please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Read an on-line article, showing a pub crawl from the Abbot Cook to the Turks - so over many weeks, I steadily ticked off all the pubs mentioned.
Two attempts at this one. First time, not a soul in there - so decided to save for another day.
Second time - walking in at 7:30. About 4-5 people all queuing and a very harassed looking single barman. All the real ales, bar one - where turned around.
Decided it was not worth the wait and gave it up as a bad job.
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They've re-opened but there is still a distinct aroma of body odour in the air; probably the Polish locals who flood the place.
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Re-opened on 1 October, looking much like it did before the closure if a bit cleaner and tidier. Initial beers were Doom Bar and two from West Berkshire; food menu to be offered later apparently.
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Unfortunately the closure was only temporary and another unfortunate landlord will shortly be entering the fray. You cannot (re)polish a turd sir.
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I've never really liked the Lyndhurst. It has its selling points, not least the excellent pub quiz on Sunday nights, but the beer choice tends to be pretty uninspired and the food has gone downhill over the years.
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Great beer, food and lively atmosphere close to town centre, but crucially just outside the centre itself, so more of a "local" feel to it. Highly recommended.
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Have to agree with the last post - it certainly lacks character! Fairly basic and dull pub on the main road. London Pride, Doombar, 2 from Ascot and Tutts Cider on offer yesterday starting at £3.50. The Ascot was OK but not exceptional.
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Corner pub on one of Reading's main roads out of the centre. It's fairly modern-looking inside and has a good selection of ales and ciders. On our weekend visit, they had Fullers London Pride, Sharps Doom Bar, Stonehenge Danish Dynamite, Hopback Entire Stout & Loddon Ferryman's Gold. Ciders were both from Tutts Clump - Royal Berkshire & Traditional Farmhouse. Lacks a little character. But well worth combining with the Retreat around the corner.
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Great turnaround under the latest manager. Interesting menu - where else have you seen crocodile, kangaroo or camel in Reading? And more adventurous beer policy: London Pride and Doom Bar are regular and the three guests include a dark beer with Theakstons Old Peculier often appearing. Nice atmosphere. Recommended.
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saw a punchup outside the pub this week, free entertainment i suppose.
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Edging towards the "gastro" end of the market - but none the worse for that. Very good by Reading standards, I'd say.
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Not an unpleasant character single bar space with nooks etc/... Rather bizarre blood red badly painted gents toilet, is this where Slaughterhouse Blues was penned? Good range of ales with variable quality here's to hoping the new Landlord has a better idea. The food is definitely above standard 'pub grub' but certainly not cheap and therefore value is questionable. For the smokers there's a patio which they can't use so there's always a gaggle of unfortunates by the doorway being buffeted by the incessant IDR traffic. Good range of wine so worth a trip if that's your bag.
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Nothing wrong with this place - beer good, food starting to get very good. The Retreat's better for beer and cider choice, but this area's pretty lucky with pubs. Only gripe is the service but that's only a minor gripe, and the food is served pretty quick.
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Nice pub on the outskirts of the town centre. 2 or 3 real ales on and seem to be well kept.
Food is always nice and they have a great free pub quiz on a sunday, which is great for an evenings entertainment.
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The sort of pretentious, soul-less interior found in pubs everywhere aimed at people who like paying too much for their food and drink. Did, however have a nice, if expensive, pint of Mr Chubb's Lunchtime Bitter. Maybe worth popping in on your way to the far more characterful Retreat or Eldon Arms.
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Not bothered with food from comments below but beer pretty good (although �3.20 pint) - West Berkshire beer & Taylor Landlord. There was another beer which escapes me. Interior clean & sanitised. Worth popping in if you're nearby.
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Recently in the GBG, beer was good, food was a bit pricey but my �8.50 Ham, egg and chips was very nice, locally sourced and was a fairly generous portion size. It seems that they have to recoup some of the cost of a refurb. Beer was good and I will return sometime.
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Pretentious idiots drinking here when popped in, and the barman was far more interested in eying up the women and serving them first(even though i had been stood infront of him for bout 5 mins b4)and chatting them up. 5/10 *Real shame cos the hopback summer lightning was tip top
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Closed for refurbishment at present.
When they reopen, I've heard that "Pressed Rat & Warthog" will be a regular guest beer.
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Beer is usually good with a selection of five on handpump. I often pop in for a pint as part of the East Reading pub crawl (which includes The Retreat; The Eldon Arms and The Fishermans Cottage but sadly not The Jolly Anglers any more). The licensees also run The Moderation and The Warwick.
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A nice pub, with nice food and decent beer is how i'd view this place, a few ales on which are fine, as mentioned the food is very good and it has a nice atmosphere, friendly polite staff, just a nice pub which has a nice mix of clientele and is well worth a stop off for a pint and/or a bite to eat.
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A decent pub to bar conversion that has got things just about right. Not exactly atmospheric and there weren�t too many in on our visit but the Somerset & Devon Ale was OK.
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Nice boozer - shame the outside is right on Queen's road - but inside beer is good a decent atmosphere and reasonable pub grub.
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A fiendish 2-door snare at the entrance may be a cunning plan to ensure that those who have already had too much ale fail to make it inside. Luckily this was only the 2nd pub of the day so, only a few short minutes after arrival, our party of 3 safely reached the bar! Five handpumps sadly did not include Tribute, but did offer decent Landlord & Brakspear, also Old Hooky plus another couple (unrecorded). Nice open light wood feel to the place, quiet & no music ystdy 13:00 beerPrincess. Papers available on a stand nr bar.
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Seem to do well here, the beers I have are always excellent. Five ales with a decent range, though usually one can expect to find St Austell Tribute, something from Hampshire and a Hooky brew.
Aimed at a younger, more upwardly mobile drinker, there's a nice chilled atmosphere inside most evenings.
There's food available (not tried any yet, the lure of Perry's Caribbean canteen is too strong most evenings) along with a quizzer that's yet to give in to my advances. Inside is clean and has a nice rustic edge.
The chaps who run this have recently taken over the Moderation in Caversham. If they can get that old dump half as good as this, they�ll do well.
Very good place, one of my Reading favourites and I visit regularly.
A great place to take non-ale drinking friends or a lady you want to impress whilst not compromising on the ale front.
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Good beer, good atmosphere, but dreadful, DREADFUL music. It was so intrusive, and such a bad choice, that it really took the edge of what has become (again) a fab boozer.
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Visited earlier this week and was really impressed.
Five ales on (and the four I tried were in excellent condition) which were a fairly mixed bunch, from the obvious (Greedy King Abbot) to the more left-field (Rebellion and St Austell's). Pub had a clean interior, friendly punters and a good atmosphere.
I rated this higher than the Retreat, for an ale drinker that's quite something given the hype surrounding the Retreat.
Will definitely be back very soon.
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I have been running the quiz in this pub for several years now.. and can hand on heart, swear on my life, etc,etc that it is not fixed!!!
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Ok local - food was a pretty bad experience.
anonymous - 29 Oct 2006 07:17 |
An excellent little local. Always got customers, always happy and lively, and usually a table free. The beer is standard fare and the music is at a low level. They do a fantastic quiz on Sunday evenings... the place is rammed for that.
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Ok pub, nice enough, beer's ok, satisfactory but no better really. A useful local.
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THE QUIZ IS FIXED, SAME PEOPLE WINNING PRIZES EACH WEEK, STILL I KNOW WHERE THE BEST CHAIR IS AND ITS A SECRET HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
anonymous - 20 Jan 2006 05:58 |
Does the job, beer is ok, regulars seem ok, not too busy (don't know what a Firday night is like) does the job nicely.
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A friendly local - I agree with all the other comments posted here.
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Good pub - not too big, not too small. Usually have a good range of beers on.
Bob - 13 Nov 2004 18:45 |
Good freindly pub with a good set of customers. Not too loud or hot or anything really. Averagely good.
Stuart - 5 Sep 2004 16:49 |
jon, by LAW you can give up to 5% head on beer.
No crime in drinking a good pint of Stella.
BOB - 4 Jul 2004 22:52 |
In the middle of a long running "discussion" with the staff about the size of the head on a pint of Stella. My view is that an inch is excessive. Still go there about twice a week though, probably because it's the only proper pub in the vicinity where drinking a pint of Stella isn't viewed as a crime
Jon - 21 Jun 2004 15:50 |
Good food and decent beer which turns over very quickly. Got a lick of paint and a slightly more up-to-date feel a couple of years ago but they didn't go mad - it still has the feel of a proper local. They should bring the juke box back though, I hate pubs where the staff play their own music.
Justin - 21 Apr 2004 22:44 |
Went ther last night for St Patricks Day - excellent evening. The pub was decorated in all 'Oirish' stuff and they were serving Irish Stew of Ham and Cabbage. Irish music in the background and a great atmosphere. Totally recommend this as a proper pub - well done James (Landlord)
John - 18 Mar 2004 15:15 |
Good beer, passable food, very odd punters. It's my local.
Ed - 15 Mar 2004 13:45 |
Two sets of mates in Reading have taken me to this pub in the last few years. It's a bit of a shock to find a decent place to drink in Reading. Nice food and a good pub atmosphere.
Scott - 20 Jan 2004 13:12 |
