please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Beer always good. Cross section of Reading people go in and is always friendly.
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The "wonderful garden" is usually competely covered by the huge parasol which was put in place solely for the benefit of filthy smokers. Why don't they take it down when the sun is shining?
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The pub is a gem in the Town Centre.Like most pubs, there will be an ocassion when an undesirable is in the bar, but, the staff will quickly remove said person and the atmosphere will be welcoming.Regulars and visitors are welcome and if you are in need of a chat then most people are very friendly.3 real ales and a selection of fizz are served. The quality is back to normal after a spell of indifference, with the new manager, the Landlord`s son, taking over.Fortnightly wednesday quiz, with cash prizes, are great fun and not too serious and help to make a great evening.A scary looking large guy with a beard can often be found sat at the corner of the bar but he is actually a very nice fella.
Wonderful garden is ideal for those warm evenings, but if it is chilly then the heaters will keep you cosy.
Try the pub and you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Two local ales in good condition.Quiet on our visit ,well worth calling in.
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Small town centre pub, but still has two seperate bar areas, both approached through the side door - the front door is permanently shut. Usually two good real ales on, occasionally a third and infrequent beer festivals (seem to recall the last one was about a year ago, so perhaps another is due?). Usually a good chatty atmosphere, decent old-school jukebox, but the odd occasion when it can feel a little unwelcoming - you seem to pick up the odd evil eye from time to time from punters who probably feel you are invading their personal front room drinking den. Nothing wrong with it, in general, though.
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I do like this pub, a proper two-roomed old boozer with a bit of character. Nice sun-trap beer garden and a large (but currently unused) function room, which they really should open up, losing a lot of revenue there. Fortnightly quiz some fiendish questions, someone please end the dominance of MC Hamster!
Usually has Pride, a Loddon brew and a guest – although they seem to be short of stock quite often at the, not unusual to see only one of the three actually on. Need to address that sooner rather than later as I've turned tail a few times recently and gone somewhere else with a better range. Saying that, there was a super pint of Whippet Strikes Back there last week...
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Excellent pub and one I try to visit after the usual distressing shopping visit to the town centre. Landlord is a top bloke and as the place is so tiny, you often get involved in conversations with complete strangers. Where else in Reading would you be entertained by a genuine Punch & Judy man doing his impromptu act based on Quentin Tarantino? Class.
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Ah, obviously we had a different experience of this pub than previous commentators.
Both our beers (different) were poor unfortunately and the atmosphere in the pub was not welcoming. There was a couple of boorish drunks at the bar being entertained by the Barmaid.
It's always difficult when your experience is different from obviously the norm, but you have to rate as you see it.
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great pub, lovely if few staff, mellow customers - they may have been a bit drunk - fabulous garden with the biggest pub umbrella in Europe - they even have heating outside! great music that makes you go "ooh do you remember this at school?" and then fall over either from heat exhaustion, beer excess or pure joy!
Baz McCarthy
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Lovely beer, great atmosphere, super pub.
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Always liked this pub and it has one the best beer gardens in the town centre with music outside! Wow! (and a distinct lack of baseball caps)
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Gardens are nice when the bell ringers at St Marys get going, takes you back 100's of years almost...well after a few Stella's anyway
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A brilliant pub. What town centre pubs should be about. I always have a good time their. Staff and beer are both great!
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Been in here a few times and had some decent beer.
Had a fab night just before Christmas, playing songs on the juke box (what a selection) and even singing in the front bar. No one complained. :-)
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Had the best pint of Hogsback Advent I've sampled so far, brining the ale list up to three. Keep the guest on the go and up to scratch, and I'll keep going back.
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Quite small, good space outside. Cosy, enjoyed all my times in here.
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Well, well well. If at first you don't get a drink here try again! The range is in fact alright, without being amazing. But the Jukebox is the main source of entertainment here, play 5 songs for £1 or just 2 songs for 50p. 7/10 for me
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Two small rooms, vintage space invaders game. Couple of real ales, good central location.
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A charming old pub, one which I make a point of visiting every time I am in Reading. Small and welcoming I feel as though I have been drinking there for years. Good beer, relaxed atmos. The one downside however, is no food. All the same a friendly bar, even for an outsider like me!
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Cosy boozer, with a couple of Ales on the go (Bombadier and Courage) which were well kept, but in Reading a pint of either is nothing special really I think. Worth a visit though, for sure.
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Well.
What can I say other than seriously disappointed in this place after such a promising start.
I though the land lord was a top bloke, always there with a freindly chat to greet you. Ive actually spoken to this chap quite a few times, and thought we knew each other. How wrong can I be?
Read on:
My very, very respectable brother and I were having a quiet beer in the Allied after a meal at Old Siam. Drunken Irish Whitley people invited themselves to join us, rather than complain, only having half a pint left, my brother and I agreed we would move on as soon as we finished our beers and get away from
the people that were sitting at our table. Moments later 5 police offices were in the pub.
Apparently the scum that came to join us had been reported for drug dealing.
We were searched and humiliated in front of the whole pub, and now that nice old man on the door wont let me in any longer.
Im an educated, responsible, proffessional and I thought that the landlord would easily know that I dont drink with these people. So I tried to reason with him in a freindly manner.
He actually threatened to radio to the police and have me forcible removed from the pavement outside.
What riles me, is that he let the drug dealers into his pub, which were nothing to do with us. And yet becuase of this, he bars me!
Some may say he is looking after his pub. Which is not something I question. However Im appalled at his approach and would recommend that if you dont want to be stripped and spread in front of the whole pub, humiliated and intimidated by this mans freindly police force (he has a direct radio to them). Then Id say stay away.
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decent little pub with low ceilings and beer garden. some good beer, too
blamm - 19 Apr 2006 14:08 |
my favourite place in reading!! the staff are great and the locals that go there are always willing to have a chat. the beer garden is excellent and so is the beer!! i want to open a pub like this when i'm older. real, sincere and friendly.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2006 18:30 |
Allied allied allied, great pub. Been drinking here for years, excellent laugh and got Camras seal of apparoval last year. Beer garden for the summer months should be great once they finished the building work on St Mary Butts church.
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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.
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Looks scary from the outside, isn't. get through the door and now we are drinking with gas as they say. Or did i dream that? Anyway,. good old pub, jovial bar staff, beer garden with heaters for our sunny climate and decetn beer, try it you might like it.
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Currently climbing the list of this 32 year olds fave boozers. Good pint, can take or leave the other punters as you see fit. And blessed-be its a real pub. A rare treat in the ikea created landscape of Reading
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Now one of the leading Real Ale pubs in Reading, having just been voted runner- up in the CAMRA Pub of the Year competition. 3 Real Ales are usually available and are served in top class condition. The management and staff are very customer friendly, except if you are an idiot and set a high standard of behaviour. The pub is now very user friendly where you can drink in either of 2 bars ( one no smoking ) or in the superb , heated and secluded garden without fear of intimidation of a lot of pubs.
No food is available, only crisps and nuts. They do stock a superb bag of pork scratchings which are only available at this pub, very moorish !!
A large screen is only used for non sky events and the jukebox has to be seen to be believed. The pub does not now have a dart board.
Visit, enjoy and you`ll go back again.
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Excellent ales - they've really made an effort here.
Decent TV screen in rear bar.
The only beer garden in town centre
Non-smoking front bar.
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Nipped in for a couple before meeting a mate in January. Good ales, really good ales, but it's a bit cold and bleak inside when we were there. Most of the locals seemed to be not entirely the full ticket.
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This pub is one of the few in the town centre that has not been mesed around with ! A proper town pub.
Pauline Metcalf - 29 Jun 2004 12:42 |
Very good for a sunday's afternoon drinking. Excellent fun when London Irish win!
anonymous - 27 Jan 2004 10:59 |
This is a great pub; a nice place to escape all the "classy" townies and peroxide blondes. No messing about, just beer, crisps and a really good, well hidden garden.
Harry - 8 Jan 2004 14:04 |
All I can say is that I discovered this place when I was meant to be having a vidjo night. Top jukebox lots of my fave power ballads. You gotta love dat.
Adam Watkins - 2 Dec 2003 21:08 |
Nice olde-worlde sort of pub. Used by war veterans in wee-stained trousers.
Jelly - 29 Nov 2003 01:15 |
Owned by a London Irish fan since the end of 2002. Very welcoming with a good atmosphere. Recommended!
Gary - 3 Jul 2003 16:43 |
I love this pub - an escape from all the awful townie pubs Reading seems full of. Very friendly bar staff, cosy feel - this really is everything a pub should be. Particulary recommend this pub on christmas or new years eve, much merriment is had all round - with Irish gigues being played on the juke.
Ed - 19 Jun 2003 13:05 |
Popular haunt of LOndon Irish fans. Good range of real ales and lagers. Very friendly new landlord and landlady
Rich O'Reilly - 2 Nov 2002 18:59 |
This is a proper pub..no pretentions here...good beer and friendly atmos...nice garden too.....
Eric the Red - 17 Sep 2002 14:28 |
