please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is a pub (despite its name) and is conveniently right opposite the train station. I was very impressed by how well they've taken Covid rules on board without spoiling the pub-going experience. A friendly welcome at the door, very frequent checks by bar staff as to whether you want to order anything at your table, a good range of beers clearly outlined, and a delicious food menu reasonably priced.
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Now a regular stop on my Reading tours - often have interesting beers (and Siren in bottles usually)
Slightly 'good student pub'/Shoreditch Hipster vibe with friendly staff. Can get busy but OK at 6pm Friday when I normally wander in. They have live bands later and possibly DJ sets ? Very handy for station, just over the road.
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Came here on a Sunday evening so probably not the best time to judge it. Nevertheless an interesting place with a decent beer selection, a slightly bohemian air about it, and reasonably priced food (although sadly it is true that they do skimp on the chips). Would certainly recommend if you happen to be in Reading.
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Have you seen a chav break dance like a chimp? If not frequent this establishment and you soon will. It's a mad house! A mad house!
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Some interesting beers and a reasonable environment - modern bar style
Worth a visit.
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This is indeed an interesting place. Wouldn't be out of place in a hip area of London like Hoxton. Refreshing to find somewhere like this in Reading.
Great continental beer choice, although they did get rid of Leffe recently unfortunately. Guest ales change around regularly. Really good, reasonably priced food too. And a great, eclectic range of music, both pumped out and live.
One of the best 'non traditional' pubs I've been to and I feel privileged it's right on my doorstep.
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Looks like the beer range is getting better again with guest ales on the 3 pumps (and not always the usual LondonPride/Deuchars or Doom bar etc.) You may well find something something interesting on sale these days.
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What an interesting pub! dull interior but that was the attraction - whole place is a mish-mash of styles; seems a bit 70's to me. Nice pint Cropton Blackout. Will come here again mark my words!!!
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Great place, love it here. Daytime/afternoon it's relaxed with comfy sofas and polite staff. In the evening the place gets busier and sometimes bands play here. Patio out the back with sofas and chairs, also a patio at the front with a similar arrangement.
Food is served - the burgers are immense. Don't go for the double burger unless very hungry! The condiments are plentiful with no less but two types of Tabasco among other sauces.
Unique and quirky decor on the walls. Retro equipment and neon signs make it a place to relax in and remember after your visit.
When it's not busy, try the raspberry Mojito!
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A large pub near to the station with outside seating at the front and rear.
2 beers on yesterday - Doombar (how dull!) and one from Roosters. The third pump had a turned around Moor clip.
Despite being quiet in the afternoon, service was slow and pints had to be topped up. A shame really.
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3 real ales on, Black Sheep, Deuchars IPA and Dragon Ale from Devon (�3.25). I rather liked this place, larger than I thought looking at it from the outside, a slightly younger crowd but fairly mixed, I spotted someone with a beard and sandals though!
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There appeared to be a change of cellarman at this pub which meant that the 3 "guest ales" (often from small brewers, far and wide) were replaced by 3 standard ales (London Pride;Deuchars IPA and Black Sheep Bitter - nothing wrong with those per se but not as exciting as the beers they used to serve here). Anyway the barman told me that they were due to get some West Berkshire Brewery beer and another micro-brewery ale in shortly so perhaps thing are on the up again!
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The best bar in Reading.
Simply put... good drinks, world class bar staff, nice bouncers who have a laugh with you and the best meals' you will get in all of Reading. Oh and they also have great bands' play there sometimes, this bar is pretty much perfect.
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There are now three ales on, nearly always sourced from small or unusual breweries and the quality is usually high.
Can be very crowded on a Friday or Saturday night and very noisy as well so pick your time carefully if you want a relaxed beer.
I quite like it in here, though I find the inside a bit dark sometimes. Oh, and the gents are still pretty rank. Worth popping though.
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Whoops - sorry folks - I put my comments on the entry on the previous page. Anyway, 2 real ales on handpump (I had Mordue and Cains on my last visit); daily papers available but the pub is a music venue on several nights so the atmosphere will change. Handy for the buses ,train and town centre. Worth a visit though.
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This ex-Firkin is better than one would expect given its proximity to the railway station. Cleverly, the Reading planning authorities have funnelled the less well behaved members of society towards the containing pen that is the Three Guineas, leaving places like these to the rest of us. A brave attempt to lay on half decent live music wins it extra brownie points and it's possible to avoid this if it's not your bag given the pub's size. It might have the potential to hoover up remnants of a Reading alternative scene that has been dying a slow death since its early Nineties hey day.
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I believe this may be under new management. Last Sunday afternoon there were no real ales and no newspapers. I hope this was just a one off and not a regular occurence.
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The Oakford is a funny place and rather difficult to review.
They have no idea how to keep and serve real ale, but those which I've sampled have been lovely!
It's a large, �ber-cool music venue by night, but is a welcoming stop off during the day, with a fine line in fish-finger sarnies.
If you're waiting for your train at Reading station, wait here, rather than in the 3Gs.
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I visited this pub last week with my lovely wife Susan. We thought it was absolutely charming, but had the same problem as poor Quinno in that we couldn't find the toilets.
Bless her, Susan held on for as long as she could but while I tried to finish my flagon of Cardinals Snortfinger (a lovely pint with a distinctly melon finish). We had to leave quite quickly in the end, and if you do visit, try and avoid the second table on the left, can't say which chair it was as they may have shuffled them.
And, Quinno, Michelle McManus is a good friend of mine, what are you trying to say about her?
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Been here a couple of times; Once on a Friday night when the suits were out after work, and once on a Sunday avo', when it was quiet and the draught was off - all of it!
Aside from the 'draught issue' the Social is a nice boozer and the food looked great, altough I didn't eat myself. I nice alternative to some other boozers nearby.
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A decent attempt at creating an upmarket young(er) drinkers venue.
There�s usually a couple of ales on and often sourced from outside the usual suspects. Quality of dispense was poor when it first opened, but the last few visits have seen good beers served up. Some interesting foreign lagers and Aspall�s Cyder on tap too, only place I�ve ever seen it so far � so good marks on the range.
The d�cor is a mixture of mood lighting and leather sofas. I imagine the sofas won�t last long before the gaffer tape comes out for emergency repairs. A number of music and entertainment evenings get the punters in regularly.
Couple of gripes � the toilets aren�t signposted at all, and once there (well, the gents anyway) they reek horribly of piss and look quite filthy. And this is during the early afternoon. Also the gigantic portrait of the fat bloke who is supposedly the �President� of the social club would look better off in a banana republics shopping centre. Assuming the picture is his doing, he must have the ego the size of Michelle McManus�s fridge.
Aside from those, a good choice for a pint at present. I quite like it.
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