Pink Floyd's Legendary Pub Birthplace Dwarfed by New Office Development

The Flying Pig pub in Cambridge, a site historically significant as the birthplace of the band Pink Floyd, has been preserved from demolition but now faces being overshadowed by a substantial £500 million office development. New images reveal the historic pub, located in Cambridge, standing in the shadow of a modern building marketed as 1 Botanic Place, which towers over the early Victorian structure.

The new office development is slated to reach 32 meters (105 feet) in height upon completion. Former landlady Justine Hatfield, who managed the pub with her husband Matt for 24 years, expressed her dismay, stating, "It's just crazy and it looks nuts." She added, "I hate the buildings around it, because they represent the destruction of something we loved." Hatfield noted that only about 20% of the pub she remembers remains, with its back garden having been redeveloped.

A Historic Venue

A pub has occupied the site since at least 1844, initially known as The Engineer before becoming The Crown Inn in 1860. Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett frequented The Crown, and it is where he is said to have met future bandmate David Gilmour. According to Hatfield, who is now a radio presenter, she has it on good authority from Syd Barrett's sister that the band's members first met in the flat above the pub.

The establishment became The Flying Pig around 1991 under landlord Mick Clelford, who was nicknamed 'Mick the Pig.' The pub became known for its live music, candlelit rooms, real ale, and memorabilia, establishing itself as a Cambridge institution. Hatfield described it as "the most brilliant place" and a joy to run for 24 years, attracting visitors from around the world.

Development and Preservation Efforts

Redevelopment plans for the site had been a concern for over a decade. Public pressure, including a petition that gathered 14,500 signatures, influenced developers Pace Investments to revise their plans, incorporating the preservation of more of the building. "The community fought very hard for it," Hatfield stated.

The Hatfields closed the pub in October 2021. The redevelopment was approved on appeal in March 2022, and the site was subsequently acquired by Railpen, with Socius overseeing the Botanic Place scheme. Socius has indicated that The Flying Pig has been retained due to public demand and will undergo refurbishment to become a 2,090 square foot pub with an adjacent 1,890 square foot beer garden. The Botanic Place development is expected to be completed in early 2028.

During the ongoing construction, the old pub building has been internally supported with structural steel. A recent planning application submitted in July proposes alterations to create a double-height trading space by removing the former landlord accommodation, among other changes, and awaits a decision. However, Justine and Matt Hatfield have been informed that they will not be returning to manage the pub.