A terrible, terrible haunt by all accounts. My advice is forget the Horse Head and get yourselves down to the godlike BACK OF BEYOND, 104-108 KINGS ROAD, READING, BERKSHIRE RG1 3BY instead. Go on, you know you want to.Too true WD, this boozer almost makes me long for the return of the shut-down polish hole a stone's throw away! Granted that was a den of inequity but less aggage of a weekend eh!This pub seems to attract a rather dubious crowd although considering the location this is hardly surprising. At weekends fights often occur outside so I'm sorry but cannot really recommend it.

I have to agree with the reviews below, since the rather abrasive previous landlord/landlady left this boozer has vastly improved. The new couple are friendly and have an actual sense of humour; something the last lot clearly couldn't grasp other than when getting dressed that is...New licensee seems friendly enough and there were free snacks when I visited. Beer range was still pretty good (Loddon/Ringwood plus a couple of others including Sharps - but not Doom Bar!!) The guvnor appears to like Ruddles which seems odd in a pub like this but he'll get over it. Hopefully the pub will prosper and the live music will remain,so best of luck.now they've got rid of the weirdos that ran it previously the retreat isn't a bad little boozer. trumpton.

I thought it was an interesting place a couple of years back, with good beers.

I hope the new management continue the better points.Been in 3 times since it re-opened. Very warm welcome by the barmaid and chef. Great range of changing ales from Rebellion - Roasted Nuts and XT - XT4 on recent visits. Great deals on food at lunchtimes with Sandwich and soup for £5. Worth a visit.Pub open now after a brief closure. Interesting allegations on the pub's website (http://www.redliontheale.com/) regarding previous owners. Bit libelous and scandalous—either way I NEVER had a positive visit when the previous owners were in. Possibly *THE* rudest and most abrasive owners I've come across, not welcoming in the slightest. Visited a few times over the last 18 months (with others who wanted to visit). The beer was always very good, unfortunately.

Not rated this pub based on the previous owners—I'll wait and rate based on who's taken it over.

As noted by others - should now be filed under "The Alehouse". A splendid small pub with nooks and crannies for a good chat, bare boards, occasional beer festivals and a generally interesting range of ale (ca 6 at a time) with good cider also available. The pub comes as a surprise, presumable a relic of the old town centre, now largely obscured by modern shopping development. Maybe because I normally go in briefly in mid-week, the "Alehouse" is not always crowded but it does not take many folk to make it so. Together with the Nag's Head, makes central Reading a high class place for a drink, and the Zerodegrees is there for teh non-traditionalist.The Alehouse is a great little pub on Reading's main street. I'm always amazed by how untouched it is considering its location. The main bar area is small, cramped and atmospheric with bare boards. Beyond this, there are 3 small and secluded rooms. It's always busy and rightfully so. The beer and cider range is excellent and I presume turns over quickly, as the quality is good. The bar staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Beers on during our visit were Cottage Sunbeam Tiger, Art Brew Hip Hop Dr Rudi's Super Alpha, Two Cocks Puritan Stout, West Berkshire Dr Hexter's Wedding Ale & Aylesbury Duck Ale. Ciders were Springfield Red Dragon, Polgoon Cider, Tutts Clump Traditional Farmhouse Cider & Perry & Barbourne Dovedale Perry. They were also serving a mead from Dorset, either cold or mulled. A must visit when in Reading.Brilliant pub now called The Ale House. 8 ales on including three from west Berkshire brewery, all good. Ciders too.

Nice traditional little pub on the edge of Hungerford common. Well kept Arkells beer, I had the Wiltshire Gold and a Sunday lunch that takes some beating. Will be returning on a regular basis.I completely agree about this lovely pub, it's one of the few Arkells haven't screwed up. Long may it survive!It’s reassuring that pubs like this still survive . The kind of delightful pub that is fast disappearing, untouched by modern trends to modernise and ‘gastro-ise’. On the occasion we visited, staffed by two ladies and a shy but talkative parrot This pub offers good traditional home cooked meals, like those my mother used to cook and sold at budget prices. With four Arkells ales on offer, we stuck with the Moonlight which was in excellent condition. A must for a return visit.

Enjoyable walk along the Hurley Lock then very enjoyable meal will vist again soonSecond visit in a couple of weeks this time for Sunday Lunch and again did not disappoint as really enjoyable meal well cooked meal and friendly staff will definitely go again Second visit in a couple of weeks this time for Sunday Lunch and again did not disappoint as really enjoyable meal well cooked meal and friendly staff will definitely go again

Maybe I would not be quite so fulsome in my praise as The Hermit (Nov 2012) but their description is spot on. Its reputation is wide and you will find it crowded on most nights, but if that forces you into chatting with your neighbours - all to the good. The one negative is also a positive, the width of the serving area is very small, so you'll have to wait your turn, but the interior is so lovely that any modernisation for ergonomic reasons would be a crimeUtterly outstanding village pub that provides a superb selection of West Berkshire ales, rolls filled with intriguing fillings (the ox tongue and the pork & wild mushroom pate were both superb), this book has all the nooks and crannies you could want and is utterly unspoilt. So - a drinker's pub in the main, but also a walkers' one - it's a real hike from amywhere (we negotiated the three and a half miles from Goring & Streatley station) and is also ridiculously busy of a Sunday lunchtime (seats are at a premium but this somehow adds to the conviviality, as does the strong canine contingent.Pretty certain there is no lager tap, yarblockos, although they keep a small range of bottled stuff. I almost hesitate to recommend The Bell as it gets so busy & I want to be able to sit down!

One of Newbury's finest and a great choice of REAL ales reasonably priced. What is not to love?After a good visit about a month ago, I thought I would try it again and see how the refurb is holding up.

The ale is superb, to be expected really as owned by a renowned brewer.

Food is great, really nice to see a pub doing some old greats with a new twist. Thumbs up.

Onto the staff, and really the only let down. They were chirpy and energetic the first time I visited.

This visit, two girls stood and chat behind the bar and seemed chirpy and energetic until I asked of them for merely an ale and a menu, 1 dashed off, the other served me an icy glare followed by what can only be described as a grunt, almost as if I had interrupted their conversation.

Hopefully just caught them on an off day, as food and drink were both great, just a bit of a shame the staff couldnt have been a bit more pleasent.Took a gamble and decided to pay a visit wow its open!! Well what can I say ?? Is it still a pub or a Restaurant ?? Tables all laid up a la carte style ,reduced bar stools worst of all the dart board gone what's the concept here get rid of the drinkers and bring in the cheese and wine brigade,anyway had a drink looked at the pretentious chalk board menu copied no doubt from another proper restaurant review and left disappointed .Shame can't see it working myself

THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS SHOW
Saturday 29th Decenber
No ChargeDoes anybody actually read this, by the way, or am I just typing to myself?? lol
Any way another grat quiz last week (though I say so myself.) and the next one is taking shape nicely. Hey we've even got a picture round this time . Why not come along and join the challengers team and try to knock the Keggheads off their lofty perch (They're really not that good.) don't forget the quiz next Thursday (October 18)
Landlord's challenge: Keggheads take on all comers. Its gonna be a barrel load of fun.

Small Pub that seems to have just been redecorated and has some new furnature. A locals Pub with Dart Board Six real Ales on offer. Had a nice pint of Greene King Abbott Ale but at £3:55 a Pint quite expensive. Seating area in the front which would be a sun trap in the summer. worth a second visit.As a newcomer to Wokingham (albeit from that great tradition of Yorkshire beer) I'm inclined to agree that this one is pretty good. I still live in York, most of the time (Thank God!) but it's nice to know the old South Country (where I was born) can still hack it in the ale stakes when push comes tom shove!Great cosy pub for a cold winters day and a good pint of Landlord to match.

The North Bank's answer to the wonderful Nag's Head and a burgeoning success story since the arrival of a local brewer. There were about six ales on tap in the occasion of my visit as well as four ciders/perries. Unpretentious too - and the public bar has a pool table. A good local and they run a bus to matches at the Madejski Stadium.Sadly, white van man has made a comeback in this pub. Avoid unless you want to hear the "f" word and the "c" word being bellowed in your lugs.Talk about a Pub being revived to probably the best one in Caversham! Excellent selection on Ales. Very friendly atmosphere, always have a brilliant time. The new Landlord and Landlady are both a breath of fresh air to the place. Worth checking it out!

A large multi-roomed rather non-descript estate pub. The only other customer there when I visited was hardly challenging the bloke serving. Butts Jester, London Pride and a beer from Windsor on offer. The Jester was undrinkable so was returned and swapped for a Pride which can only be descrided as OK. I wouldn't race backThis pub has improved immensely in recent times (sorry but I didn't eat there so cannot comment on the food as others havedone)but there were 4 real ales available (2 x Loddon/1 x West Berks and LondonPride)plusan ever increasing range of bottled beers mostly from local brewers (Bingham's ales often feature on draught as well as bottle). Two bars - one with an extension which has a pool table. Outside drinking and a hut for smokers. Friendly barmaid and although the locals gave me that "I spy strangers" look they were OK in the end. This bar is worth the bus trip out of Reading (20a from the station)stops outside at Silverdale Road shops and deserves our support.went last week, waited an over an hour for food. when it did finally arrive parts were missing and served on cold plates so left barely eating it, wine was nice but a bit expensive, not what i had hoped for.

Almost a similar story to Beer Spotter and FrankDS as on my visit my selection of Rebellion Mutiny was curtailed as it was end of barrel. However, the ubiquitous Doom Bar was on tap, so all was not lost. I was the only customer at 5:45pm on a Tuesday afternoon which was sad in itself, but even sadder was a poster on the wall proclaiming that The Victoria Arms was going and that they were having a closing down sale on 6th April...Only one proper beer on tap (Doombar) but when its well looked after and tasted great as this did, then one is all you need. Nice log fire and friendly bar man as well.Went here for the 1st time to be told they had no ales. This was a Saturday!
As 'Beer Spotter' stated in April, it happened to him/her. How common is this? Not good for a CAMRA local beers member.

I am extremely sorry that you experienced this miceman. I assume that this was today? We are a community pub and as such welcome families, however, we do have a policy of children not sitting at the bar and children should be under parental control. I am not sure what happened on this occasion but it will be rectified. Many thanks for drawing it to our attention.The new management evidently wants to run a kindergarten so if you like to see toddlers on the bar stools and rolling on the floor this is the place for you.Went in one weekday lunchtime. Not very busy but quality of the ale (Fullers - Bengal Lancer) was fine and food very nice if a little expensive. Very nice environment. I would come back for a drink at least.

Visited recently and how nice to see a turnaround! The last time I visited it looked like it was curtains for the pub. On a Saturday afternoon my pal and I were the only customers in there and that usually spells bad news - in honesty, the experience then was not impressive.

However, most recent visit there's a vibrancy there, customers and everything looking good. Good to see. Whoever turned it around, well done you and long may it continue!!Only found this Pub recently, but what a find. I don't go to a Pub to Eat so lack of food doesn't worry me.
The selection and quality of the Ales, the the pleasant welcome, the real fire and the general ambiance make this my first choice if I can talk Mrs Ghost into driving home after my regular 3/4 of a Gallon.
Perhaps it's a good job I live some distance away as I could easily come to haunt this place on a regular basis.Nice to see this pub busy against! But I was pleasantly surprised to see Brakspears Bitter back on, and in fine fettle. Biggest shock was the price of Peroni! £4:75 a Pint! Needless to say I was glad I am a Real Ale Drinker.