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Ancient Shepherds

Cambridgeshire, Cambridge - Modern British - Restaurant with rooms - £££

Fine dining polish meets relaxed informality at this roadside restaurant with rooms

After some 30 years at the stoves, Mark Poynton’s ambition remains as vivid as ever, as can be seen at his roadside restaurant with rooms located in a Grade II-listed timber-framed building dating back to 1540. With Caistor Hall no longer in the picture, its former head chef Byron Franklin has been brought over and the place is humming along with look-at-me confidence. A trio of tasting menus deliver on a promise of accessible fine dining, while accompanying wine pairings offer an equally appealing entry point.

D Brown

5 July 2026

An absolutely stellar dining experience from start to finish! Ancient Shepherds flawlessly blends the historic charm of its 16th-century building with brilliant, contemporary fine dining. The multi-course tasting menu is...
An absolutely stellar dining experience from start to finish! Ancient Shepherds flawlessly blends the historic charm of its 16th-century building with brilliant, contemporary fine dining. The multi-course tasting menu is an absolute triumph—creative, beautifully presented, and packed with incredible seasonal flavours. Matching the excellence of the kitchen is the flawless front-of-house team, who provide warm, attentive, and highly professional service without any stiff formality. With excepti...
An absolutely stellar dining experience from start to finish! Ancient Shepherds flawlessly blends the historic charm of its 16th-century building with brilliant, contemporary fine dining. The multi-course tasting menu is an absolute triumph—creative, beautifully presented, and packed with incredible seasonal flavours. Matching the excellence of the kitchen is the flawless front-of-house team, who provide warm, attentive, and highly professional service without any stiff formality. With exceptional food, impeccable hospitality, and a gorgeous, intimate setting, this is easily one of the best culinary experiences around Cambridge. Highly recommended!
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p playll

7 December 2025

We had the 5 course tasting menu with matching wines. The food had a depth of flavour and intensity unmatched in our experience. The mushroom hazlenut and coffee tart, and the Sirloin with horseradish, onion, celeriac an...
We had the 5 course tasting menu with matching wines. The food had a depth of flavour and intensity unmatched in our experience. The mushroom hazlenut and coffee tart, and the Sirloin with horseradish, onion, celeriac and apple sauce went down especially well. Great quality wines carefully selected complimented the food perfectly. Particular highlights the Rivesaltes dessert wine that resembled a light Port and the Castelnau de Suideraut. Great attentive service with explanations from the chef a...
We had the 5 course tasting menu with matching wines. The food had a depth of flavour and intensity unmatched in our experience. The mushroom hazlenut and coffee tart, and the Sirloin with horseradish, onion, celeriac and apple sauce went down especially well. Great quality wines carefully selected complimented the food perfectly. Particular highlights the Rivesaltes dessert wine that resembled a light Port and the Castelnau de Suideraut. Great attentive service with explanations from the chef and staff on the food and wine, contributed to a very enjoyable evening, that felt like an experience as well as dinner.
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VENUE DETAILS

5 High Street, Fen Ditton
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB5 8STGB

01223 293280

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OTHER INFORMATION

Accommodation, Private dining room, Separate bar, Wheelchair access, Parking, Electric car charging, Family friendly, Credit card required

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