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The Student’s Guide to the Best Pubs in Reading, 1998

the-students-guide-to-the-best-pubs-in-Reading-1998

Published in 1998 by CAMRA, this is The Discerning Student’s Guide to Pubs in Central Reading and the University Area

The Retreat was listed as follows, “Retreat, 8 St John’s St, Intimate back-street pub close to bakehouse. Sing-songs Thursday nights, Flowers IPA, Wadworth 6X, Guests – especially recommended.”

Only eight out of the sixty pubs listed were highly recommended.

Here is the full list:

The Discerning Student’s Guide to Pubs in Central Reading and the University Area

  • Alfred’s Head, 146 Chatham St, Town pub handy for swimming pool. Whitbread, Trophy, Boddingtons.
  • Allied Arms, St Mary’s Butts, Intimate pub with military theme, Courage, Best, Marstons, Pedigree.
  • Back of Beyond, 108 Kings Rd, Arguably the best of Reading’s four Wetherspoons, at least for beer. Outside drinking area overlooking Kennet, Usual Wetherspoons range, + guests. (R)
  • Blagrave Arms, 35 Blagrave St, Attractively furnished in 19th century style, Scottish Courage, Best, Directors, John Smiths, (W)
  • Boars Head, Friar St, Magic Pubs, Draught Bass, Greene King Abbot (W)
  • Brewery Tap, Castle St, Courage beers in former Courage Social Club.
  • Bugle, 144 Friar St, Attractive old pub, commemorating Reading’s military past, Scottish Courage, Best, Directors, (W)
  • Butler, 89-91 Chatham St, Excellent pub named after wine merchants that formerly occupied premises. Food lunch and evening exc Sundays, Fuller, London Pride, ESB, (R)
  • Corn Stores, Forbury, Opened 1994, using former corn merchants’ premises, Fuller, Chiswick, London Pride, ESB + seasonal beers, (W)
  • County Arms, 84 Watlington St. Spacious pub with attractive wooden panelling and imposing “Brewers Tudor” exterior, Moriand range of beers. Some beers on blanket pressure.
  • Crown, 23 crown St, Two-bar pub – Scottish Courage beers + guest beers not always available.
  • Dove, 119 Orts Rd, Friendly Newtown pub, Brakspear, Bitter, Special, Old/ Mild, (W)
  • Edwards, Station Rd, New Bass theme pub.
  • Eldon Arms, 19 Eldon Terrace, Lively back street pub with two contrasting bars, Wadworth range + Adams Broadside & H&W Tanglefoot, (R)
  • Fishermans Cottage, 224 Kennetside, Canalside pub with spacious outside drinking area. Food served lunchtime and evenings., Fuller, Chiswick, London Pride, ESB + seasonal beers. (R)
  • Flyer and Firkin, 53 Blagrave St, Firkin pub brewing on site. (W)
  • Forbury Vaults, St Lawrence Square, Morland.
  • George Hotel, 10-12 King St, Real ale in rear bar from Scottish Courage range.
  • Granby Tavern, 120 London Rd, Whitbread pub, gay community especially welcome.
  • Great Expectations, London St. New Dickensian theme pub serving Fullers, Marstons etc.
  • Greyhound, 4 Mount Pleasant, Courage beers plus guests in attractive old cottage setting.
  • Hobgoblin, 2 Broad St, Small odd-shaped, on two levels, which has stocked over 2,000 guest beers in five years, Wychwood, Usually choice of three Wychwood beers, with up to five guests + Inch’s Cider. (R)
  • Hogshead, Kings Rd,, Whitbread’s new riverside pub with good choice of real ales. W Hook & Tackle, Katesgrove Lane, Free house with piscatorial theme, Courage Directors, Hancocks HB + guests, [W]
  • Hop Leaf, 163-5 Southampton St,, Hopback Brewery’s deservedly popular brew-pub, Hopback full range, + occasional beers brewed on site, (R)
  • Hope Tap, 99-111 Friar St, Ideal place to rest after visiting Sainsbury’s. Wetherspoon’s, Theakston Best, Archers Golden, Courage Directors + guest beers and Weston Cider. (W)
  • Horn, St Mary’s Butts, Scottish Courage, Best, Directors, Theakston Best.
  • Horse & Jockey, 120 Castle St, One bar pub with horse-racing theme. Excellent reasonably priced food, Archer’s Village + Good choice of guest beers. (R)
  • Jolly Anglers, 314 Kennetside, Small, canalside pub, Ruddles County, Fullers London Pride, Flowers Original. (W)
  • Jolly Brewers, Tilehurst Rd, Two-bar modern pub, Greene King IPA, Websters Green Label,
  • Jolly Porter, 37 Station Road, Handy for the station, Scottish Courage, Courage Best, Theakstons Best, Theakstons XB.
  • Lester’s Bar, Ship Hotel, 4 Duke St, Marston, Pedigree, Boddington bitter.
  • Lion, Great Knollys St. Morland beers
  • Lyndhurst Ale House, Queens Rd, Good choice of beers from Whitbread and guests. (W)
  • MacDevitts, 21 South St, Bar attached to arts centre – Wadworths 6X, Marstons Pedigree,
  • Malthouse, 53 Greyfriars Rd, Sky TV and ubiquitous library, Whitbread, Flowers IPA, Castle Eden Bitter, Boddingtons.
  • Monks Retreat, Friar St, Wetherspoon’s first pub in Reading. (W)
  • Newt & Cucumber, Friar St. Vibrant Morland’s theme pub. I Northumberland, Northumberland Ave, Locals pub now owned by Usher’s.
  • Oasis, Baker St, Large, corner pub, Morland range – may be served with blanket pressure.
  • Old Society, Friar St, New “ale-cafe” on site of former Wheatsheat, Greene King, Abbot Ale, IPA Guest beers on stillage, (W)
  • Pheasant, Whitley St. Locals pub. Courage beers.
  • Queens Arms, Great Knollys St, Morland’s pub, currently being refurbished.
  • Queens Head, 54 Christchurch Rd, Large, busy pub near University, Scottish Courage range.
  • Rat & Parrot, Market Place, Cafe style pub with original Jacobean furnishings, Scottish Courage range.
  • Red Lion. Southampton St. Whitbread Pub by roundabout.
  • Retreat, 8 St John’s St, Intimate back-street pub close to bakehouse. Sing-songs Thursday nights, Flowers IPA, Wadworth 6X, Guests (R)
  • Rising Sun, Forbury, Whitbread Tutn’Shive Theme Pub.
  • Scruffy Murphys, 31-33 Greyfriars Rd, one of the more bearable Irish “Theme pub”, Tetley, Bitter.
  • Sun, Castle St, Fine old inn, next to church, Scottish Courage range, Wadworths 6X, (W)
  • Sweeney & Todd, 10 Castle St, Pie shop, pub & restaurant rolled into one -, Adnams Bitter, Wadworth 6X Eldridge Pope Royal Oak + guests. (W)
  • Three Bs, Blagrave St, Bar in old Town Hall, celebrating Reading’s 3 Bs – biscuits, bulbs & beer with guest beers. (W)
  • Three Guineas, Reading Station, Regent Inns house with Youngs, Brakspears + guest beers. (W)
  • Tudor Tavern, 125 Friar St, Tudor theme, Scottish Courage, Best, Directors.
  • Turks Head (Fez & Firkin), 31 London Rd, Extended old inn, now a “Firkin” pub, but beers are brewed in the Midlands.
  • Wallingford Arms, 2 Caroline St, Large Morland pub tucked away behind Reading’s Irish Centre.
  • Warwick Arms, Kings Rd, Multi-level pub with interesting brewing artefacts. Morland beers + guests.
  • Wynford Arms, 110 Kings Rd, Lively, two-bar pub, popular with gay community but all welcome. Scottish Courage, Best, Directors, Marstons Pedigree.
  • Yates’ Wine Lodge, Friar St, Typical of Yates’s new style and with lots of reminders of the ‘good old days”. (W)

R = especially recommended. W = worth a visit
But if you’re adventurous dont avoid the unclassified pubs – you never know what you might find. All the pubs listed are believed to sell real ale, as currently defined.