 1953, Crick interrupted startled patrons eating lunch to announce that he had discovered the secret of life: The double helix. There is a plaque that commemorates the event outside. And inside, in the bar where it happened are pictures of the event and of course, the double helix.
Last, there is a room upstairs in where you will see a window that is always open. Apparently there was a bad fire once, and a boy was killed because he wasn’t able to open the window. So now his ghost makes sure that this window is never shut. Creepy!
Opposite the Eagle is St. Benet’s Church, the oldest structure in Cambridge dating back to 1033.
After taking in all of this history (and hearing of the legend of the ghost) we took a seat in the outdoor patio out back, where we perused the menu of traditional British fare. My wife and I both ordered the fish and chips, of course. The service was great, but it wasn’t too busy at lunch time in August. The fish was flaky and the batter was light, and golden brown. The chips were cooked perfectly (not too greasy). The meal also came with mushy peas, which is peas that have been blanched, and run through a food processor with a little cream, salt and pepper. Love it!
This place also has a variety of local craft beers on tap. There is even a beer called «Eagle’s DNA».
Amazing place. Go for the history and then stay and enjoy a Craft beer and some traditional British Fare.

An average carvery offered within a quintessential English setting.
The Eagle is no doubt steeped in history and for that reason alone it is well worth a visit, a swift half in the most English of surroundings. Unfortunately the Sunday lunch doesn’t quite live up to the location.
The normal offer of meat, veg and pudddings under gravy is entirely edible, even enjoyable, yet somehow falls short of the establishment.

This is one of those classic Cambridge pubs that you really need to go see. The history is great. The beer selection is really good. In good weather, they have a lovely garden outside. Because of its location, though, they have to keep the noise down. That means they close the outdoor seating at 10:30.
I love the character of places like this because the rooms are all irregularly shaped and there are nooks and crannies and different sized tables to accommodate all sorts of different moods. You might have a quiet pint in a corner with just one special person, or you might bring a small group and have a loud time together. It all works. I will definitely go back.

Yes, oldest pub and DNA and what-​have-​you, and while I’m a tourist, and while it was very strongly suggested that for my first visit to Cambridge I stop at the Eagle, the fact that it’s a Greene King property takes a little bit of the fun out of it. Sure, the menu isn’t exactly offering the same fare you’d find at a Hungry Horse, but the corporate ownership still didn’t give the impression that I would walk away with a meal that would be befitting my day in an otherwise captivating town.
As a pub, the Eagle performs better, if only because there is beer and people will sell it to you if you ask them. Go here, marvel as how old the walls are, if you’re into that sort of thing, and enjoy some ales, but go find somewhere else for dinner.

The Eagle est l’un des plus anciens et historique pubs de Cambridge. Il nous l’a été présenté par notre guide comme le lieu où Watson a annoncé sa découverte sur la structure de l’ADN et comme le lieu qui a accueilli de nombreuses divisions durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. On peut d’ailleurs voir sur le plafond les signatures et dessins que les soldats ont fait avec des briquets ou des rouges à lèvres en se mettant sur les tables après une soirée bien arrosée.
Comme dans la plupart des pubs, on s’installe et on commande et paye au comptoir en indiquant son numéro de table.
Nous avons pris le traditionnel rôti de boeuf et de porc accompagné de sauce, pudding, petits pois, carotte, pommes de terres sautées et de chou pour £8.95.
La viande était bien cuite mais pas très assaisonnée, ce qui me convient parfaitement. Les légumes étaient cuits à la vapeur (du moins ils le semblaient), ce qui fait que j’ai trouvé le repas plutôt sain.
C’était très bon et les prix correct pour le lieu ! Je recommande !

Netter Historischer Pub, Essen und Preise sind ok mehr Hintergrund-​Infos unter:

Conveniently located right across the street from King’s College, this was my go-​to spot after a long day of classes. Actually, that’s a lie. this is my go-​to spot in between classes too! I love how the British have such a rich drinking culture. Even my professors would have their Office Hours here! Do you ever see that here in the U. S???
This place holds so many fond memories of my study abroad experience. I had my first pint of Old Speckled Hen here. it’s probably the most disgusting ale I’ve ever tried. but it still has a special place in my heart.
Old Speckled Hen side story: A bunch of my friends decided to come to The Eagle after a class. It had been a long day, and we were looking to relieve some stress. After several rounds of beer, one of my girl friends yelled as loud as she could (yes, she was drunk). «Who wants another Old Speckled MAN?!» That was seriously the funniest thing ever because the entire pub just stared at us and a couple of the elderly men sitting at the bar said. «We’re old speckled men!!!» Oh man. what a great time…
With all silliness aside, the staff members here are really friendly. I’m sure they get a lot of drunk college students all the time, but they are still always cheery and helpful. It also gets pretty crowded in the evenings and on the weekends…
Oh, and Watson & Crick discovered DNA here. just saying. it’s no biggie. :)

Watson et Crick venait y boire un verre après le boulot et la double hélice de l’ADN y aurait été discutée ! Rien que pour l’ambiance ce pub vaut la peine: les salles sont obscures à souhait et en hiver une cheminée les chauffes. On peut apercevoir les traces des peinture originelles. La salle du fond présente des «graph» faits au briquet ou à la bougie par les aviateurs qui y y étaient pendant la seconde guerre mondiale. Un must de la vie à Cambridge