Lost Cambridge pub now a squat providing free meals to the community

Most buildings in Cambridge are not bright orange, so one that is stands out amidst a sea of brick and limestone. The Hopbine, one of Cambridge's lost pubs, also stands out for its current use.

Many of Cambridge's lost pubs have been demolished to build housing or have new uses, like the former Rose and Crown building on Newmarket Road that is now home to Cambridge Property Lettings. But The Hopbine, on Fair Street near the Grafton Centre, has been a squat where free community meals have been prepared for around four years.

The pub dates back to around the 1830s and its original pub sign still exists in the Museum of Cambridge collection. The sign shows three men drinking in the foreground, with hops and barley entwined around the border, according to Capturing Cambridge.

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The pub closed its doors to punters for the final time on February 20, 2019. A spokesperson for The Hopbine said at the time: "After prolonged negotiations with the landlady, we have been unable to reach an agreement that would give us a longer, secure lease and let us invest in the business to develop its long-term future."

Many Cambridge residents were sad to see the pub go, with some saying the closure marked "the end of an era". Others described the pub as "one of the best pubs around".

The bright orange building stood empty for more than a year before squatters moved in after entering through an open window, with around 10 people initially living in the pub. One of the people living in the squat said they thought the pub could be a "fantastic community space", allowing them to run a community kitchen which makes free meals delivered around Cambridge to those in need.

There has to be at least one person in The Hopbine, also known as The Lock-on, at all times to ensure they are not forced to leave the squat. According to the government: "Simply being on another person’s non-residential property without their permission is not usually a crime.

"The police can take action if squatters commit other crimes when entering or staying in a property. This can include damage to the property, damage when entering, stealing, not leaving if told to by a court, using utilities like gas and electricity and fly-tipping."

As well as running the Cambridge Community Kitchen, people at The Lock-on also receive and give donations of clothes and food. It runs on the ethos "give what you can, take what you need".

From a pub pulling pints to a squat serving meals, The Hopbine has been on quite the journey over the last five years. Who knows what it will be in five years' time?