Bird in Hand, Reading

Since the sad closure of the Plowden Arms in Shiplake in January 2011, we've been looking hungrily for a decent pub/restaurant.

I sincerely believe we have found one here that truly fulfills our needs & expectations to the full. Time will tell as we have only eaten here for a few weeks now to be fair, but hey � first impressions count!!

We were looking for a comfortable & cozy typical traditional English Pub that served good quality food, with plenty of variety at a reasonable price. It had to have good & fast service, a friendly atmosphere, have a garden for the summer & be out in the countryside. I�m a fussy eater & we like quiet surroundings.

So far so good, high scores on all of the above. The staff are all very friendly, helpful & attentive. The food arrives quickly & is served piping hot. We haven�t found any fresh/frozen items yet!

We agree mostly with the other two reviews here, although we DID think that the food was actually cheaper than other pubs nearby considering the quality on offer. I must compliment the other reviewer for suggesting other establishments & look forward to trying them too for comparison.

I prefer Brakspear & Fullers ales, but I am getting quite used to the local brew called Doom Bar by the Lodden Brewery.

The garden & carpark are reasonably sized, but the pub is situated right on a fast main road which can be a little noisy in the bar.

9 Mar 2011 09:53

The Bottle and Glass, Binfield Heath

My wife & I love this little peaceful haven. The food is delicious, very well presented, of a high standard, there�s a wide choice all of which is very reasonably priced. An added bonus is that it is always served very quickly. The staff are friendly & efficient.

The building & country setting is idyllic but its best feature has to be its large well seated garden. The tables in the garden are well spaced out & even when it it busy, it is still comfortable. Dogs are allowed if on a leash & its children friendly.

Situated in between Caversham (Reading) & Henley it�s the perfect getaway spot to chill out on a sunny day. There�s plenty of parking & easy to get to.

They are a Brakspear Pub & so naturally as you may expect they have Brakspear Oxford Gold Organic Beer & Brakspear Bitter on draught.

24 May 2010 10:07