please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now sells a form of "real ale" which is Marstons Pedigree and Wychwood Hobgoblin although they have been of very variable quality since the first appeared on the bar. Both are served by a new "fast cask" system which apparently allows cask beer to drop bright very quickly. This may be OK for this type of bar but heaven forbid it becomes the norm and more traditional pubs.
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Shiney, plastic, loud - this place is pretty grim.
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Baz pretty much sums up this place. Ok for a few drinks but it is highly expensive and I prefer to just sit a coffee here in the afternoon and watch the businessmen in action.
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Wine bar bistro place - Chav's hanging around thinking they are posh - load of lager taps that all look the same - sterile anodine and 'orrible
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This bar has been a revellation for me for some odd reasons;
1. the staff are without exception their greatest asset - friendly, funny, sexy, cheeky, efficient, helpful, attractive, welcomming!
2. the draught lagers are really nice and i don't like lager.
3. an almost perfect juke box/music selection.
4. frequented by interesting business people.
One major criticism and also an opportunity for the management; free wifi and plug sockets would attract so many more monied/business types.
Baz McCarthy
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Good whiskey selection - like to stripe up people like Owen fo rthe round here can be pricey
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Posh and sterile bar, with no suprises - The usual poor selection of tap beers and standard pricy piss on offer with all the bottled offerings too. But what about the bad points ?
However, it does offer easy access to the station, and the staff are great. Fine for a kick-start after work. Greasy things on sticks avaiable as food, however this was bought for me so I didn't see the rest of the menu. The basement toilets are clean and have a hotel feel about them. (Disabled loo at street level)
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Quite nice interior and comfortable seating. Though a tad posh and that may explain high prices. You don't have to pay when ordering though it seems to all go onto a tab so you could be cheeky and leave without paying, not recommending that really!
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done up recently (don't know how recent, was within a year though) and a lot better than how it was. staff are on the ball, nice frozen effect with the beer fonts (condensated fonts are all the rage!).
very nice posh bar.
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Nice placement near the train station and pretty plush inside. Reading is quite expensive for a night out and this place takes the biscuit.
Lack of ale meant I had to have a bottle of some South American lager.
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Pretty interior (loved the windows) but the prices are outrageous, I'm surprised the staff can keep a straight face when they ask for your money.
No real ale, well like you wouldn't know that anyway eh?
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They make a good cosmopoliton! Most of the staff are friendly. Haven't eaten there, from what I've heard, I shouldn't bother. You can never find a seat in the evening unless you arrive before the bouncers!! All spirits sold in double measures and all drinks are over-priced, bouncers are friendly and ambiance is alot better than most. Never seen a fight or disagreement in all the time I've been going there.
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Almost bearable at weekday lunchtimes but as for the evenings - forget it. Unless you like upmarket school canteen layouts with a clientale of middle aged bores who presume they have stepped out of an episode of Cold Feet. One bar friar street could easily lose and lets face it not the only one.
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Had lunch there the other day, having frequented the bar many times for a drink at night. Bar it is, restaurant it is not. P&P - please stick to serving drinks... the pesto linguine I plumped for the other day was cold and poor value. Thankfully I didn't get robbed as badly as my mate who had the tomato and mozzarella salad. Two rather small bits of mozzarella doesn't justify what he paid.
Bar-wise at night it's okay. Clientele are well mannered, bar staff though not friendly are reasonably efficient. Go if you are there purely to invest your attention in anything but the bar.
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Strangely bland and inoffensive. They clean up and stack the chairs an hour before the bar closes so sometimes you have to sort out your own table. It's ok if everywhere else is packed.
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It was more entertaining when it was a bank. Very stingy indeed with nachos and staff not that hot.
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Good location and pretty good atmosphere. Wouldnt add it to a bar crawl unless someone else wanted to going too.
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To posh for me and the draft lager tasted of dandylions.Only been once.That will do me.
Daf - 1 Nov 2004 14:57 |
Bland is right. Big space, very much slug & lettuce / all bar one / yadda yadda yadda
Flea - 30 Sep 2004 10:02 |
Thought it was a really nice bar - had a really good atmosphere, good music and quick serving staff - especially considering it was busy. We all had many laughs - I'd definately recommend it!
anonymous - 30 Apr 2004 08:48 |
I have a theory that they make the draught beers so bad just to sell more of the even more overpriced bottles. Sadly I always seem to end up back here as its convenient for meeting off the train (is actually better than the Three Guineas).
sicoffey - 5 Apr 2004 22:29 |
Good clientele if a little pricey on the drinks side. nobody under the legal drinking age which is good.
Dave - 19 Mar 2004 19:37 |
One of the bars attempting to get Reading to be more like London.
flea - 18 Feb 2004 16:45 |
Boring middle-of-the-road establishment. Not good, not bad, just bland.
Jelly - 29 Nov 2003 01:29 |
Great pub - definately the best in Reading with the fittest staff in town!!
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Reasonable pub...but it is in Reading!
Chopper - 31 May 2002 13:48 |
It's just an average bar with a bit of a wine bar feel to it, but the music is varied and it's never too crowded and it's for over 21's!!!
Aracmi - 17 May 2002 09:40 |
