please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I used to live in this pub as a child it was called the jack of both sides then I have so memories of it have always wondered if it was still standing and how much it has changed is there a website for it
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Good food and, increasingly, decent beer.
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So disappointed at the change in this pub.
Yes, the Upin Arms could be rowdy, and it wasn't the cleanest place in town, but it was always busy, there was often something going on, it was cheap, had a great jukebox, and two quizzers. I loved it, and used to go there a lot.
Not sure why the change, as there were always plenty of customers, and I would have thought the area far more suited to that style of pub than the current incarnation. If I want to drink overpriced Perroni, and pay a fiver for some olives and foccacia, I'll go into town, thanks.
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HOW DO WE CHANGE THE PHOTO AND THE NAME OF THIS PUB? IT HAS BEEN THE "ABBOT COOK" FPOR SOME TIME NOW.
Is there actually a human being at BITE who can speak to me about chnages to pubs??
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Only noticed the change last night as I was walking past so decided to call in. As others have pointed out it is pricey (considering its less than salubrious location) but the beers I tried (Brain's Dark, Skinner's Pennycomequick and Purity Pure Ubu) were all in pretty good nick. I haven't tried the food yet but will certainly give it a go at some point as the menu looks varied and interesting.
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Large gastro-pub, refurbed and paid for by �3.40 per pint and fairly pricey food. Now re-named Albert Cook. Fairly full with some customers playing board games, is this a recent Reading innovation as I had just come from The Nags Head where various board games were also being played? Good range of real ales, had a Beartown beer (from Congleton) and it wasn't good, gone off in the pipes perhaps, bad batch from the brewery, who knows, who cares? I'm a customer and so I complained, thenceforth a 'customer is always wrong' exchange then ensued. 'It's a fresh barrel' was repeated ad nauseum. It was drinkable, but only just, after drinking about half of it, I went back to the bar and about to give up and go home after telling the bar maid what appalling customer service I'd experienced. She referred me to the Manger who was very apologetic, pulled me a pint of Purity, which incientally was on top form. Why couldn't that had happened in the first place?
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On my last visit they had beers from Shepheard Neame; Keltek; Purity; Everards and Sharps as well as 3 Weston's real ciders on draught. A very welcome addition to the real ale scene in Reading.
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This pub has just re-opened as The Abbot Cook and has been completely transformed from the old grotty Upin Arms. It is now a smart bistro-style bar with a good food offer; comfortable surroundings and very pleasant staff. There are now 5 Real Ales available (which will be rotated on a regular basis)plus a great selection of imported beers and lagers (from Spain; Germany;Czech Republic and America). It has two outside drinking /smoking areas and is an excellent new venue in this part of Reading.
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Closed - apparently to reopen as a restaurant.
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I've drunk here for a few years and do like it although it can get incredibly busy and the service can be slow.
Food is good as is the atmosphere.
Pity this place is shutting down as it's going to be replaced with a far more expensive pub from The Castle Breweries.
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Has had a refurb and looks a fair bit better for it.
No ale on, but manages to serve up a real cider (Westons).
As noted previously, full of students - though of a more snotty, upmarket variety than the College Arms.
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Bring back the Jack of Both Sides.
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A complete student pub, but it fulfills that purpose quite well. Their discount card is good value if you intend on visiting regularly, there's a large games area and they tend to decorate around certain holidays (most recently half the rooms were lit by sinister, and annoying, red lights).
The food was better than expected and reaches slightly beyond your usual pub fare. Decent place.
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Horrible place. Bad food and rubbish drinks, and it's not even that cheap.
anonymous - 3 Dec 2005 19:07 |
Nice chilled out bar, perfect place to go before heading to the Granby
anonymous - 3 Aug 2005 19:20 |
Nice enough bar. Many many students. Good curry house next door - Sardar's Palace - well worth a visit if you can spare the cash (maybe not for students then...) ;)
Had an absolutely terrible sunday lunch there - beef looked like it had been sliced with a Gillette Mach 3 razor. And was cold. Wouldn't recommend food (out of student season) but pub good.
Flea - 30 Sep 2004 09:52 |
it's ok, but a bit of a trek from the town centre, wouldn't use it in a crawl. do they still have giant jenga?
Stuart - 5 Sep 2004 16:47 |
I've been to a lot of pubs I've yet to find one with cheaper beer and bartenders who look more like Coldplay front-man Chris Martin
Christiano - 28 Jul 2004 21:07 |
best pub in berkshire, dbl jd and coke �2.05 over summer
chucky - 18 Jul 2004 10:37 |
If you like students and barstaff than resemble Chris Martin then this is the place for you.
Stephen - 7 Jul 2004 13:26 |
Tops for food, good video jukebox, pool table, better to go with a student to make the most of the cheap drinks altho not too expensive if you have to pay in full. been here daytime and evening and never witnessed any trouble.
Meerkat - 19 Mar 2004 20:03 |
Its a student pub, its painted yellow, its full of students, it does cheap beer if your a student and its always busy.
I would say thoose are all plus points you may think there all negatives.
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Pool tables, nice wooden seats, friendly, good range of beers. Great pub!
Jonathan - 5 Mar 2004 21:36 |
cheap drinks, good for sport, plenty of seats.
captain_cool - 3 Mar 2004 10:14 |
Another Scream Brand pub, closer to the uni and college than Pavlovs. Lot's of sport, good food, cheap yellow card drinks, fun and friendly atmosphere. Staff were better a year or so ago, but still all-round good service.
MrsDoyle + TubbyG - 25 Feb 2004 20:01 |
