The original Great Northern Hotel pub was a beloved, gritty staple of the Cambridge live music and nightlife scene for generations before pulling its final pint in 2015. Located right at 1-3 Station Road (on the corner of Hills Road), the venue was famously known for its cheap beer, loud music, and rotating list of structural identities.

The Historic Timeline & Musical Legacy
The Origin (1866): The venue originally opened as a hotel and was named after the Great Northern Railway company, which began running train services between Cambridge and London King's Cross that same year.

The Jazz & Rock Era (1970s–1982): In the 1970s, it transformed into a legendary live jazz pub, serving as one of the very few dedicated live music hubs in Cambridge. However, as heavy rock bands took over the stage, local noise complaints piled up, causing the venue to notoriously lose its music license in 1982. This of course was the time period when Robyn was playing here.

The Identity Crisis (1990s–2010s): Over the next few decades, the pub went through a dizzying amount of rebrands, name changes, and cosmetic face-lifts. Locals knew it at various points as:
City Limits (in the early 90s)
Chambers
Bar Moosh
Sauce

The Final Act (2015): The pub ultimately reverted back to its roots, operating as The Great Northern Kitchen & Bar before permanently closing down in 2015 during the mass redevelopment of the Cambridge station quarter. Today, the modern office blocks and pristine station square look entirely different, but local music fans still remember the "Great Northern" for its raw, old-school atmosphere.