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PUB & BREWERY NEWS CONTINUED<br />
quality is holding up so it's definitely worth<br />
a visit. A garden room is a new addition to<br />
the rear and there's a function room inside.<br />
The beer range has increased at the CLIFTON<br />
ARMS on Gosbrook Road and often features<br />
four ales from the Marstons range.<br />
KNOWL HILL<br />
The BIRD IN HAND on Bath Road has<br />
reopened after refurbishment. It’s been<br />
opened out and a lot of the previous homely<br />
touches have gone. The beer range is now<br />
only from Wadworth.<br />
READING<br />
A new addition to Reading's bar scene is the<br />
BOTANIST in the old Barclays Bank building<br />
on King Street (halfway between the<br />
Alehouse and Jacksons Corner). This is a<br />
new branch of a growing chain mainly<br />
based in the Midlands but with local<br />
branches in Marlow and Farnham. Gin,<br />
cocktails and craft beers (mainly bottles) are<br />
the main focus although the Marlow branch<br />
seems to have some cask ales. It opened<br />
after we went to press so why not check it<br />
out for yourself and let us know what you<br />
think?<br />
A pub many may not know exists – the<br />
FRUIT BAT – can be found in Erleigh Road<br />
in East Reading. It's kind of<br />
like a shop conversion and has<br />
been there several years now.<br />
Our reporter recommended<br />
the pub grub and found two<br />
Loddon ales on sale when he<br />
visited. It's near the hospital<br />
and in a part of Reading<br />
short of pubs.<br />
The ELDON ARMS in<br />
Eldon Terrace closed in<br />
April after brewery<br />
Wadworth sold the building, and licensee<br />
Russell MacKenzie moved on to the<br />
Royal Oak in Pewsey, Wiltshire.<br />
We wish him and his family all the best in<br />
their new venture. Shortly after closure a<br />
sign appeared in the window advertising for<br />
new bar staff so we hope to see the pub<br />
reopen, although this was a fast-moving situation<br />
around our press deadline. More<br />
news hopefully in the next issue. In the<br />
meantime, here's a picture of Russell and<br />
Carolyn on their last day in charge, receiving<br />
their award for being a finalist in our<br />
Pub of the Year competition.<br />
The THREE GUINEAS at Reading station<br />
often feature a LocAle alongside the wide<br />
range of Fullers beers. On a recent visit<br />
three Windsor & Eton beers were on offer.<br />
The former Wynford Arms on Kings Road is<br />
now the THIRSTY BEAR, an American<br />
themed bar and diner. There's supposed to<br />
be real ale but it's been rather elusive, at<br />
least at the start, so all we can say is that we<br />
believe it's a rebadged offering from<br />
Deuchars. On the food side, the pizzas are<br />
excellent and very filling. Don't make the<br />
mistake of ordering a whole one unless<br />
you're very hungry!<br />
The WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN<br />
on Basingstoke Road has been refurbished<br />
and reopened as a pizza and carvery restaurant<br />
and bar under the Stonehouse brand.<br />
We don't yet have any details of the real ale<br />
so please let us know if you<br />
pay them a visit.<br />
O’NEILLS on Friar Street<br />
was closed for refurbishment<br />
as we went to press. The plan<br />
is to create a new look and a<br />
new American Irish concept,<br />
with “a bigger range of craft<br />
ales served on tap” (which we<br />
guess means keg beers) and<br />
“stylish decor created from old<br />
whiskey barrels as well as a<br />
new menu with breakfast<br />
choices, burgers, sharing platters and pizzas.”<br />
Mine’s a <strong>Pint</strong><br />
6
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