The Sun Inn, Reading

I agree with the last post here - this pub has a lot of potential, but until that is realised then it will probably teeter on the edge of closing down for good.

A very old and long established coaching Inn that dates back to the 1600's. It's original purpose has long become invalid, though the town centre location has kept the pub successful up until the residential clear outs of the Butts area and development of the IDR in the 1960's and 70's. Since then the pub has become rather isolated, and has struggled to develop or maintain any identity into the 21st Century.

Many of it's type have since disappeared or changed business - such as the old Mitre Inn on West Street, now Thai Corner.

In order to continue the Sun Inn must change - as it stands it cannot be a commercially viable proposition. I would love to see it transform gently into a real ale venue, in the style and spirit of the Nags Head. The town centre currently lacks this type of pub. What I wouldn't like to see is this historic old Inn receive an unsympathetic gutting into yet another ethnic restaurant.

23 Jan 2011 13:10

The Black Horse, Reading

Found this place by chance whilst out on bikes with my brother a few years ago. Stunned - it was like stepping back to the 1930's. The two ladies 'running' the bar, both wearing jodphurs, were slightly surprised to see us and we were the only people in the place. Two pints of ale (I can't remember which), two cheese sandwiches, we sat on the old cracked leather sofa in a bare and slightly cold room, happily taking in the ruralness of it all.
As we cycled off into the early May evening, I still wasn't sure what year it was - until I saw a car in Checkendon.

18 Jan 2011 16:08

The Jolly Porter, Reading

This pub has long gone. It's now a "trendy" and utterly dead bar called Mannakoo, which due to lack of interest appears to be open only sometimes.

The Jolly Porter used to be a meeting venue for a hardcore of alcoholic middle aged Irish navvies back in it's glory days of the 1970's and 80's.

18 Jan 2011 14:21