please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I went in there recently and tried 4 diffferent bitters. Whilst all were drinkable, I'd describe them all as "tired" - none was good enough to temp me to buy a second pint of the same. Perhaps I was just unlucky but personally I'd rather have fewer beers of better quality than lots of tired beer that, I guess, weren't turning over too fast.
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This is a fantactic place. It is a special place. 12 well selected beers. Its special! 9/10
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Fantastic friendly pub with amazing beer including milds'stouts,porters etc.Absolute must-visit.
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Astounding ale pub just off the Oxford Road. Well kept and diverse choice of real ales, also offering take aways. Worth a trip to Reading just to visit this pub.
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10 ales on with the next to come after each also marked up - great quality when I have been in and sport on the TV - Truly Outstanding! Wish the prices hadn't just gone up though
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GREAT BEER, GREAT STAFF, GREAT FOOD, GREAT PUNTERS AND BREWERY TRIP TO TRIPLE FFF WAS EXCELLENT
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What a turn-around! SO much better now. Great little pub, Carry on the good work Bar Keep!
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Beer quality has improved a lot over the last few months (believe me it wasn’t great quite often when they first opened) - exponentially in tune with the increased patronage, so turnover must be up quite a bit. Impressed they've stuck with the 12 and didn't reduce the range - it's beginning to pay dividends as it’s fast becoming an attraction for drinkers outside the immediate Reading area.
Has a great community atmosphere, buzzing most nights and really friendly too (impressive in itself given the closeness of the Oxford Road). Lots of thought going into ways to punters in - the bus to the Madejski Stadium on match days (shared with the Foresters) is a great example. The management team are doing extremely well, to their credit. This place, a ‘wet-led’ pub is booming whilst many others are failing. Food is evolving but still fairly basic stuff, which suits most punters fine.
'Something' for everyone' - a good way to describe this place, a miracle turnaround from the Greedy King owned (and soon to be discarded due to ‘poor turnover’ in advance of the smoking ban) pit I encountered on my first visit - see post 14 Sept 06.
Well done everyone at the Nags. Just keep that beer quality up from opening time onwards, it has let you down occasionally. Otherwise, would heartily recommend for an evening or weekend session.
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Now my firm favourite. Always a joy to walkin and see what beer is available. It has gone from having a few busy nights a week to everynight a busy night and a great crowd of people drinking there.
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Worked my way through six of the twelve handpulls at a mates leaving do held here last week, great venue, 8/10
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This pub really goes from strength to strength. It's frequented by a barmy, but lovely bunch of regulars, and this single woman always feels welcome and safe.
The food is brilliant, the beer is varied and well kept.
Usually, I wouldn't like a "pub for everyone," on the basis that it probably wouldn't do a good selection of ale, wine, lager or softies, but this place really does have it all.
I love it!
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First time I've used BITE having left my Good Beer Guide back at base, but it turned up a cracker first time! Fantastic collection of beers, two changed during my visit. Well done the Nag's Head and well done BITE
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A very well regarded, and now much loved, pub indeed. Previously a basic spit and sawdust affair, this was taken on by new owners over a year ago, cleaned up and given a new direction. The first non smoking pub in Reading - well before the legislation.
A great selection of real ales as well as wine. A small, but good, food menu. Great music selection. The staff are all friendly and this makes for great atmosphere in the pub.
If you thought all real ale pubs were a bit careworn and scruffy, check this place out - it was cleaned up and they intend to keep it that way!
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Mericet, absolutely agree with you that the Nags Head is a gem of a pub.
Can't agree that the south is the place to be for real ale though. Get yourself upto York if you want to see a proper real ale town. :)
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Oh lee100378 - the South is the place to be for Real Ale, as the Nags Head has just started to show you! Glad you liked this true gem of a pub!
With 12 real ales, it's one of the best pubs for real ale fans. They also do great pies (from Sweeny Todds) and a fair selection of wine too. I've been going since it opened last January and it's been getting better and better - it initially lacked atmosphere but now it's become established, more people go so that's not a problem any more.
Great Pub!
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Fantastic alehouse with the best range of real ales I've ever experienced in a British pub. As a northerner who thought the best the south had to offer was London 'dishwater' Pride the local ales in the Nags Head never fail to deliver.
They also have a good range of lagers for the wives and girlfriends of the real ale drinkers.
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CarolineNo - is that all you ask for in a pub, a full glass? - my, you're easily pleased, eh? ;~) Happy New Year BTW.
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Never had a bad pint and never need to ask to be topped up. No other pub comes close.
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As münchened elsewhere - great range of very well-kept beer, but I had 2 little gripes - the inaudible voice or bell calling "time" - had we 3 friends (who'd not seen each other in years) heard this, we would have stocked up with another of their fine beers, but we were given short shrift after having been there for a couple of hours - por show folks. Though whether my mildly p*ssedly inadvertently yet proudly shouting out the tricky anser to one of their quiz questions had anything to do with this, I'm not sure! To SarahHops - yes, it is a bit "barny" & the red lino on the floor doesn't make for a warm atmosphere, but otherwise it's OK. My only other, other gripe/request is for a few more pics of the pub on this website, as they are sorely lacking here ;~)
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SarahHops must have had bad luck - the pub has been busy the last few times I've been. Mind you, perhaps Sarah & I have different tastes - I see she's a fan of the Fisherman's Cottage which, as far as I'm concerned, has lost the plot of late.
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I was expecting great things after having read the reviews here but was very disappointed when I visited. It may have lots of beers but it seemed to have a total lack of atmosphere. I might as well have visited the local off license.
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Only one criticism : the music is often way too loud.
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The pub Reading has been waiting for for as long as I can remember. Not much I can add to that which has been said by others - they are all right and this pub is exactly what a pub should be. It's a bit of a trek from my house but I'm making this a regular haunt. Fantastic.
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Revisited Sat & the only problem with a superb range of 12 handpumps on offer is that I failed, again, to make a note to report them to you here. Suffice to say do not leave Reading without stopping in the Nag’s Head.
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Well paid my second visit here on the way to the Reading v Boro match. All the beer tried was excellent, Sweeney and Todd pie very nice too. Add to that a bus laid on to the ground for £2 return, freindly locals and great bar staff. In case you couldn't tell I like this place!It was nice to see the place full - great pubs should be!
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Faultless on my current visit,present tense being used thanx to the pubs free whyfi! Great beer,a great welcome and sound punters. Pogues on the stereo,and have even been invited to join the pubs regulars on their xmas bus trip to see them live! The Hogs Back Hop Garden Gold was the winner tonight. Had an excellent Cottage Pie. This pub deserves a visit,there are only a few like it. Up a click to 9/10.
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Awesome range of real ale, friendly service, cracking value. Worth the trip for Reading from far and wide. A whole pub-crawl in just one pub.
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Despite being Reading born and bred, I had never set foot in this pub until three days ago, mainly due to the awful reputation it and the surrounding streets have had for more years than I can recall.
However, having heard all about the re-launch and the "permanent beer festival" there these days, we took a punt.
Large single room pub, with a dozen hand-pumps lined up, each beers name displayed on a chalkboard above the pumps, along with the beer lined up to come on next. Excellent idea. All real ales at one price - £2.50, which is, for Reading, quite reasonable. All beer tasted - five on our visit - was in excellent condition. Lively, chatty atmosphere. Very friendly and competent staff, toilets absolutely spotless - always a sign of a regime that actually gives a hoot.
A hugely welcome addition to the limited range of decent pubs in the town...
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What a great pub - real good selection of ales, decent food and very freindly and efficient bar staff!
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Top Golsh think they might do a bit of real ale
Goodlooking women at times behind bar
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A message for user " an_ecunemical_matter" The open fire is fixed.
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What a fantastic pub. Visited over the last 3 evenings, last night being the rugby World cup final. 12 Real Ales always on tap and from what I can tell, absolutely top notch.
Only been going since February with these owners and I wish them all good fortune for the future, because this will join the legendary pubs list at this rate.
Imaginative Wine List and Food, the whole package is great, perhaps the seating and surrounding could do with improving, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Fast becomming my local, bus ride away but well worth it...
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This pub is just brilliant, an example to all landlords on how to run a pub.
Friday evening is my favorite, dayly special is a "Sweeny Todds" pie and mash for 6 pounds. Sweeny Todds is a pie shop on castle street in reading and make the best pies I have ever had.
Punters, staff all fiendly and the beer is second to non. If its even just a bit suspect its taken off and returned to the brewery.
Think the rush to give this pub a load of zero scores to kick it off the top is really just shabby. But they have a printout behind the bar with it on the top...
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Sorry to see the usual ridiculous pile-on once this pub hit the top 40 list. Business at usual at BITE.
I just wish the raters who scramble to give low reviews to new "top" pubs would pause to write a review while they do so. Errr, unless they're "smiff" or some of his alter egos.
Of course i'm sure the ratings will gradually equalize over time and this pub will find its rightful place. Reviews suggest it is very much worth visiting.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2007 15:53 |
Didn't realise my review and rating yesterday was the 25th for this pub thus putting it No 1,but how sad that someone saw fit to give it a spiteful ZERO,explaining how it went from 8.8 to 8.5 so quickly. (And actually I didn't give it 10,I gave it 8.)
Pub is well worth a visit,yes it was actually better than the beerfest I was on the way to!!!!!!
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Visited on way to Twickenham beer festival and am sorry I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cos with 12 ales on I need not have bothered with the beer festival at all. My 2 pints were top notch,White Horse Wayland Smithy(a personal fav) and Appleford River crossing. Amazingly clean and fresh. Will be lovely in the winter if the landlord gets the fire fixed.......
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A cracker! 12 handpumps with Midhurst Mild at one end & Hopback Entire Stout at the other, these sandwiching 10 bitters in ascending strength (3.7>5.6abv) and no mainstreams! I tried 7 & enjoyed em all. Chalkboards above the bar indicate what’s on now & next in each % category. Ciders were Stowford Press & Old Rosie, “L” drivers can find Staropramen, Grolsch, Amstel,San Miguel, NO Fosters, Stella, Guinness, Hoorah!
The one-room spacious bar area has a piano, dartboard, 10 tables (4-8 seaters) &, although it was very quiet ystdy lunch, I can imagine it rockin after work. Daily special was Lasagne wi Garlic Bread (bread… wi garlic?) for £6 and I would’ve stayed to sample but couldn’t last ‘til 5pm; a filled baguette for £2 sufficed.
Reading’s a bit of a stretch for me but the Nag’s Head lived up to its reviews & the slightly slower train direct from Clapham meant I didn’t need to bother wi the tube hell round to Paddington. Thanks Meeko ("Right, which beer needs testing?"), I’ll be back…
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A very individual pub offering excellent service. A Car park to flummox the Traffic Wardens, outside tables with added warmth for all you hard done by smokers, a great range of unusual beers to please any connoisseurs and to wash down the smashing home made food.
Rugby and Footie specials shown on a big screen. A very happy atmosphere. Highly recommended.
anonymous - 18 Sep 2007 10:47 |
Yes i have to say i use the pub very often. Its a god send to have a pub in the neighbourhood that serves the best beers around. The punters are a nice bunch as well especialy that good looking dude with the bull dog.
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Fantastic place. 12 handpumps, each with a different beer in excellent condition. An absolute gem of a place.
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Dropped in the Nags Head the other night and what a splendid hostelry it is. An excellent choice of real ales, lagers and wines. The customers were jolly good company too! Nanny sampled several pints of Gribble’s Plucking Pheasant (5.2%), while I went for a couple of bottles of Andre Carpentier Champagne. I was going to order a third but Nanny said she was feeling a little bit dizzy. I must confess, I could have murdered another one. Nanny scraped the side of the Jag as we left the car park and I’m afraid I got very, very angry when we got home.
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A great “Free House”, new owners since January.
12 real ales on hand pumps from local breweries all at £2.50 a pint, no matter what strength.
4 lagers and 3 ciders.
The best selection of good wines at low prices.
A large selection of Malt Whisky's.
Fantastic food served between 4 and 7 Monday to Friday.
Sunday lunch served between 12 and 4.
Breakfasts are served between 11 and 1.30 on a Saturday, if you’re a Reading Supporter a coach will take you to the Mad Stad and back for £2.00, when there’s a home fixture.
The car park holds about 10 cars and includes benches and umbrellas in an effort to create a garden.
Inside there’s a great sound system and a wi fi internet connection if you’ve brought your laptop with you.
If you think this is an advert, you’re right. I’ve got shares in the pub!
meeko - 28 Aug 2007 21:47 |
On advance recommendation, took the 10 minute stroll from Reading Station, and was confronted with a stunning array of real ales for sale, of which many were new to me. Good service, friendly staff. I will have to come back for a more thorough visit soon! Food is available, although with no choice - a set menu applies each day. Ideal for this sort of pub.
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This is a very good pub; an excellent range of ale, always in excellent condition; friendly service. A must if you're in Reading!
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Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!
I love this place. The beer is good, at a reasonable price and the punters and staff are welcoming and friendly.
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Top pub with friendly crowd, great beer and now good food.
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This is a truly excellent pub. Clean, friendly and with an exceptional selection of beers. As others have said, the staff are friendly and the beers very well kept. They are threatening to do food may be a mixed blessing. The Hobgoblin definitely has competition!
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Easily the best pub in Reading. The best selection of beers in fine condition and at the right temperature. The clientele are intelligent, friendly and able to hold a conversation without continually "F"ing and blinding or talking football (no Sky, thank God). Hard to fault really.
anonymous - 20 Jul 2007 14:36 |
Must disagree with Quinno. I drink here regularly and see the beers turning over well. The bar staff are constantly checking beer quality and appear to clean the pipes at every change of beer. I like a choice of 12 ales, and never had a bad pint!
Wake up you hob-its and give it a try!!
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It has indeed been overhauled extensively and is much better for it. Good quality dart board and rolls available.
There are indeed 12 ales on, however when I went in a couple of Saturdays back in the early afternoon a number of them tasted musty like they had been sat in the lines for a quite a while which has put me off.
I'll try again in the near future and see if there's an improvement, but frankly, it might just be better for the licensees to halve the selection for now and keep it fresh before launching into 12 bearing in mind that the Hobgoblin and the Monks have cornered the real ale market in town.
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What a fantastic pub - couldn't believe my luck when I tumbled into this place. 12 ales to choose between, I tried 3 - and they were all delighful. A fine atmosphere too.
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Ended up here, after giving up on the prospect of an extremely long wait, to get into the Reading beer festival. 12 ales on tap, very friendly- a place that really deserves to succeed. Hope that some of the hundreds that were queuing to get in to the festival start to patronise this place.
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Great pub, 12 constantly changing real ales from local breweries different taste every time you go in. Great friendly staff and when the kitchen opens it will only improve. Oh and early for the non smoking ban.
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Well the beer is good and it is friendly, just nothing about the place really. Vey sterile and i could not really realax in there. Oh well, when you are used to the best it is hard trying somewhere new :-)
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An amazing transformation from the previous dingy incarnation that was the known as the Nag’s head. Now refurbished, a large range of real ales in a completely non smoking environment. Certainly has my vote.
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Fab place with friendly people. Magnificent choice of well-kept beers.
Hurrah!
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Recently refurbished / reopened as anon-smoking real ale pub. Get in there!
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The Ruddles nitrokeg blown out, last night there was were beers from Hop Back, Archers, Midhurst, Grand Union, Stonehenge, Hogs Back, Ramsbury, Welcon, Hampshire and Rebellion Breweries twelve different ales altogether!
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The pub is now closed and will reopen shortly without the terrible decor, but with real ale and nice wine.
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Hasn't seen a refit since 1968. Terrible decor and terrible choice of ales. Friendly service and pretty good juke box. Not my first choice to visit in Reading.
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Ropey old dump, where GK are trying to get punters to drink Ruddles nitrokeg. No proper beer - avoid.
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A very friendly Irish pub full of wonderful charactures!
anonymous - 27 Jan 2004 11:23 |
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