I don’t think John and his partner Janis could ever have imagined they would be celebrating 15 years at their pub, The Tram Depot, alone and in lockdown.
Although they hadn’t planned any huge celebrations, they didn’t think it would pass without a few shared well wishes and toasts with customers, staff and friends!
Instead, John and Janis will be at home, toasting quietly with whatever bottles of beer that are coming close to their use by dates and looking to the future – “another 10 years at least before retirement” says John!
“I remember Janet from Everards calling me as she’d heard I was doing well as a manager at another pub in Cambridge, which was really flattering. That pub was the Architect, but I didn’t think it was for me. Then I was offered the Tram Depot which was really strange as I’d walked past that pub only two weeks before and it’s not one I would usually pass very often. I remember walking past and thinking, this is an interesting pub, I wouldn’t mind running this one! And as they say the rest is history” shares John.
“Most of our customers are students, with us being opposite the campus, which means it’s very quiet around here right now, it’s very strange. A lot of our staff are students too and they have returned home to be with family."
John and Janis have lived in Cambridge since taking on the pub back in 2005 and are happy to call it home. “We love Cambridge and our pub” says John “we love all the different people that pass through the pub and bring it to life. That daily interaction with new and interesting people is what makes it for me! I’ve met many interesting people over the 30 years that I’ve been this trade.”