The Spread Eagle, Reading

Good backstreet local, better in the day than at night. Beer is very good, Greene King ales kept well. Food looks average to poor, clientele vary from up and coming middle class colonists to ropey junior hard men from the Elm park estate but there is no trouble as bar staff are competent and capable. Recently changed management which reduced the beer quality for a time but it has recently improved again as the staff got their act together.

5 Feb 2006 14:44

Sweeney and Todd, Reading

I'm going to step out of line here, whilst the pies are good and reasonably prices, the pub bit of this place is crap.

The beer is mediocre at best and the prices charged for it and the soft drinks are shocking, �2.80 for organge juice and lemonade makes this the most expensive soft drinks in Reading. It's simple price gouging to a captive and pie filled audience.

Nothing illegal in that but not going to get a good review from me.

The evening crowd are very cliquey all good mates of the landlord, which makes getting served a slow and tiresome persuit. Honestly if it wasn't for the pies i'd never go to this place. Too small, too pricey, too full of smug mates of the landlord. Eat you pie and go home.

5 Feb 2006 14:35

The Battle Inn, Reading

I can't believe this place is still open; it's been utterly dire for decades. It genuinely is the worst pub in Reading, even worse than the Alfred�s Head round the corner which if I�d been in there first I would have said was impossible, I wonder if you can give a pub negative points because it's very existence ruins the business of nearby pubs. For example I didn't drink in the Butler, 300 yards away, for years because I thought it would be like the Battle Inn.

Let�s go for the review here, the beer is poor to vile, the pub actually smells, and I�m not talking flowers here, it smells unclean or soiled. I shudder to think what the toilets must be like. Apparently it does sell food, again I shudder. The regulars, or clientele, whichever you prefer don't look like ABC1 punters and can frequently be found staggering round outside the pub swearing at passers by.

Seriously this pub ruins the area it's in and the area will never improve until this pub is closed and preferably bulldozed out of existence.

5 Feb 2006 14:27

The Allied Arms, Reading

Odd wee pub but the beer is good and it has a beer garden which is a rareity for Reading. It can be a bit intimidating for the lighter weight drinker but the regulars and staff are perfectly friendly once you get in there. Good place to hide from the wife on Saturday shopping expeditions.

5 Feb 2006 14:19

The Blagrave Arms, Reading

I'm going to de-lurk here, i've noticed this "zero" review phenomenon on this, pubs which are in the top ten suddenly drop without reviewed being attached.

This sort of behavior lessens the utility of the site for me and probably for many others. The adminstrators of the site should take note, they shoudl make you write a review before you can rate a pub.

I live in Reading and I agree with the other posters, this is a good pub with good beers, good regulars and a handly location, maybe not the best in the country but still very good, and therefore i'm going to rate it highly, but because of the "zero" rater, i'm now going to give it a "TEN". just to spite the person.

5 Feb 2006 14:14