One of Cambridge’s most beloved pubs could be on the cusp of a grand revival. The Flying Pig, a fixture on Hills Road since 1845, closed its doors in October 2021 after years of fighting off redevelopment plans. But the story doesn’t end there — the latest twist in its saga suggests a possible return, with plans now in place to preserve the building while modern office blocks rise around it.
Originally opened as The Engineer, the pub was renamed several times before becoming the Flying Pig in the 1980s, thanks to then-landlord and former pilot Mick Clelford, affectionately nicknamed “the pig”. Over the decades, the pub earned a reputation as a music-loving, community-first watering hole — one that even played a small part in rock history. Pink Floyd legends Syd Barrett and David Gilmour are said to have met there in the 1950s, while Cambridge mathematician Michael Guy was a frequent visitor during his university years.
The Flying Pig faced closure as early as 2008 when Cambridge City Council approved plans to demolish the building. However, fierce local opposition — including protests and petitions — kept it going for over a decade longer. Its eventual closure in 2021 felt like the end of an era for many.
In a hopeful turn, developer Railway Pension Nominees Limited and development manager Socius have proposed new plans that promise the pub will be “protected” as part of the wider redevelopment of the site. The updated scheme, which reduces car parking and increases office space, was approved by the city council in 2023.
For now, fans of the Flying Pig wait with cautious optimism. If all goes to plan, this legendary Cambridge pub — once saved by protest and immortalised in local lore — could soon welcome old regulars and new faces alike.
