CASK/CIDER/WINE
KEG 1-10
KEG 11-20

The Rad

TheRad - After a repaint and new outdoor lights

Hey there, we're the new Rad

Hours

Mon/Tue/Wed
16:00 - 22:00
Thu
16:00 - 23:00
Fri/Sat
12:00 - 23:00
Sun
14:00 - 19:00

A new team has taken on the old St Radegund pub ("The Rad", for short) – we are experienced beer industry professionals with a strong focus on quality.

And after an extensive years-long much-needed rennovation from the structural bones of the building all the way up to a new finished site we're NOW OPEN! As of early March 2024 we finally completed the work and opened the pub — there are some rough edges, but the key thing is you can sit down and have a beer in the Rad again!

For the latest information check in on our social media accounts:
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

Renovation highlights

TheRad - Renovation surprises. Old square nails
Square nails

Various square nails, which seemed to be popular around the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

TheRad - Renovation surprises. An old winch
Cellar winch

An old winch hidden in the ceiling at the main entrance.

TheRad - Renovation surprises. A relic from hotel days past
Hotel bell mechanism

We suspect this is a relic from The Garrick Head pub/inn that was demolished around 1900.

TheRad - Historical rubbish. An old empty cigarette box
Cigarette box

A historical bit of discard, long forgotten after slipping through the floorboards.

TheRad - Hidden stove/heating in the cellar
Rusty stove

A forlorn rusty stove/heating element, revealed behind crumbly plaster in the cellar.

TheRad - Slow jackhammer. The worn floor show years of full containers of beer dropped down the cellar hatch
Slow jackhammer

The worn floor show years of full containers of beer dropped down the cellar hatch. Above this was just rubble.

Renovation log

  • Look out below

    More work in the downstairs area, mainly plumbing, plastering, ventilation and further preparation for the electrics.

  • Hi. I'd like to talk to you about ducts

    After a next-day delivery turned into an epic Evri-shamble here-and-back again, ducts were installed to future-proof the downstairs areas.

  • Electrifying

    Complete re-wiring and electrical infracture fixes.

  • Looking on the inside

    A big time to move onto the task of rewiring, plastering and painting primarily the ground floor.

  • A new face

    The front façade is spruced up with fresh paint and outdoor lighting.

  • What lies beneath

    Work begins on the cellar (walls and levelling the floor) and fixing the electrics of the building.

  • Eyes within

    The iconic arched (and somewhat cracked) windows were replaced with modern double glazed versions, as well as new doors to allow more light in.

  • Feeling supported

    Concerning ceiling structural elements were professionally replaced to structural engineer specifications and signed off by building control.

  • Floored

    Additional work on the joists and a new subfloor was installed.

  • Engineering assessment

    After being internally cleared, there were aspects that looked troubling so structural engineers were brought in. Somewhat to confirm our suspicions there was urgent need address these.

  • Key items

    Access to the building is finally granted. There is much to be done.

  • The roof is.. renewed

    Vital repairwork on the roof is completed.

  • Offer accepted

    After months on deliberation and legal wrangling, the offer to take on The Radegund was accepted despite the threat of a global pandemic.

  • The Radegund seeks new landlords

    Coldchain Bars discover that The Radegund was vacant and dream of its return as a great independent venue.

Behind the name

Contrary to an old pub sign depicting the coat of arms of the Austrian municipality Sankt Radegund bei Graz, the pub is named after the Frankish saint St Radegund. 12th-century Cambridge was once home to a Benedictine nunnery dedicated both to St. Mary and St. Radegund - its old site is where Jesus College (whose full name is “The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund”) was later constructed.

A Thuringian princess and later queen, Radegund left her husband to become a nun and eventually founded the nunnery of the Holy Cross at Poitiers where she is patron saint. Even as queen, she was known for her piety and great humility that Chlotar I had famously complained of having a nun rather than a wife.

Some spelling variants include Radagunda (the most common), Radagunde, Radagundis (latin) and Rhadegund. Interestingly, trawling through archived newspapers we have seen evidence of the pub being referred to as the Rhadegund.

St Radegund - Depicted in stained glass

St Radegund - Depicted in stained glass in The Basilica of Saint Clotilde, Paris.