The Black Horse, Reading - pub details

When I was young, this was how pubs were. Chaucer understood them, as did Shakespeare, Dickens, Mann and Chesterton. What a pity big brewers and daft tarts with home economics degrees don't. Bless you, honest innkeeper. Your beer's too cold but your heart's in the right place.

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Ridgeway.Rambler - 15 Dec 2009 22:24

The "Black Horse" came as a great and welcome surprise and shows that pubs that have been managed by the same family for a long time tend to be the best. Easy conversation in the bar with locals and owners, first rate West Berkshire beers and, on warmer nights, enough benches and tables outside to find somewhere to contemplate the trees and quiet countryside. Yes, there is no real food option (except occasional sandwiches I understand), but if you're not after a meal, it would hard to fault this rural pub. Certainly enough local people seem to value it very highly.

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Arctium_lappa - 17 Aug 2009 19:18

Have to agree whole-heartedly with previous reviews. Have been coming to The Black Horse for years and it is one of the most characterful pubs i've ever been in. These types of pub are sadly a dying breed (I thoroughly agree with one previous reviewer's comments about The Bell at Aldworth being of a similar type) with antiquated methods and fittings, but in a world of chain pubs, continental lagers and juke boxes it is a blessed relief to go back in time now and again.

Most of the ales have to be fetched from the cellar upon being ordered, the gents' toilet is outdoors with no roof and the urinal is really just a wall with a trough, the indoor seating areas are more akin to a living room than a pub and the pub itself is not the easiest to find for the uninitiated (particularly coming from the Wallingford side) being as it is down some country lanes that don't immediately promise much in the way of life. All these features add to up to the make The Black Horse a true hidden gem and one that should be treasured and preserved for as long as possible

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willyfog - 16 Aug 2009 10:38

An unspoiled country pub in a hard -to-find narrow lane. Completely unspoiled by modern intrusions of any sort, The Black Horse is a veritable time-warp. Quinno's description of the outside gents' toilet is quite accurate! I think the open fire in the small front bar must be a real treat on a cold winter evening.
We were made very welcome this lunchtime and our small party - the only customers - enjoyed the West Berks and Butlers beers until long after the nominal 2pm closure time. Very friendly indeed.
Food was simple - filled rolls with a choice of cheese, ham or beef.
A total gem. Visit before it becomes a gastropub, or gets a makeover. One of a vanishing breed.

Cheers,
AR

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Alph_river - 13 Oct 2008 23:42

A wonderful pub with a lot of character, seems to be very 1930's in character and detail, but I guess the building is much older than that.

Three separate rooms inside; spartan main bar, along with two plush lounges further down, which one suspects were proper pipe-smoking rooms a few years back. Very nice.

Beer available is usually a choice between Butlers and West Berks, served well, along with some excellent pickled eggs! Check out the wooden till, too.

Outside is a nice place to sit (front or back garden), in the front garden you can cross over the road to have a chat with the long-haired Aberdeen Anguses in the field.

Gents are a comedy outside affair, a right git in the winter.

A super country pub and well worth a visit - combine a stop here with a trip to the Bell at Aldworth, you shouldn't be disappointed.

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Quinno - 24 Aug 2008 22:13

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