Today Wednesday 10th June after i had My Breakfast at The Hope Tap i walked to the Monks Retreat and when i arrived i went up to the Bar and Adam Took my Order and i Ordered Cheese and Ham Panini and 1 Large Orange Juice and i went and sat at Table 3 and i watched People walk up and Down Friar Street while i was eating my Lunch and the Monks Retreat is a very Big Pub on 2 Floors and with lots of Tables to Choose from and you can even sit and eat outside and i will Return next Time i go to the Monks Retreat.Today Tuesday 9th June i went to the Monks Retreat in Reading and when i arrived i went up to the Bar and Kealiegh Took my Order and i Ordered 1 Large Orange Juice and i went and sat at Table 30 and i watched People walk up and Down Friar Street and the Monks Retreat is a very Big Pub on 2 Floors and with lots of Tables to Choose from and you can even sit and eat outside and i will Return next Time i go to the Monks Retreat.Today Monday 8th June after i had Finish Work i went to the Monks Retreat in Reading and when i arrived i went up to the Bar and Nicole Took my Order and i Ordered 1 10oz Orange Juice and i went and sat at Table 30 and i Watched People walk up and Down Friar Street and the Monks Retreat is a very Big Pub on 2 Floors and with Lots of Tables to Choose from and you can even sit and eat outside and i will Return next Time i go to the Monks Retreat.

Tonight Tuesday 26th May i went to the Hope Tap in Reading and when i arrived i went up to the Bar and Tamara Took my Order and i Ordered 1 Large Orange Juice and i went and sat at Table 10 and i watched Buses Drive up and Down Friar Street and the Hope Tap is a very Big Pub with lots of Tables To Choose from and theres a Beer Garden so you can sit and eat outside and i Will Return next Time i go to the Hope Tap.Today Monday 25th May i went to the Hope Tap in Reading and when i arrived i went up to the Bar and Tamara Took my Order and i Ordered Porridge with Honey and Bananas and 1 Large Orange Juice and i went and sat at Table 10 and i watched Buses Drive up and Down Friar Street while i was eating my Breakfast and the Hope Tap is a very Big Pub with lots of Tables to Choose from and i will Return next Time i go to the Hope Tap.All roads in Reading seem to lead here. I ended up not finding the Greyfriars, finding the Gateway shut at 10pm on a Monday and coming back here.

So - an average pint of Foddens. Not had it before but it was uninspiring. Then had a large Talisker. For £3.75.

Tried to do the maths to see if it would be as cheap for me to fill a bottle as buy one in the supermarket.

Things have not improved with very few punters frequenting the joint. They won't be able to maintain business at this rate...Not before time but the Retreat seems to be on the up and settled under a new landlord, friendly, welcoming and a man who knows what he's doing. Generally five ales available, all guests from respected breweries plus a range of British and European bottled beers. The place is clean and tidy, live music is back and it's good to be able to say that the Retreat is once again well worth a visit.I have now seen it all; a regular urinating in the sink bold as you like. This sort of thing wouldn't have happened in the Bernie and Jane era although sadly he was a regular then also. It is a disgrace I tell you, an absolute disgrace. I've never seen the like!

Over priced but for a gay pub not too bad. Not enough Erasure on the jukebox mind.Lovely old building and plenty of grizzled punters amid the half-timbered surrounds. A beer garden does the trick when the weather is clement but the place is pokey otherwise. Local ales from Loddon are frequently and the Hullaballoo went down well on the occasion of our visit.A really beautiful pub with an increasing selection of Ale. A bit expensive, but worth it on a summer's day. Best to avoid in winter unless you want to stand outside!

back in after a time away and was chuffed to see things improved with turkish guy leading proceedings. geez tells me he will likely be new landlord early 2015 and all good to my mind.Ugh. Wouldn't set foot in this hole again if I was dying of thirst on their doorstep.

What. A. Dive.rude manager, mostly ignorant staff, and full of piss heads with nowhere else to go...on the plus side, can get a few ales (unsure of how well kept), now and then

They've re-opened but there is still a distinct aroma of body odour in the air; probably the Polish locals who flood the place.Re-opened on 1 October, looking much like it did before the closure if a bit cleaner and tidier. Initial beers were Doom Bar and two from West Berkshire; food menu to be offered later apparently.Unfortunately the closure was only temporary and another unfortunate landlord will shortly be entering the fray. You cannot (re)polish a turd sir.