Train Trip To Reading 12

is a reminder of the former off-sales. From the bar, a short passage leads to the rear lounge, which would have been two small rooms in the past.

It was time for lunch now and we headed to the Back of Beyond, one of two Wetherspoons in Reading (there were four), named after its location on the edge of the old town. The beer garden overlooks the Kennet & Avon Canal, and, unusually for a Wetherspoon, the toilets are on the ground floor!

After lunch, we headed west to The Alehouse (formerly the Hobgoblin), an old, popular pub in the centre of town. The small bar area, decorated in pump clips, was packed, so we enjoyed our West Berkshire Mister Swift in one of the quieter wooden booths at the back. Some of the party visited the Allied Arms which has two small rooms with 1950s fittings. Eight real ales were on sale here (at a notably higher price than other pubs we visited).

The award for most unusual pub of the day has to go to Sweeney & Todd, on Castle Street. At the front is a pie shop, selling a wide variety of excellent pies to eat in or take away, then there is a bar area (four ales available including St Austell Proper Job), with a restaurant at the back and a rabbit warren of further rooms downstairs. The decor is unpretentious and basic, which adds to the charm.

Opposite the Sweeney & Todd I noticed a BrewDog pub, which wasn’t on the itinerary, but not having visited one before, decided to take a look. Opened in March 2018, it’s a large, spacious, warehouse-type place on two floors, with an industrial vibe, booths and pinball machines. Twenty taps dispense all the BrewDog craft keg beers plus a few guests.

Two pubs on the western side of the town centre visited by some of the party included the Castle Tap, selling four real ales. It had some old-looking bar fittings which look like they came from another pub. Also, the Nags Head which was very busy with a Six Nations match on the TV screen. This pub has the largest selection of real ales in Reading with twelve from microbreweries, usually including a Mild and a Stout.

Time was growing short now, and we headed towards the Butler, a Grade II-listed building on the outskirts of the town, named after the Butler family who ran a wine merchants on the premises before selling to Fuller’s in 1976 (it is now owned by a local consortium). During our early evening visit it was busy with mixed clientele enjoying the rugby, but the pub is also well known for its live music. From here, some of the group headed off in a taxi to Phantom, a new local microbrewery (only craft keg beers), but Nikki and I decided to head straight to the railway station and a visit to the final watering hole, the Three Guineas. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1840 as a ticket office adjacent to the station, this is a busy and impressive place, which has been completely refurbished by owners Fuller’s. Eight real ales available, including a number of Fuller’s plus a few guests, and there is a discount for CAMRA members.

All in all, a great day out in Reading with some great pubs visited and tasty beers imbibed, the only sour note being one of the group sustaining a broken ankle outside the Butler. I hope to revisit the town soon and spend some more time in my personal favourites (Fox and Hounds, Retreat and Alehouse), sample some of the pies in Sweeney & Todd and to visit some pubs which sadly had to be skipped due to lack of time, e.g. Hop Leaf and Weather Station, to name just two.

Jason Hart