A couple of years ago Batemans purchased their first pub in Peterborough, The Palmerston Arms.

The Palmerston Arms, on Oundle Road, had previously been a free house serving between 10 to 15 different cask beers from around the country all straight from the cellar. When the locals heard a brewery was purchasing the pub they were up in arms assuming the brewery would automatically change the pub, serving only their own beers through beer engines and also dispensing a mass of keg beers. They were pleasant surprised that after Batemans had purchased the pub there was very little change and those changes that did take place were a plus. There are no keg beers sold in the pub, no handpumps in sight, there is always a wide range of casks beers available, also 3 ciders of parries and up to 50 malt whiskies are available.

The Peterborough Campaign for Real Ale were so delighted with the pub that earlier this year it was voted Peterborough Pub of the Year. This automatically entered them for Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year. In September David and Tracy, the tenants of the Palmerston Arms, were presented with Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year Award.

What better way to spend an evening than to attend the presentation of CAMRA's Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year award, an award that usually by passes pubs in the centre of Peterborough. So, that is why it was even more unlikely that the award should be going down the Oundle Road to the Palmerston Arms, a pub which is a throw back to the 60's I and can be likened to sitting in the front room. You will not find a television or record player in this establishment.

Very few that frequent this gem of an alehouse would argue with the fact that this was an award on merit. Indeed the Palmerston has won awards from the Peterborough branch with past and present owners.

Dave and Tracy took over the Pub in tandem with Bateman's Brewery two years ago. The faithful feared the worst that change would rapidly follow. However some superb management has maintained the key ingredients that made the pub successful for so long. Beer straight from the barrel, no pipes to clog or clean here the locals would say. A dozen beers can be on offer from an ever changing board displayed behind the bar, providing a great choice, unequalled in the area. Bateman's also have a regular selection that compliments the rest of the beers on show each day.

So to follow on from previous Gold awards with the Cambridgeshire accolade was fantastic. The applause from the gathering of 60 or so when branch chairman, Noel Ryland, presented the award on the night told the story, that everyone appreciated what Dave and Tracey had, achieved. It grew even louder when it was revealed that they were also runners up for the whole of East Anglia region. Beaten only by a previous national winner perhaps shows it is now time to play and be regarded with the heavyweights of CAMRA. If you have not ventured to the Palmerston for a pint, then put it on your list of places to visit. Not just for the beer, there is some great memorabilia displayed around the whole place. Very few leave without a good word or two to say, and most return.

Les Wells
Palmerston regular

Click here to find out more about the Palmerston Arms