gluten free cambridge – New in Cambridge

The nights are drawing in and there’s a nip in the air ….. my thoughts are turning to comfort food and I think I’ve just found my perfect comfort food destination.

Architect frontage

Business partners Luke Edwards and Stuart Tuck, who also own and run The Blue Lion at Hardwick, have refurbed The Architect pub on Castle Street and have brought a new food concept to the city, based around the nation’s favourite dishes of fish and chips and pie and mash. You design your own meal, following the menu to choose a main, a covering, a side dish and a sauce to create your ideal combination. There’s also a snack menu from which you can design your own sharing board.

Architect sharing plate — Image by The Architect

We mixed and matched merrily and enjoyed a delicious lunch. My steak and kidney pie was full of rich, tender meat in a golden, light pastry case and came with my choice of grainy mustard mash, braised red cabbage and a red wine and rosemary jus. My husband tucked into the classic favourite, cod in a crisp beer batter with excellent sweet potato fries, minted garden peas and a rustic tartare sauce.

Vegetarians and those who prefer to eat gluten free are well catered for here. Service is relaxed yet attentive. The pub is family friendly with a children’s menu coming soon and well behaved dogs are welcome in the bar area.

Image by The Architect

A selection of eight craft beers, ranging from stout to weisse beer, is supplied by Everards of Leicester. If you can’t decide which beer to go for, you can create your own tasting panel; three one third of a pint samples of the beers of your choice. The pub also offers hand pump cider and craft lagers while the gin menu presents over twenty gins, so that’s me sorted! Now, where do I start …..??

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43 Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AH

I love King Street. Where else in Cambridge can you have a wet shave, buy a ukulele and replenish your art supplies, all without walking more than a few paces? And now a new cafe, The Locker, has just opened.

Locker Cafe frontage

Co-owned by Cambridge residents John and Adam Hodges, it is a real family affair. Dad, John, had a long held ambition to open a cafe in the city and when son, Adam, returned from a spell living abroad, they decided to go for it. Having acquired their premises in June, they worked hard on a total refurb and opened at the end of August.

They’ve done a great job. The cafe is light, airy and spacious with seating on the ground and first floors and a small balcony for sunny days. Art on the walls, curated by Adam’s mother, is for sale and sculpture is also exhibited. The team has future plans for live music and private hire of the cafe for events.

Locker Cafe balcony

I visited mid-morning and enjoyed a pot of green tea with an excellent white chocolate and raspberry blondie. Service was cheerful and charming. A small breakfast menu includes organic muesli, yoghurt, berries and sourdough toast. Cakes and other baked goods are served through the day while lunchtime offerings include sausage rolls, sandwiches, panini and bruschette. The menu includes vegan and gluten free options.

The tea selection is by T2, an Australian brand which Adam came to know during his time abroad. The hot chocolate is also an Australian brand but the coffee comes from nearer home as it’s supplied by local coffee legends Hot Numbers, who have created Davy’s blend especially for the cafe.

And finally, I have to mention the four legged member of the family, Adam’s much loved border collie dog, Davy Jones, who inspired not only the name of this new venture but also that signature coffee blend.

Opening hours are Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Instagram @thelockercafe, Facebook The Locker Cafe

54 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LN