Old Manor, Bracknell

Pretty good for a Wetherspoons, and one of the very few decent pubs in Bracknell. A very old building sitting incongruously in a sea of concrete hideousness (although the northern third of the town centre just across from where The Old Manor is located is about to be completely rebuilt). Has a pleasant if shady little garden on one side, surrounded by trees.

TOM always has a good range of ales on tap, with variety between the top and bottom bars and one or two local offerings usually included. By far the best range of real ale available in Bracknell. Food is cheap n cheerful, as per usual for Wetherspoons, and of course the drinks are pretty darned cheap too. No annoying piped music either. There are the inevitable screens showing sport or news with the sound turned down. However, it is possible to escape them because the pub has a reasonable number of interconnected rooms.

Security is necessary at weekends, but the atmosphere is generally good. Staff are friendly and happy to let you have tasters of real ale. Not surprisingly, CAMRA folk quite like it and it has been both the local branch winner and runner up in recent years.

11 Aug 2013 21:44

Goose At The Station, Bracknell

Rough and lacking in any character whatsoever. Certainly not worth it if you're a real ale fan. Staff not particularly friendly either. A real shame considering its proximity to the station.

11 Aug 2013 19:20

Peacock Farm, Bracknell

One of my local pubs. Good Badger ale selection (rather more bottles available than on tap though). Food average and a bit overpriced for what it is. The ale ain't cheap either! Reasonably nice garden areas to sit out in on a warm day as long as you don't mind the nearby road. The interior is pleasant enough too, but very much a gastropub affair with only a small section for drinkers. Not bad for Bracknell, but the bar isn't exactly set very high!

11 Aug 2013 19:15