The George Inn at Babraham opened as a Coaching Inn in 1779. Originally a busy staging post on the main coaching route from London to Norwich, this is where guests alighted to stretch their legs and take sustenance whilst horses and drivers were changed.

The George has been a famous place to stop off for a break ever since, with Newmarket race goers, businessmen and holidaymakers heading for the east coast all mingling in the bar.

Now the main road – the A11 - runs just east of The George Inn, and with Babraham a quiet village again, the George has taken on the feeling of a quintessential English village Inn.

In April 2004 disaster struck The George Inn when a fire ripped through the timber premises, causing extensive damage. Owners Greene King closed down the pub and for many months it seemed that The George was to suffer the fate of so many rural pubs today, and never re-open.

But when new owner George Wortley came to view the derelict premises in November 2004 he saw at once that here was an opportunity to build a new business, based on the quality requirements of today's dining-out market. There was also a need to service the needs of the new high-tech business parks that had sprung up in the area, not least of course the Babraham Institute, which is situated just across the road.

Planning permission was granted for a new barn-style building to sit alongside The George and extend the dining and kitchen facilities. Restoration and building work went on through the winter and spring of 2004/2005 and The George Inn re-opened at the end of April 2005.

Now a planning application has been made to convert the former barns alongside The George into new bedroom accommodation and it is hoped that by the spring of 2008 The George Inn will once again offer over-night accommodation to weary travellers!