29 Market Street, Tamworth, B79 7LR
Albion Road, Marden, TN12 9DT
Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
Unit 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, Beddington, CR0 4WP
Argyle Place, Love Road, Lowestoft, NR32 2NZ
116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
Probably the most famous pub in Cambridge, with its galleried courtyard and back room ceiling covered with graffiti applied by World War Two airmen. This is also where Watson and Crick announced that, in nearby labs, they had worked out the double helical structure of DNA, the "secret of life". A window at the back of the pub has been open for 300 years - because it's believed a child died in the pub during a fire when the window couldn't be opened. For a time in the early 90s its future was in doubt because of possible redevelopment but common sense prevailed and the pub reopened in 1992. The price to pay was a major expansion of the original two-bar layout to incorporate former office premises fronting Bene't Street. However, this work was sensitively executed and the "new" areas, especially the panelled room to the right of the front entrance, are very attractive. Food from the standard GK managed house menu is served 11 - 10 every day. The pumpclip for the "Eagle's DNA" gives no clues as to its origins but we assume it's made by Greene King and is probably a rebadging of another beer (Morland Original?) Guest beers include ales from Milton brewery.
Historic Interest
Watson & Crick Blue Plaque outside.
Restoration
The pub reopened in 1992 after a period of closure, which is apt for what is probably the most famous pub in Cambridge. It is also one of the oldest with sale of beer on the site first recorded in 1353. It opened officially in 1667 as a coaching inn. The historic two-bar core remains with an expansion into neighbouring premises that has been sensitively executed, resulting in an impressive interior with an appearance of age, particularly the wood panelled room near the main entrance. The pub retains the galleried courtyard. The back room was a haunt of British, US and other airmen from nearby bases in WW2 and its ceiling is covered with their names, squadron numbers and graffiti, much of it burned into the paint with candles or cigarette lighters or applied with lipstick, in the hope they would never be forgotten. It is also the pub in which in 1953 Francis Crick announced that, with Rosalind Franklin and James Watson, he had worked out the structure of DNA. A window at the back of the pub has been kept open for 300 years because, legend has it, a fire upstairs resulted in the death of a young child who was unable to escape because the window couldn't be opened. There is real ale and meals are served.
This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 2 regular beers.
Eagle, Cambridge
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Garden
Family Friendly
Real Fire
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
OCR Pub
LocAle
Cask Marque
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