This pub has built a strong reputation for glowing reviews
The Mermaid located in Ellington, Cambridgeshire(Image: Google Street View)
Cambridgeshire residents and visitors are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to places to dine. From affordable places, to ones where you go when you’re looking to celebrate with a special treat. You name it, this county has it.
Hidden away in the lovely countryside of Cambridgeshire is Ellington, home to an enchanting country pub. The Mermaid, located on the high street, has received some glowing reviews. The hidden gem is definitely worthy of a place on your must-visit list.
The pub is known for its roaring fires, high-quality food, and old ship timbers. The interior offers a cosy style that gives off the aesthetic of a dining room that you would find in a home.
Chris and Kay currently run the rustic inn. They bought it again, having previously owned it before, and it underwent renovations to the interior.
This 14th-century village eatery offers a variety of classic home-cooked pub grub. This includes the chef’s seafood pie, the classic gammon steak, or even beef lasagne.
Vegetarians will find a delightful array of choices to satisfy their palates. From vegetarian wellington to a moussaka, this place caters to every need.
The Mermaid has built a strong reputation among diners and earned an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars from more than 600 reviews on Tripadvisor.
One happy diner captioned their experience on Tripadvisor as “A place NOT to be missed”. They wrote: “What a gem of a traditional pub.”
They added: “A lovely log fire, warm atmosphere and a decent menu variety to choose from that is not limited to burgers, pizzas and fish and chips that you can anywhere.”
Another diner dubbed the restaurant a “super pub”. Another wrote: “Amazing restaurant. Very welcoming and friendly. The décor is gorgeous. The service was excellent and the food was absolutely delicious. A great selection on the menu and the specials board. Good selection of wines too. We had a brilliant evening.”
Guests can also extend their visit to a night away. The Mermaid Inn offers single and double bed rooms combining vintage charm with modern contemporary décor. A single bedroom costs £75 and a double room costs £85. It is an exceptionally good value, especially considering today’s market.
Ian Murray Erskine’s death still remains a mystery to this day.
Ian Murray Erskine’s body was found four months after his disappearance(Image: Met Police)
Upware is usually a sleepy village in Cambridgeshire. However, the whole county was shocked in 1990 when on Sunday, March 25, two men on the River Cam found a decomposed body wrapped in a black plastic bag floating in the water.
Dental records confirmed that these remains were of a man called Ian Murray Erskine. Ian, 44, had been working as a senior economist at the Bank of England and lived at Norland Square in Notting Hill, miles away from where he was found.
Described by his neighbours as a “very pleasant and quiet” man, Ian would frequently visit the Norland Arms pub close to his home. He often sat with a couple who were regulars at the pub.
He started to meet another man there throughout October and November of 1989. A later investigation suggested that Ian met this man through the personals in a gay magazine.
On December 13, 1989, Ian had a friend at his flat for dinner and told him he was meeting another man from the magazine. This unknown man was originally from Zimbabwe and had served in the army before moving to England.
On December 15, two days after the meeting, Ian left for work in the morning and carried out his usual day but never returned home. He disappeared for four months until his body was found miles away from London in Upware.
A police investigation was opened that revealed someone had been using Ian’s credit card and check book throughout December and had bought items including a watch, rented a car, and made several cash withdrawals. The man who had bought the items had been described as a man with a beard and a trimmed moustache.
A transaction was blocked on January 8 when someone tried to used the card to purchase a five-day return ticket to the Netherlands. The police tried to locate several people of interest in the case but were unable to find them and the murder remains unsolved.
The area has a few bird hides that are ideal for birdwatching
Woodwalton Fen has three walking trails you can follow around the reserve(Image: Stuart Guest)
With spring well on the way, you might be raring to get out into the countryside for a long walk. Whether you are interested in watching some wildlife or need somewhere to take the family to get some fresh air, Cambridgeshire has plenty of nature reserves to explore.
If you want somewhere new to take a walk at the start of spring, you might want to visit Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve. The site is owned by the Wildlife Trust BCN and managed by Natural England and is one of the only remaining areas of the ancient wild fens.
As Woodwalton Fen is a Site of Special Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, the reserve is home to thousands of species of animals and plants. Many of these cannot be found anywhere else in the country.
The nature reserve has three walking trails that you can follow depending on what you want to see on your visit. If you love birdwatching, try the Water Birds Trail that takes you to two bird hides and along the bank of the Great Raveley Drain.
Along the walk, you might be able to spot birds including reed buntings and sedge warblers as well as insects like pond snails and water beetles. If you are lucky, you could spot some otters by the Great Raveley Drain alongside common terns and kingfishers.
The Marsh Harrier Trail and the Bungalow Trail both go past the historic Rothschild Bungalow. It was built by Charles Rothschild, who is known as the “father of modern conservation”. The bungalow was built on stilts and used by Charles as a base for his field trips and activities like moth trapping.
After exploring the nature reserve and spending a few hours birdwatching, you could head to the nearby village of Bury to enjoy a meal in the White Lion. The pub is described as a ‘lively’ and ‘traditional’ pub that serves classic pub dishes.
Woodwalton Fen is just outside of Ramsey Height, around a 50-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A1307. There is a free car park for visitors to use.
Alchile is loved by locals who say the food is ‘outstanding’.
Alchile, the Mexican street food van parked outside Cambridge station
The last thing you want to do after a long day at work is cook a full meal – especially if you have to commute. Luckily for those travelling to and from Cambridge station, there are a few food trucks perfectly placed along the road outside the pubs and shops.
If you fancy treating yourself to some tasty food after a day in the office, you have a couple of options ideal for a post-pint snack. It is quite hard to miss the bright pink food truck in front of the Old Ticket Office and you will definitely not want to miss the food found inside.
Alchile describes itself as a “gourmet Mexican” food spot. Its name is from Mexican slang that means “something real and honest”, which is exactly the kind of food Alchile serves up.
The CamBites series sees CambridgeshireLive reporters go around the county in search of the cheapest places to eat. None of Alchile’s main dish options cost more than £11.50 making it a more affordable spot for some expertly made food.
The food truck has received a lot of praise from Cambridge residents who say the food is ‘outstanding’ and the staff are ‘delightful’. I received a warm welcome from the staff, who waited patiently for me and my friend to decide what we wanted from the wide variety of options on offer.
I ended up choosing the burrito and picked the pork carnitas as my filling, which cost £11. My friend chose the quesadillas and the al pastor filling, which also cost £11.
We decided to try a side of tortilla chips for £1.30 and a range of dips that each cost 70p. While waiting for our food, my friend and I sat on the tables and chairs placed next to the truck that are also bright pink to match the brand’s theme.
You could watch the food being put together in front of you and it was easy to tell it had been lovingly made. The burrito came wrapped tightly in tinfoil and was packed generously with fillings.
Alongside the tender pork carnitas, the burrito was also filled with black beans, rice, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and jalapenos. All of the ingredients were wonderfully flavourful and worked well together to create a warm and satisfying meal.
My friend got three quesadillas topped with the al pastor beef and melty cheese. On the quesadillas, you can choose two extra toppings from things like cilantro, red pickled onion, and queso sauce.
Even the dips were incredible. The salsa had a strong tomato flavour that had been seasoned with a few herbs.
I don’t usually enjoy guacamole but the Alchile dip was so smooth and flavourful. The sour cream was wonderfully fresh, wasn’t too heavy, and would be great to calm down any spicy sauce you might add to the meal.
The tortilla chips added a lovely crunch to my meal and were great when smothered in the different dips. The whole meal was well balanced and homemade using high quality ingredients to create clean and refreshing dishes.
Considering the food truck’s location, the price is fairly reasonable and can be maximised depending on what meal you go for. If you are ever having a post-work drink in the Old Ticket Office or are too tired to cook for yourself, you should definitely try Alchile.
Alchile can be found outside Cambridge station. The food truck is open from 11am to 9:30pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 1pm to 9:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.
Developers behind an ’employment park’ next to the A14 in Cambridgeshire have released updated proposals. A public consultation has since opened on revised plans for Cambridge 25, which is proposed on land next to Junction 25 of the A14 between Bar Hill and Northstowe.
Lolworth Developments Limited (LDL) invited views from the community and stakeholders to inform an initial proposal in autumn last year for around 123,000 square metres of new employment space. The wider Cambridge 25 site received a draft allocation in the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan (GCLP) as a major new employment site for around 240,000 square metres of floor space.
Graeme Cosgrove, Development Director at Lolworth Developments, said: “Cambridge 25 represents an exciting opportunity to deliver a modern, high-quality landscape led employment park in the best location possible in Greater Cambridge.
“It was an important and significant decision to allocate the whole of our site in the emerging new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, and we are naturally delighted to see the councils’ evidence-led approach recognising the suitability of the site. As a consequence of this draft allocation, we are now bringing forward a revised and more extensive masterplan which includes development on both sides of the bridleway.“
LDL is now inviting local residents to ‘have their say’ on its updated wider site masterplan that aligns more closely to the aspirations and objectives in the draft Local Plan. The latest masterplan also reflects feedback received from the autumn 2025 consultation, with additional features of the 2026 plans including:
More structural landscaping and tree planting;
Community ‘hub’ facilities in the amenity block;
Providing public WC facilities in the nature park;
Better walking and cycling connections;
Providing large HGV yards with significant HGV parking bays;
Large interconnecting ponds with enhanced capacity.
Mr Cosgrove added: “This new masterplan is informed by the valuable insights gained from talking to people last year and listening to their comments and priorities. We are incredibly grateful for this feedback which has helped us to shape our wider site proposals – from even more landscaping to more extensive walking and cycling routes through the site and connections with the nature park.
“We would now welcome feedback on these revised proposals and are encouraging the local community to share their views before we submit a planning application this spring.”
The public consultation on the revised masterplan runs from February 17 to March 10, including two online webinars with a consultation website. You can find more information on the Cambridge 25 website.
The road has been closed for several hours after the crash
A crash has left one person seriously injured (stock image)(Image: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust)
A person has been seriously injured after a crash in Cambridgeshire. They have been taken to hospital following a head-on crash involving a truck and another vehicle which has left the A1307 Babraham westbound closed since around 6am on Friday (February 20).
Police were called to the scene at 5.25am and closed the road. Ambulance crews also attended.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Two people have been taken to hospital, one with serious injuries and one with minor injuries, and an investigation has been launched.”
A spokesperson for East of England Ambulance Service said: “Two ambulances and a paramedic car were sent to the A1307 at Barbraham this morning following reports of a road traffic collision. Two patients were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further assessment and care.”
She was last seen near the Old Anchor pub in Sutton
Carol Hillier has been missing since Sunday, February 15(Image: Cambridgeshire Police)
Police are searching for a woman who has not been seen in five days. Carol Hillier, 64, from Sandy in Bedfordshire, was last seen near Sutton in East Cambridgeshire.
She was spotted at around 11.20am on Sunday, February 15, near the Old Anchor pub, off Bury Lane, Sutton, near Ely. She has been described as white, 5’4, of medium build, with mousy grey, chin-length hair, and grey/blue eyes.
Carol, who wears glasses, was last seen wearing a dark plum coloured Rohan coat, pale blue beanie hat, dark walking trousers, and was carrying a small rucksack. Officers are currently searching in water and green areas near to where her silver Mercedes E Class estate was found parked opposite the pub.
Anyone who has seen Carol on or since Sunday or has footage of her should come forward to the police. You can report anything through the force website quoting the reference number 233 of 15 February.
Detective Inspector Alice Draper said: “I’m appealing to anyone who may have seen Carol since on or since Sunday to get in touch with us so we can target our searches.
“We still hold out hope of finding Carol alive, but specialist officers are searching areas of water in the vicinity where her car was found.
“If anyone has seen her or has dashcam footage, it would really help us to narrow down our search area.”
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All those who died in the fire 300 years ago were buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s
St Mary’s Church in Burwell(Image: CambridgeshireLive)
Next year will mark the 300th anniversary of a dreadful tragedy in a small community in Cambridgeshire. On September 8, 1727, 51 children and 27 adults were killed in a horrible fire in a barn in Burwell.
Lots of people were there to watch a puppet show. Unbelievably, the door of the barn was nailed up after they had gone inside.
This horrific story is remembered in the church graveyard of St Mary the Virgin, displaying a memorial depicting a flaming heart. A tombstone reads: “The 78 people who were burnt to death in a barn at Burwell on September 8, 1727.”
The story has been told in Burwell’s Parish Register, which said: “At about nine o’clock on the evening of September 8th 1727, fire broke out in a barn, in which a great number of persons were met together to see a puppet show.”
The parish register added that there was one small door, which was nailed up, and was not easy to be broken down. It said that “most of these that did escape, which was but very few, were forced to crawl over the bodies of those that lay in a heap by the door”.
All those who died were buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s. A few months later, in March 1728, the man who had been in charge of the lantern which was reportedly left near a heap of straw, was tried at an assize held in Cambridge. He was acquitted.
A first-hand account from a survivor claimed many more people than the barn would accommodate wanted to see the show, so the door was nailed shut to prevent anyone else from coming in.
Nearly half a century later, a local newspaper reported that an old man living in a village near Newmarket had left a deathbed confession. This admitted to starting the fire deliberately.
The newspaper wrote: “He said he had a burden to disclose. He then confessed that he had set fire to the barn at Burwell on Sept. 8th 1727, when no less than eighty persons unhappily lost their lives.
“He said he was an Ostler at the time, and that having an antipathy to the puppet showman, was the cause of his committing that diabolical action attended with such dreadful consequences.“ No name was published in the article.
The Open Iftar event is free and open to anyone to join in.
The Open Iftar is free and open to everyone(Image: Ramadan Tent Project)
To mark Ramadan, millions of Muslims around the world will be fasting from dawn until sunset. The holy month is said to teach people about “self-discipline and reminds them of the suffering of the poor”.
In 2026, Ramadan starts on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, and will last until Wednesday, March 18. Every year, the Ramadan Tent Project runs a Ramadan Festival described as an “annual celebration of connection, learning, and shared humanity”.
The festival involves a range of community events happening across the UK, including one in Cambridge. Cambridge University will be holding a free iftar event at King’s College in collaboration with the Ramadan Tent Project on Sunday, February 22.
The Open Iftar will allow Muslims and non-Muslims to come together and enjoy a meal after sunset as well as involving prayers and a chance to spiritually reflection. Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat after sunset to break their fast during the month of Ramadan.
The event is completely free to attend and anyone is welcome to join in. The Open Iftar is free but you do not need secure your space by booking a ticket on the Ramadan Tent Project website.
Fellow Henning Grose-Ruse Khan, who initiated the partnership with Ramadan Tent Project and King’s College Cambridge, said: “Open Iftar is a wonderful opportunity for Muslims and non-Muslims from across Cambridge to gather at King’s College during Ramadan.
“Previous events have been a great success, and I’m delighted that King’s College continues to be a place that welcomes these opportunities for people of all faiths and none to gather.”
As well as King’s College, other famous venues across the UK will be holding similar events. For 2026, the Brighton Dome, the National Gallery, and AFC Wimbledon are getting involved. For the first time, the Silverstone Circuit will be hosting an Open Iftar.
Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project, said: “Welcoming the return of Ramadan Festival in 2026 fills me with a profound sense of hope, our chosen theme for this year. Hope is what carries communities through challenge, inspires generosity, and reminds us that renewal is always possible. It is central to Ramadan. It is the thread that connects our past to our future, and the light that guides us towards compassion, unity, and purpose.
“Entering our 13th year, it is a remarkable to witness the incredible growth of the festival across exciting new spaces, venues and landmarks that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our nation. Allowing us to bring more people together, create deeper cultural experiences, and celebrate the spirit of Ramadan in ways that are more accessible, vibrant, and inclusive than ever before. A powerful symbol of how Ramadan is part of Britain’s rich cultural ecology.”
He continued: “Ramadan teaches us to look inward with sincerity and outward with kindness. By anchoring the Ramadan Festival 2026 in the theme of Hope, we’re honouring that tradition by inviting people from all faiths and none, turning strangers into friends, to imagine and build a future rooted in empathy, connection, and shared humanity.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors and guests across the UK throughout the festival. We’re excited for what this year will bring and grateful to everyone who continues to make this festival a beacon of togetherness.”
Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one
Anthony Edward Townley(Image: funeral-notices)
Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements. Every notice published to our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk – the UK’s number one site for death notices and memoriams. Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one, a safe place online to share memories, add tributes, photographs and make donations in memory.
Each week we pay tribute to the loved ones remembered in our area with a funeral notice and online tribute page. To read the latest announcements and add tributes to those from our area who have passed away, or to create a funeral notice yourself, click here. Alternatively, you can create a notice by calling our team on 01482 908084.
Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week.
of Ashdon; Passed away at Addenbrookes Hospital with Andrea by her side on Saturday 24th January 2026, aged 86 years. Beloved wife of the late Tony, devoted Mum to Andrea & Rob and Julian & Sangwan, and dear Nana to Alexander and Catharina. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Funeral Service at All Saints Church, Ashdon on Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 2.15pm followed by Interment in Ashdon Cemetery. Family flowers only please, but if wished donations made payable to Essex & Herts Air Ambulance may be sent c/o H. J. Paintin Ltd, 43 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS.
of Girton. Beloved wife of Tony, passed peacefully to rest in Addenbrooke’s Hospital on Friday 30th January 2026 aged 87 years. Funeral service to be held on Thursday 5th March, St Andrew’s Church, Girton at 12noon followed by committal at Cambridge City Crematorium. Floral tributes may be sent to Richard Stebbings Funeral Service Ltd, Kendal House, Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9YS Tel 01223 232309
Passed away peacefully at Arthur Rank Hospice. Much loved Wife of the late Francis Clegg, Mum and Grandma to Sophie and Charlie. Funeral service to take place at Cambridge City Crematorium, East Chapel on Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 10:30am. Bright colours are warmly welcomed. Flowers are welcomed and donations if desired, may be made to Arthur Rank Hospice via Sue’s In Memory Page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or sent c/o Peasgood & Skeates 164 Histon Road, Cambridge, 01223 791060
(Teresa) Peacefully at Fitzwilliam House, Cottenham on Monday 19th January 2026, Aged 89 years. Wife of the late Keith, much loved mother of Tom, grandmother to Holly and Adam. Funeral service to be held at Cambridge City Crematorium East Chapel on Monday 2nd March at 2.30pm. Family flowers only please, donations if desired may be made at the service for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust.
Died peacefully, 18th January. Former chemistry lecturer, University of Huddersfield. Beloved husband of Margaret, loving dad to Karen, Richard and Sue, father-in-law to Craig, Sam, and the late Matt, proud grandad to Ellie, Matthew and Thomas. Private funeral.
Of Cherry Hinton, Cambridge. Passed away on Monday 26th January 2026 at home, aged 74 Years. Devoted wife to Jack Soares Dearly loved mother to Marco and John. Treasured grandmother to Jasmine, Ellie, Bethany, Amelia and Alberto. Maria shall be deeply missed by all. Funeral service to be held on Tuesday 17th February at Cambridge City Crematorium, East Chapel at 2:30pm. Donations, if desired, to the benefit of Blue Cross and Dementia UK may be made at the service or online via Maria’s personal InMemory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk All other enquiries to 617 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8PA Tel: 01223 415255
(Mo) Of Cherry Hinton, sadly passed away after a short illness on Saturday 31st January 2026, surrounded by his loving family, aged 86. Funeral service to be held at the Gurdwara Temple, Arbury Road on Monday 23rd February at 11.30am, followed by cremation at Cambridge Crematorium west chapel at 1.15pm. No flowers by request. Donations may be made at the service for Arthur Rank Hospice Charities. Enquiries c/o Weyman Funeral Service, 26, Abbey Walk, Cambridge CB1 2QJ
(Tan) of Wicken. Passed away on Wednesday 28th January aged 53 Years. Dearly loved Brother to Githa Treasured Stepfather to Mark, Jodie, Tanya & Kelly Tan shall be deeply missed by all. Funeral service to be held on Thursday 26th February at Cambridge Crematorium, West Chapel at 10:15 am Please dress as you wish Donations, if desired, to the benefit of Samaritans may be made at the service or online via Tan’s In-memory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk Following the service you are welcome to join The family for refreshments at The Waterman pub on Chesterton Road All other enquiries to Peasgood & Skeates 164 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3JP
86, of Longthorpe, Peterborough, passed away peacefully on 28th January 2026. Hazel was born on 8th July 1939 in Surrey, growing up in New Malden. Following her marriage to Peter she had two children and took on roles at the Sunday School at Epsom Methodist Church. After moving to Bookham in 1975 she became heavily involved in 1st Bookham Scout Group, taking on many roles before moving to be Secretary for Leatherhead Scout District. She is survived by her husband, two children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She will be remembered for her kind and caring nature, looking to help others and her yummy cooking. The Service will be held at Peterborough Crematorium on 2nd March 2026 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to CROPS (Christian Options in Peterborough Schools), an organisation Hazel held close to her heart. https://rememberinghazel.wordpress.com/
Funeral on Thursday 12th February 2026 at 10:30am in Cambridge Crematorium, East Chapel. Family flowers only. Any donations to Cancer Research. Please join us after the service at Orchard Park Community Centre, Central Avenue, Cambridge, CB4 2EZ.
To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost.
