please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Today Saturday the 18th of January I might go to the Monk's Retreat in Reading in the afternoon and when I get there I will order a drink and some lunch and I will try and sit by the window and I will watch all the people walking in the street outside and it will be nice and I might like it when I go to the Monk's Retreat in Reading
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No longer a Wetherspoons, operated by Stonegate Pub Co. Nothing much has changed but if anything a reduced menu and beer choice. The Hope Tap is better.
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Toady Saturday the 7th May I got the train to Reading and when I got to Reading I walked to The Monks Retreat and I walked up to the counter and I was served by Sarah and I ordered a cheese and Ham Toastie with Chips and 1 large Orange Juice because I like Orange Juice I do and I went and sat at Table 9 by the Window and I watched people walk up and down the High Street while I had my Lunch and The Monks Retreat is a very Big Pub with lots of tables to choose from and you can even sit outside and I will return next time I go To The Monks Retreat
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My god - a single Road with not 1 but two Wetherspoons. Suppose you cannot argue about £1.99 for a decent pint of Doom Bar. I have my CAMRA 50p vouchers but cannot bring myself to use them.
I suppose there is the lack of atmosphere. And strange mixture of tourists and tramps. But you know what you are getting.
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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And when Nicole brought me my food, she reminded me that Chelsea had won the league and Arsenal didn't and I was so sad I smashed up my laptop so I wouldn't bore anybody ever again
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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today or yesterday can't remember went in and had a pint or ten to discover landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still not doing any work. that is all. i will return to once again to witness landlord and george michael lookalike chris wiggage still doing no work.
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Whisky_diet? Just for that last post? There is no admin here or else you and your other false profiles would have been deleted. You are a cunt sir.
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Ass fan just a tip; we don't want you in the Monks and Hitler had the right idea regarding your kind. Although I suspect you are actually landlord CHRIS WIGGETT in creepy fictional guise bumping down every negative review with a positive eh? I'm not sure which persona is creepier but either way get a life/grip/shaver eh George Michael?
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very quiet in there these days; takings must be down. or has big claire had hand in till again? smirk.
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They have no draught ales or lager again; this is a recurring problem that the inept manager seems to be ignoring on a regular basis. A simple plumber could fix this and it reeks of sabotage.
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Quite easily one of the worst pubs in Reading. The landlord appears to be running the place into the ground with toilets barely functional and beer often off. Avoid.
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The Monks has improved greatly of late all thanks to the powers-that-be-spoons giving the landlady/manager the heave-ho. Now takings are up, spirit bottles aren't missing and bar staff actually bat a smile now and again; good times.
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Trying to think of something positive to say... it's handy for the Alehouse and Hope Tap? This used to be a decent Wetherspoons boozer but has fallen away badly. There's probably a dozen handpumps in total but expect a couple to be blank, a couple to have "available soon" tags and you will often be told that a beer that is apparently "on" is in fact "off". Service is variable, most of the bar staff try but the supervisors and duty managers give every impression that customers are a nuisance to be tolerated or preferably ignored.
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When working in Reading, I always visit this fine Wetherspoon, close to the station. Beer and food quality are excellent and the service efficient. It can get very busy, a good sign - but some of the customers can leave a lot to be desired, as can be seen from the biased comments on here. Well above average spoon.
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The Monks Retreat, Take one pub add great food, add great beer, give it great staff, and you get a pub that will always be used by THE LONDON IRISH RUGBY SUPPORTERS. brilliant it has to be done, disabled freindly as well what more could you ask for.
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Busy Spoons, not as comfortable as some, and the more interesting beers were tucked in the back bar which meant I had an adequate Ruddles.
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Judging by the previous comments the clientele was a bit different than usual as I visited on a Saturday evening and therefore Reading was doing it's usual 'English Town Centre Binge Drinking War Zone' impression. Real Ale was cheap, local brewers represented, and well kept. A fairly standard JDW pub.
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Ok....so it's a typical Wetherspoons. However, the staff seem to have a good grasp on good customer service here which you don't always find with that company. Always a good selection of well kept ales on offer served by very friendly staff.
I visited this pub some time ago (maybe a year ago) and things have definately improved since then.
Can get very busy at the weekends with lots of students messing the place up - but I had a good visit last week and definately recommend this place.
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The beers OK and the prices are right. After that ideas on the place may differ.The front outside is full the lower life whose language and behaviour can be intimidating but just choose to ignore it. It has the most easily accessible disabled toilet in Reading which meant we came here often and were treated in a friendly manner. The food was disappointing but there are plenty of places to eat in Reading.
A great place to people watch, the antics of the inebriated locals are occasionally hilarious. If you are a bit more fussy a short walk will take you take you to some much better choices.
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Rob (who was the manager at the Baron Cadogan) has moved here so I'm hoping that the quality of beer improves to a similar level.
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Yes it is a large typical Wetherspoons with an "interesting mix of clientele" but with around 6 or 7 guest beers available at under �2 a pint (often from local
breweries) !!!!! I won't tell anyone I saw you in there.here.
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Bog standard Wetherspoons near the town hall. Don't miss the upstairs bar with a separate range of beers including Oakham White Dwarf, Ruddles Best, Atlas Equinox, Marstons Pedigree, Nethergate Umble Ale, Otter Amber and 3 others. The clientele was......well it was the typical mix of drunks and loners.
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Large 'spoons with two serveries, a small bar at the front and a larger L shaped one further back, slightly confusing to the unwary or the drunk. Pleasant marble flooring and columns, old fashioned booths in the rear area. The beer was excellent and there was a very wide range in addition to the Real Ale Festival ales. The front pavement area looks to be monopolised by low rent smokers.
anonymous - 4 May 2009 11:00 |
Excellent JDW pub. Good service (!), excellent choice of beers - no complaints.
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Small fronted JDW that is a bit deceptive. There�s a small bar to the left as you enter but if the beer choice there doesn�t inspire you go up the steps and you�ll find a much larger bar with more choice.
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There was a beer fest on when we arrived so we all took up the offer of trying 3 x 1/3 glasses. Great way to try more beers! All were well kept. The service was good and helpful. With the prices so high for food and beer in Reading I am surprised at people knocking these pubs.
lotus - 11 Nov 2008 16:17 |
Beer quality gone downhill over the past few months, can be a bit of a lottery now.
Still the best Spoons in town for atmosphere, but no longer for ale - Hope Tap has that title at present.
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aint been in here for a while as not keen on the interior and the previous time it was too smokey but this time was pleasently suprised. ended up quaffing four diff cask ales all well kept and service was quick and friendly,well worth a visit if u aint been in 4 a while, 7/10
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Large, impersonal, no atmosphere, poor service. In short, a typical Wetherspoons pub.
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service is a bit slow and single women are prone to being propositioned at the bar by drunk men but overall not bad
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As Wetherspoons go, this wasn't so bad on a Saturday morning. Beer too cold and flat, and I wouldn't eat there, but this one is clean and presentable and I got served quick enough.
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Popped in on a Saturday morning for a full English Breakfast washed down with a pint, I was happy with the service, food and beer quality. Usual Wetherspoons issues apply - (clientele, minimal staffing, beer somewhat cold). They could probably afford to raise their prices a little to improve the service.
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Still better beer than the Hope and BoB, and better service too. Food has always been on time and had all the requisite accompaniments!
Alright a chutney was missing once from ma mates curry but the girl went and got one!
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Pretty average Spoons.
Beware if you are an Orange mobile phone user you won't get signal here, which can be annoying when other friends are attempting to join you.
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