The Rupert Brooke restaurant offers a relaxed village wedding setting just outside Cambridge, combining the history of a long-established Grantchester pub with the food and service of a sophisticated, independent restaurant.
Impressively, there has been a public house on this site since 1839, when it opened as The Rose & Crown. Today, its current name pays tribute to poet Rupert Brooke, who lived and worked in the village of Grantchester while studying at Cambridge.
For weddings, there are several ways to embrace the space. The restaurant can host up to 80 guests for a wedding breakfast and 108 for a reception, while the conservatory offers a more intimate option for 40 seated or 60 standing. Couples planning something larger can take over the whole venue, increasing capacity to 160 for dinner and 300 for a reception.
Food is central to The Rupert Brooke’s approach and appeal with a strong emphasis on local suppliers and seasonal ingredients. A sample set menu includes starters such as torched mackerel with fennel, pickled rhubarb and smoked paprika hollandaise, or pea, cucumber and mint gazpacho with radish. Mains might include corn-fed chicken breast with balsamic Roscoff onion, leek and bacon sauce, or rolled melanzane with pesto, rocket, couscous and pomegranate dressing. Desserts range from pineapple tarte tatin with mango salsa and lemon sorbet to cherry and chocolate baked Alaska.
The drinks list is equally varied, with a fully stocked bar, classic cocktails on request and plenty of house creations. Options include the Blossom Martini with Japanese gin, lavender bitters and sake, the Apricot Fizz with tequila, habanero, apricot, lemon and mint, and the Brooke Shandy, which mixes RB lager with Campari and fresh lemon. Local producers feature here too, including Cambridge Gin Distillery, Peter Graham Wines and Brewboard Beers, reflecting the pub’s wider commitment to working with nearby businesses where possible.