please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
new landlord (again) since my last post.
3 more pumps installed (now 9) but beer only on 6. But the quality has gone downhill. At least you could be pretty sure that the London Pride was turned over enough to keep it drinkable. Now that it has gone - quality is very hit and miss and the beer selection, well, questionable. Tribute? Bombadier?
i leave it up to you - visit and make up your own mind.
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The launch of the first stage of refurbishment is scheduled for Saturday 4 October - all welcome. Music in the evening. The pub has been redecorated throughout (or wull have been by the 4th!) and the kitchen re-opened. Pool and darts still available.
4 local real ales are available as well as London Pride and real cider.
Extended opening hours will follow shortly.
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Sold by Fullers at the end of June, The Butler is now a free house under new management.
Changes and improvements will be gradual over the next few weeks/months although the beer range has already expanded and prices reduced!
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Poor Fullers pub that smells of dogs. Needs a change of owner.
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The Butler, another one of my frequently visited pubs on my outings in Reading, almost a haven from many of the other scoundrels in this town. Looking forward to more of the band nights on.
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Unfortunately for mtaylor40, the ESB has been replaced by "Gales" HSB supported by Pride, Discovery and a guest beer which, considering it is from the Fullers list, can often be quite interesting.
The beer festival planned for the end of this month has had to be postponed until late October.
Music still features most weekends - check their facebook page or web site for details. - and the pub can get quite busy then.
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Boisterous and likeable locals pub, with good Fullers (admittedly ESB, always a good bet) - a drinker's pub.
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I agree with pubinspectors took an absolute age to get served. Shame, it could be really good pub.
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If you are lucky enough to get served, you will find the beer is pretty good, but it is more likely that you will hang around for a quarter of an hour with no sign of bar staff. The weird thing is that the regulars don't seem to mind and sit there for ages with empty glasses. We have a theory that the till gets so full that they can't get anymore money in it.
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Mini beer festival here from Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 September. Beers from Vale, Broughton and White Park, plus cider, at �2.90 and a selection from the Fuller's range including Pride, ESB, Discovery and Mr Harry. Music Friday and Saturday.
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Excellent beer, although well over priced, and nice setting with friendly regulars. What I object to however with this pub is the fact that wherever you may be located inside the two televisions constantly on dominate, showing rubbish with the bar staff sat watching it rather than serving. A great shame for this old and trad pub.
BELAM - 22 Jan 2010 10:33 |
Be careful here - the prices are getting ridiculous and seem to change at the whim of whoever controls the till. Hard to say what they are as there are no price lists displayed and the staff rarely seem to be aware of till changes.
Pride now �3.10, ESB �3.40 (I think) and Frost was �3.30 until it was reduced due to too much stock in the cellar.
Strongbow (not that I drink it) has gone up twice in the last 2 weeks from �3.00 to �3.15 and is now �3.25. What a rip off!!!! You can't blaim VAT for that or (I'd suspect) the Brewery.
This place will start (continue really) to hemorage customers to The Nags around the corner which is still (for Reading) reasonably priced a �2.80 a pint.
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Visited last week and had the best Pride I've ever had but alas a Reading correspondent I met yesterday tells me it was rubbish recently due to the cooling being messed about with. Grr.
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The Butlers in the past few months has taken a great turn aswell as the normal fullers ales and guest ales we have great live music every weekend plus a pool team the local m.a.g group, poker evenings jam sessions there,s a fantastic new back garden which is covered over for our smoking customers and a chill out area but dont take my word for it come on down and check it out for yourselfs
julez - 16 Oct 2009 14:04 |
There will be a beer festival here from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August. Fullers regular and seasonal beer on the bar and 8 seasonal guests (Batemans. Brains, Everards, Exmoor, Highgate, Hook Norton, Lees and Robinsons) plus 2 ciders on stillage in the beer garden. Music on Friday and Saturday evening and a barbeque available.
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New owners seem to be doing a good job. Ale range has been improved with a guest often featuring. Quality so far has been very good. Worth popping in on the way to the Nags.
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The pub has changed hands several times in the last few years but the current landlady, who has only been there about 2 months, is certainly trying hard. I regularly drink there and the beer is always good, On the rare occasion that it isn't, ie end of barrel etc, they are more than happy to change it without question.
She is trying to keep 5 beers on all the time, which often results in a reduced price sale for one of the guests. There is no Porter font on the bar, John, I think you were mistaken by a Porter bottle with a pump clip on it!
Several events are being held there to try to expand custom and the food range should be being expanded in the very near future.
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Seemingly slightly isolated Fullers pub just outside the town centre on the "wrong" side of the Inner Ring Road.
There's a large newish block of city centre type apartments close by - Chatham Place - where, if my recollection serves me right, there was previously a rather hideous looking multi-storey car park.
A sandwich board outside advertised the pub as being "under new management", but seemingly there's work to do as, on my early Saturday afternoon visit, the pub was virtually deserted , save for a couple of people using the large snooker table which dominates the back part of the pub. Seemingly, they're trying to address this - I noted a Vinyl Years Disco featuring music from the 50's to the 90's is planned for 30 May.
Older drinkers may remember this pub as being one of Fullers first acquisitions in the late 70's outside of its immediate trading area. Now of course, they have a relatively healthy presence in the locality - eg pubs at Newbury, Theale, Wokingham etc plus several others in Reading itself.
My pint of London Pride at � 2.95p was on good form. Castle Rock Preservation Ale was on as a guest, so I presume it's remaining a tenancy rather than a managed house.There was also a font for London Porter, which I presume is keg not real.
Food is limited to sandwiches and toasties made to order.
In conclusion, whilst the pub retains a reasonably traditional feel, I don't regard it as a pub worth going out of your way to visit
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Poor location on the edge of Reading town centre. But at least it had a small car park despite its proximity to the main shopping area. It's a Fullers pub serving the eponymous London Pride plus ESB, Hock, Gales Seafarers Ale and Castle Rock Preservation Fine Ale. We had a quick game of pool to the right-hand side of the bar. But I saw no reason to return here in a hurry.
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Good to find a Fullers pub, tucked away somewhat mind you.
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Fullers pub which, going by the enthusiasm of my Reading pub guides, has gone down hill a bit. Still a decent pub but was very quiet on both my visits and seemed a bit disorganised. Hasn�t got a great location and don�t imagine there�s much passing trade. Beer was decent enough and there�s a pool table (�1 a game) and a juke box.
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What a shame. I took some beer loving relatives visiting from the USA last week. The beer was flat and possibly the worst London Pride I've tasted. The pub seemed rather dead too. I have fond memories of great beer here. Other recent reviews seem OK so maybe a bad night?
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Seems to permanently have London Porter on tap, super.
Refurb hasn't really acheived much, except taking out the top part of the bar and painting the back of it white. Eurgh.
Still, good for beer.
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I liked this pub and must say i will use it again but now the Queen Elizabeth has re-opened down George St I think i will be in there more oftern as the new landlord Rob has changed the palce around. All the old faces are coming back and it is a great place for a few pints!
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Currently closed for repaint and tidy up. Should reopen 28 March.
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New landlord (Scott?) is moving this place in the right direction, the beer quality is good and he is getting the seasonals in too. A few more faces around the place these days, but can still be quite quiet at times.
Excellent Caribbean theme night here at the fag end of last year, absolutely heaving. Live steel band and proper Jamaican nosh on offer, everyone had a great time. If he can get a few more nights like that on the calendar, things should take off.
Currently the inside is a bit dark and intimidating, a 1976 timewarp - quite off-putting to passing casual punter I�d imagine. Should be due a refurb soon, all the redevelopment nearby should get some extra business in.
One to keep an eye on - pop in every now and then for a good Fuller�s seasonal ale.
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Doesn't currently sell food except on special occasions. New Landlord is selling Pride and ESB (plus Fullers seasonals) all to a high standard. Due for major refurn shortly.
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The new guys are doing well as far as I can see. The beer is top notch, and the food was spot on. Nothing bad to say about the place.
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Unfortuanately Jackie the landlady has moved on and the pub is not the same. It still has most of the same faces but it just doesn't seem as good as it was, Farewell Jackie x
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Strolled in on a recommendation - it was like entering the Queen Vic off Eastenders (see BBC1 early evening Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays - all day Sundays).
London Pride was very pleasant which is a rarity. Everyone friendly enough. The bar hatch nearly hit a woman on the head which had everyone (and nearly her) in stitches.
Tiny outdoor at the back for catching the hottest of the days rays.
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This pub has changed so much i had a drink in it a few years back and said i would never go in there again.But that changed about 6 months ago when i had to meet some friends and i had to meet them in the butlers.Well when i walked in i was shocked the place is so tidy and the staff are great.The landlady Jackie is a star and has done herself proud getting the butler to the standard it is now.Give yaself a pat on the back Jackie or i will when i see you tonight lol.This is now our regular
alkie - 24 Mar 2007 14:38 |
I agree with Nero, I really nice place to go drinking in now. Also they have a nice beer garden... Roll on the summer!!!
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Thsi pub has really turned itself around, nice atmosphere, friendly.
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This is how much I like the place, I have just nominated it for a reading pubwatch award (Best Traditional Pub). It is amazing how the transformation has happened so quickly. It has been cleaned up and is being well run, the bar staff are efficient and friendly and there is now food available during the day. Reading premiership games are being shown which is quite a rarity for Reading pubs.
If you want to visit a friendly local community pub then this is the place to go. It has everything you need for a quiet pint or a long drinking session. It is rare to find a landlady and a pub that match so well but this place has it.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2007 13:38 |
Woo Hoo!!! This pub has just had Sky Sports installed and they have started serving food. This pub just gets better and better! Also they are having regular Quiz nights and they are having a ska night in Feb.
Only down side... Only one widescreen tv. Be good if they had just one more!
anonymous - 23 Jan 2007 15:41 |
Visited this pub a few times whilst passing though reading. My last visit was by far the best...Was amazed to see the improvements that have undergone since my last drink in there! The pub now has a new landlady called jackie who seems to gods gift to the pub... pool table has been introduced and also a jukebox which has just livened up the pub immensely, Staff were most attentive, and it apears that the pub is now attracting a nicer class of punters!!
Overall the best pub i have had a drink in reading... will definitely be making more visits to reading so i can visit this special pub!
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i have been back in this pub for 5 months and have seen such an improvement.the butler has a new landlady called jackie and she has introduced a pool table, an updated jukebox, sky is being installed next week and they are starting food again. i have also been told they will be having a major refubishment very soon. excellent for the real ales and a fantastic atmosphere.the staff are efficent and jackie seems to run a tight ship. i would really reccomend this pub.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2007 13:30 |
I have just started going back to this pub as my old local has changed management for the worse.
I am really impressed with the place. It has a new landlady and the staff are all very friendly. Used to be no-one in there but now it is packed every friday and saturday night. Has a great juke box and pool is free on Mondays! A little expencive but worth it for the friendly atmosphere! A must for everyone!
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Ok pub, location will improve when they finally build something on the old car park site. Nice old building, Fullers ales well served. A future gem but a bit ropey at the moment.
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Under new management. Still has fantastic Fullers ales & now has the added bonus of an interesting Polish lunchtime menu. Well worth a visit.
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A nice pub thats a bit out of the way, but well worth the effort, good ale, just a nice no frills pub
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Fullers Pub. Well known to local CAMRA members. Robin, the landlord has had his master Cellerman's accreditation. Long overdue in my view.
Andrew C. - 6 Jul 2004 13:37 |
