The historic King William IV, which dates back to the 16th century, is a unique pub located in the beautiful village of Heydon, which sits peacefully between Royston and Saffron Walden, south of Cambridge.

It’s a scenic drive to Heydon’s only pub where there is ample parking. The tables at the front are perfect for taking in the village vibes and the spacious beer garden at the back offers unspoilt views of the Cambridgeshire countryside.

This well known pub has a more recent history, notably a series of owners that have come and gone over the past several years. New owners Carole (who I had the pleasure to meet) and her son Alex took over the pub in December 2022 and have painstakingly restored it to its former glory. Even the small things, like the bouquets of fresh flowers inside and outside, demonstrate the love and attention put back into the whole place.

The space is now fresher and brighter, the religious statues are gone and a host of artefacts have been decluttered, but the new owners haven’t taken away any of the pub’s charm. Each area in the pub has its own charming look and feel, with various seating layouts and types of tables and chairs. Fans of the tabletops hanging from chains will be pleased to know they have been retained!

I was invited to visit the pub and try their summer menu. I was impressed with the well thought out dinner menu, which hit the sweet spot – not too short and too long. It’s a small menu but big enough to offer a good range of choices without being overly fussy. The menu still includes traditional pub classics like fish and chips, burgers, steak, mac & cheese croquettes, Eton mess, chocolate mousse and sticky toffee pudding but also offers contemporary dishes such as salads (Caesar, chicken or quinoa), sea trout, wood pigeon, mackerel with sauce vierge, smoked salmon with clams and baked lemon tart. They offer blackboard specials too, although these were not available during my visit on a quiet weeknight.

The welcoming bar has a selection of beers on tap. Paulo chose a draught Ghost Ship pale ale and I went for a glass of Chenin Blanc white wine.

Service was friendly and helpful with good communication throughout. We enjoyed our starters. Paulo had the mac & cheese croquettes with tomato and red pepper ketchup – a substantial and delicious dish.

I chose the mackerel, which came with fennel, watercress, spinach and sauce vierge. The clams were a pleasant surprise!

The mackerel was served skin side up so I could easily peel it back. I didn’t take a photo but the flesh was tender with a soft texture. The sauce vierge complemented the intense flavours of this oily fish.

We both fancied some pub classics – after all, we were sitting in such a cosy and welcoming one! I ordered the beer battered haddock and chips, featuring fresh fish encased in a light and crispy batter and proper chips with a crisp exterior and fluffy interior.

The fish and chips were served with the requisite mushy peas (vibrant, fresh flavour) and tartar sauce (piquant and chunky).

Paulo enjoyed the brisket and bavette steak burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion and melted cheese, served with a pickle, sweet & sour relish and fries.

All of the ingredients were fresh and the fries were perfectly cooked.

We ended our fabulous meal with their tempting desserts. Paulo enjoyed the classic Eton mess with strawberries, cream and meringue and was pleased it wasn’t overly sweet.

My dinner ended on a tasty, tangy note with a baked lemon tart served with raspberry sorbet and fresh raspberries.

The charming King William IV pub boasts an enviable and serene location in the idyllic village of Heydon. It’s probably closer than you think and well worth a visit for good food and drink in a remarkable setting.

AD – PR invite: I was invited for a complimentary dinner for two. I did not receive compensation for my review. All views are my own.

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