The Passing of Tranters, Cambridge

[deltawhisky]

I am not sure how many of you ever visit Cambridge for a good cigar, but I noticed on my last-but-one trip that Frederick Tranter of Cambridge has closed down. It was on the corner practically opposite the Cambridge Union, just down from Sidney Sussex Street.

What a nice little shop it was! I used to go there with an old school friend, and we would spend a long while looking at the Cubans, the obscure briars and meerschaums, the Davidoffs and the snuffs.

Once, about two and a half years ago, we went up there on the train, and it was the foggiest day during the Christmas vacation. That week when the planes weren't flying because of the fog. We went in, and I bought one of the Tranter own-label selection -- half corona. Very European in quality, Dutch apparently. I smoked it and smoked it, and as we walked towards the punts, this old gentleman crossed the road to be confronted with thick fog and clouds of smoke! He did not know what to think.

Has anyone else had a good stick from there? Pity the place closed down.
Delta

[whisky77]

Sad.

Sorry to hear they are no longer in business Delta.

They used to post out a brochure full of smoking paraphenalia once a year.I ordered a couple of bits and pieces from them many years ago.Always sad to see a good shop like that dissapear; unfortunately, a sign of the times.

[Deano]

Sad news. A few have gone over the last few years, I understand.

[the mothman]

Sad to see it go, I live not too far away and went a few weeks back only to find the shop space being decorated. A web search at the time still showed them there, shame that wasnt updated, and a shame its gone.

[deltawhisky]

Hi gentlemen, yes, we are living in a Darwinian economy, and it is about the survival of the fittest smoke shop, I guess. But Cambridge of all places. I visited some while ago, and I thought the shop was doing some good trade, personally. I would have expected there to be a fair old demand - scholars, students and tourists. And indeed - correct me if I'm wrong - I don't think there is another specialist tobacconist within walking or cycling distance. It's a long trip to Norwich or London, but that is where the Cantabrigian aficionados are going to go, I don't doubt.

[HabanoSy]

The passing of Tranters, Cambridge

I new it so well...

R.I.P. Tranters - you WILL be missed...

Humbled, HabanoSy

[TJCoro]

Days of Future Past!

Sad news, indeed. Tranters was discussed in another thread and I posted my memories there!

Names TJ, TJCoro, and sometimes I just say stuff.

[wn210]

Ah i remember it from when i was at uni there before i graduated and headed to london to study (cant seem to get enough of being a student!). A fellow from my old college would rarely be seen without a cigar from there. unfortunately in our naivety my friends and i never really gave it much custom, happy just to puff on the limited selection that cambridge wine merchants sell. Wish i had been a bit more educated and enjoyed it while i could!

[deltawhisky]

I always loved it when my friends and I would have a day out in Cambridge, and would walk along that leafy road towards the Fitzwilliam Museum. We would often see an academic glide along the pavement with a good stick, presumably from Tranters. You are right, though, the wine merchants do sell a limited selection of Cubans and Non-Cubans, so I bet they'll be making some big orders for graduation!

Deltawhisky

Ah i remember it from when i was at uni there before i graduated and headed to london to study (cant seem to get enough of being a student!). A fellow from my old college would rarely be seen without a cigar from there. unfortunately in our naivety my friends and i never really gave it much custom, happy just to puff on the limited selection that cambridge wine merchants sell. Wish i had been a bit more educated and enjoyed it while i could!

[sturge]

Ah I hope the Tranters in Oxford doesn't close either! Top guys in there and I always pop in every now and then to pick up a single or two.
Maybe they are shifting their sales on-line instead?

[Seriesteve]

Shame
I used to use them a lot 10 - 15 years ago still got an old brochure knocking about, I'll have to dig it out and remind myself of what the cost of Cigars were back then.
SS

[deltawhisky]

Tranters are definitely online, operating the Cigar Connoisseur site, methinks. I shouldn't think Oxford will go, because there are *so* many tourists doing the Oxford / London / Stratford circuit, it must be a cigar haven!

Ah I hope the Tranters in Oxford doesn't close either! Top guys in there and I always pop in every now and then to pick up a single or two.
Maybe they are shifting their sales on-line instead?

[spacemonkey_no9]

I'm told the Oxford shop is kept going by its loyal pipe smoking regulars. I have been in a few times and picked up a few sticks, nit the best selection and pretty run of the mill stuff.

Always get a chuckle earwigging into the American tourists discussing cuban cigars as they look through the glass humi door.

[TJCoro]

Tell Me About It!

Always get a chuckle earwigging into the American tourists discussing cuban cigars as they look through the glass humi door.

I hear that senor spankthemonkey.

American tourists...tell me about 'em.

Names TJ, TJCoro, and it just an expressions, like "go figure." Please don't actually tell me about 'em!

[HabanoSy]

I've been into Tranters in Oxford many, many times and made purchases.

I started going there about 5 years ago and since then for me it has very, very slowly gone down hill, like Spacemonkey said earlier 'pretty run of the mill stuff in there now'.

Just a few months ago I went in there and asked if they had any of the LE or RE Cubans as I couldn't see any in the very small walk-in-humi they've got there, and the shop assistant said NO as they didn't see the point of the LE/RE cigars!!! (WTF! I was going to leave empty handed but then I spied some Fuentes - so I left with a couple of OpusX DC's instead...)

But, yes the shop is very well served by the students (rolling baccy), the teachers/lecturers (pipes & pipe tobacco) and the tourists (cigars). So I would have thought and hope Oxfords' Tranters is safe; for now.

Cheers, HabanoSy