There's so much going on in this Cambridge postcode – here's why we love the Chesterton area

Stir

Providing the top-quality caffeinating and community hub which the people of CB4 so needed, Stir arrived on the scene last summer and has since won itself legions of fans across the Chesterton area and the rest of the city.

As Cambridge cafés go, it’s huge inside and has masses of seating, including tables and chairs outside and some comfy sofas – there’s a selection of board games to keep you busy too. The enormous blackboard along the back wall serves as a menu, tempting with its vast selection of wholesome and tasty breakfasts, brunches and lunches.

Choose between sumptuous salads, gourmet bagels, frittata and other deliciousness, including the Stir brioche stack, which comes with bacon, poached egg, halloumi, avocado and spinach.

There’s also a counter laden with cookies, cakes and pastries, plus a great range of smoothies and juices, and coffee – Butterworth & Son – is to die for.

They cater exceptionally well for vegetarians, it’s super kid-friendly and they host a busy line-up of events in their purpose-built space at the back of the café including Pilates, yoga, kids’ art classes and storytelling for families.

253 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1BG

www.stircambridge.co.uk

Radmore Farm Shop

It’s not a new arrival, but we couldn’t write about great things in the CB4 postcode without mentioning Radmore Farm Shop. Bringing a bit of the countryside to the city, the shop stocks a huge range of produce, from both the family farm and other local suppliers and farms.

Step inside and you’re greeted like an old friend and met with shelves upon shelves of quality foodstuffs, which range from everyday essentials to exotic, specialist items.

There are crates filled with fresh fruit and veg, scrumptious-looking home-made cakes, a dairy with eggs, milk and the like and a butchery section with interesting flavoured sausages and home-made burgers. Elsewhere, pick up artisan condiments, bottled drinks, ice creams, pasta and more. Charmingly higgledy-piggledy, super-friendly and all about bringing people great food and ingredients without the frills, this place is deservedly a favourite in the local community.

If you’re not in their neck of the woods often but are still keen to try their products (and support a local business), check out their recently launched delivery service on the website.

30 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1AX

www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

Townsends Light Blue Cycles

Townsends Light Blue Cycle Centre has been providing bicycles to the people of Cambridge for a staggering 121 years – give or take a few years’ pause during the First World War – making it one of the oldest businesses in the city. Impressive stuff, but perhaps not surprising given our city’s enduring love affair with the bicycle.

They’ve popped up on Norfolk Street and Burleigh Street over the years, but have been in their current home on Chesterton Road for some 28 years, now onto the fourth generation of the Townsend family.

Aiming to provide top-quality cycles and service, the shop stocks leading brands of men’s, women’s and kids’ bikes including Pashley, Ridgeback, Genesis, Scott, Bianchi, Surly, Salsa and Raleigh, plus their own covetable range of Light Blue Cycles (beautifully made, steel framed, retro-style bicycles in ‘Cambridge blue’ – the perfect town bike). There’s a comprehensive range of parts and accessories on offer too, from locks and lights to pedals and saddles, and there are numerous qualified mechanics in-house to fix your bike or give it a service to keep everything ticking along nicely. A true Cambridge indie.

72 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1EP

www.townsends-lb.co.uk

1 Thrifts Walk

Another interesting addition to the Chesterton area is 1 Thrifts Walk, a new independent art space. It’s run by Cambridge Art Salon – whose previous premises was on Cromwell Road – a social enterprise which pioneers equal access to art.

It’s the third disused space they’ve transformed, and is accessed via an unassuming gate at the back (look out for the herons). It’s blissfully peaceful inside and features both a gallery and studio space for artists to work in. 1 Thrifts Walk opened in March with a show from portrait artist Heloise Toop, and will be showcasing an eclectic range of art moving forwards, with original pieces available to buy.

“It’s a lovely, quiet spot with heaps of heritage in the area, especially with the river round the corner!” says Ruthie Collins, creative director of the space.

“Three of the artists live in Chesterton (including Sa’adiah Khan who is working on the first-ever Chesterton Community Mural), with many visitors saying how lovely it is to have things like this so close by. There’s definitely more creative support for north Cambridge now, with the likes of Kettle’s Yard doing so much, too. We are excited about being part of it all!”

Visiting is currently by appointment only, email info@cambridgeartsalon.org.uk.

1 Thrifts Walk, Cambridge CB4 1NR

www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk

Thirsty

Hooray for Thirsty, Chesterton Road’s super-cool independent drinks shop, which arrived with a boozy bang last summer. With an avowed goal of bringing their brand of ‘revolutionary drinking’ to Cambridge, Thirsty offers a refreshingly non-stuffy approach to wine. The bottles are organised according to categories like ‘Smooth’ and ‘Juicy’, rather than by vineyards that you’ve never heard of or grapes you can’t pronounce, and there’s a great range of ciders and spirits available too, plus craft beers from hip breweries like Beavertown.

Stop off for a bottle to take away or sit in and relax with a few drinks. They’ve embraced the Cambridge street food scene and offer an ever-changing line-up of food trucks outside including Jalan Jalan and Pull me Chéri. Great space, great wine and great food – what more could you want from a night out?

This month, Thirsty will host its biggest event yet: Thirstyfest. Taking place on 4 June at the Bodywork dance studio on Glisson Road, it’s promising loads of lovely drinks, food and entertainment, all served up in the relaxed, friendly and fun fashion we’ve come to know and love from Thirsty.

46 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1EN

Twitter @ThirstyCamb

Events

The social calendar in CB4 is hotting up too, with an increasing number of great events taking place around the Mitcham’s Corner area. Mitcham’s and More Festival is returning for its second year on 3 September, offering a picnic-style lawn party behind Barclays bank with great live music, food trucks, kids’ workshops, and craft and community stalls. We’ve also got wind that there’s a rather exciting party in the offing from the team behind the Gogs Sundowner to look out for – follow @mitchamscorner to keep in the loop.

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