BITE user comments - theeternalwheel
Comments by theeternalwheel
Ok but the beer wasn't that exciting - spent too much time pleasing dogs, not enough pleasing humans.
7 Apr 2014 20:22
Bish and his rude friend have gone, and the new people seem friendly enough. The beer stays good though.
The community have had the place listed as an asset - mainly through the endeavours of Jane and Bernie.
6 Aug 2013 16:02
Great pub - pity the lovely couple who run it are retiring. Visit it and have one of their great traditional pub lunches - while you can!
6 Aug 2013 15:22
Not one in the top half of Reading's better pubs. Service bad. Pity - could be a good pub.
28 Jun 2012 23:49
Visited 6 months ago and popped back. 3 local real ales alongside the ubiquitous Pride; very generously portioned, hearty food, and a welcoming atmos. Obvious the current owners are making a really good fist of making a success out of this place. A hidden secret that won't stay hidden for long!
24 Jun 2012 00:37
Ah, I see the landlord of the Back of Beyond is slandering his competition again, inbetween offering the cheap as chips care in the community to pondlife you wouldn't want to meet on the street or in a pub for that matter....
19 Jun 2012 23:27
Beer quality has improved; but food portions are obviously set by accountants.
The thing that struck me, though, was the mood of the staff: you might as well be in a MuckDonalds. They looked as though they'd all been beaten by the boss (who looked like he was in a bad enough mood to have done it.)
20 Apr 2012 09:22
They didn't have real ale or even mineral water. Bloke smoking in the front porch. Cheap food but terrible atmosphere. Don't.
4 Dec 2011 15:51
The Skinners Arms, Kings Cross
Been here before a few times and would have been amazed to see this Greene King place even considered for the Good Beer Guide - unimaginative choice of ales in so-so quality. But - last night - a revelation.
Under new management, not much has changed but they had 2 guests, both Harviestoun, and both in top quality, so you could properly avoid the dross from Bury St Edmunds.
20 Oct 2011 13:49
The Bel and the Dragon, Reading
I see Lord Jason, the landlord of a well-known local Wetherspoons fleapit, is on there too. May his establishment slide into the Kennet.
The refurb has taken out the bar area, which is a shame, though they still have well-kept ales on. Reports of the food are - portions slipping and prices climbing.
4 Oct 2011 12:30
Very tasty ales, but the pub dog is a pain in the backside.
4 Oct 2011 12:24
Mostly a food pub, but is welcoming to drinkers again. Only had two ales on (their own badged ale and a Coastal Cornish Bronze), but both in good nick.
4 Oct 2011 12:23
Re-opening on Saturday 30 July having undergone a complete transformation. I popped in this week and work was still in progress but they are now pulling decent pints. It'll become the brewery tap for the local 2 Bridges brewery.
The main news is that they will have 8 handpumps (2 Two Bridges, 6 others). The place has been refurbished, so if you know how it used to be, you might be pleased at the new flooring, new clear glass in the windows (so people can see in), new decoration and the general much brighter and more comfortable ambience. "Coming soon" are Sunday lunches and Saturday breakfasts. It sounds as though it could become a destination pub.
29 Jul 2011 10:29
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.
21 Jul 2011 15:08
Jeb_Crane - what nonsense! Always a decent choice here with 7 hand pumps, always in perfect nick too. Add to that a wide choice of ciders and bottled beers.
12 Jul 2011 18:01
In descending order:
Stunning view. Ales straight from the cask. Good perfectly OK but menu tired and old-fashioned. Service - as has been remarked - poor. Regulars Blimpish - a truly miserable lot.
1 Jul 2011 12:57
Maybe Lord Jason's like one of the jokers who posts on the Reading Post website - they all seem to live in the BoB.
16 May 2011 12:00
Mediocre food, iffy beer and poor staff (got our food order wrong) last time. Like many other Chef & Brewers - OK if you like that sort of thing.
16 May 2011 11:58
Apparently blackshirts are now the dress code here. Avoid.
20 Mar 2011 14:05
Food really good, beer suffers from being Greene King but reasonable in spite of that.
3 Mar 2011 11:22
Things are definitely looking up here. The decor's a bit too minimalist for my liking but it has excellent beer, and they have good music too from time to time. And it doubles the number of decent pubs in Reading town centre.
3 Mar 2011 11:20
Sadly the toilets have had a facelift. The beer and pub remains great.
20 Aug 2010 13:36
Sadly the toilets have had a facelift. The beer and pub remains great.
20 Aug 2010 13:36
The pub is owned by Enterprise Inns which probably explains the crazy prices. Nice pub in great building. Ageing hippies will love the jukebox and vintage Space Invaders game.
20 Aug 2010 13:25
Given the location this place was surprisingly decent. The interior is spectacular and ales (such that were on) drinkable. Prices very good for central London.
20 Aug 2010 13:24
Unfortunately the hope when this place reopened has largely gone down the pan, along with the beer quality. Beer lines don't appear to be cleaned; mercifully the 6 ales reported is now rather less.
The landlord appears to be barring most of the regulars too. A great pity - there is a great pub here in search of the right person running it.
20 Aug 2010 13:22
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Nags Head, Reading
Great beer but some of the staff midweek are tools.
7 Apr 2014 20:24