Mine's a Pint Issue 42

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PUB & BREWERY NEWS CONTINUED quality is holding up so it's definitely worth a visit. A garden room is a new addition to the rear and there's a function room inside. The beer range has increased at the CLIFTON ARMS on Gosbrook Road and often features four ales from the Marstons range. KNOWL HILL The BIRD IN HAND on Bath Road has reopened after refurbishment. It’s been opened out and a lot of the previous homely touches have gone. The beer range is now only from Wadworth. READING A new addition to Reading's bar scene is the BOTANIST in the old Barclays Bank building on King Street (halfway between the Alehouse and Jacksons Corner). This is a new branch of a growing chain mainly based in the Midlands but with local branches in Marlow and Farnham. Gin, cocktails and craft beers (mainly bottles) are the main focus although the Marlow branch seems to have some cask ales. It opened after we went to press so why not check it out for yourself and let us know what you think? A pub many may not know exists – the FRUIT BAT – can be found in Erleigh Road in East Reading. It's kind of like a shop conversion and has been there several years now. Our reporter recommended the pub grub and found two Loddon ales on sale when he visited. It's near the hospital and in a part of Reading short of pubs. The ELDON ARMS in Eldon Terrace closed in April after brewery Wadworth sold the building, and licensee Russell MacKenzie moved on to the Royal Oak in Pewsey, Wiltshire. We wish him and his family all the best in their new venture. Shortly after closure a sign appeared in the window advertising for new bar staff so we hope to see the pub reopen, although this was a fast-moving situation around our press deadline. More news hopefully in the next issue. In the meantime, here's a picture of Russell and Carolyn on their last day in charge, receiving their award for being a finalist in our Pub of the Year competition. The THREE GUINEAS at Reading station often feature a LocAle alongside the wide range of Fullers beers. On a recent visit three Windsor & Eton beers were on offer. The former Wynford Arms on Kings Road is now the THIRSTY BEAR, an American themed bar and diner. There's supposed to be real ale but it's been rather elusive, at least at the start, so all we can say is that we believe it's a rebadged offering from Deuchars. On the food side, the pizzas are excellent and very filling. Don't make the mistake of ordering a whole one unless you're very hungry! The WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN on Basingstoke Road has been refurbished and reopened as a pizza and carvery restaurant and bar under the Stonehouse brand. We don't yet have any details of the real ale so please let us know if you pay them a visit. O’NEILLS on Friar Street was closed for refurbishment as we went to press. The plan is to create a new look and a new American Irish concept, with “a bigger range of craft ales served on tap” (which we guess means keg beers) and “stylish decor created from old whiskey barrels as well as a new menu with breakfast choices, burgers, sharing platters and pizzas.” Mine’s a <strong>Pint</strong> 6
PUB & BREWERY NEWS CONTINUED It’s reported that BrewDog are actively looking for premises in Reading. Where do you think they could find? Featured in this issue’s article about pub closures, the RISING SUN in Forbury Road has been closed for a long time and now, after no interest from the licensed trade, has been sold to new owners who want to demolish it. Luckily Reading Borough Council refused the application for a demolition licence, which gave just enough time for new planning rules to come into force meaning that demolition now needs full planning permission. Formerly a Brakspear’s house, the Rising Sun had a chequered history for its last few years of trading and is surrounded by modern (well, 1990s) offices. We don’t think the new owners have any specific plans for the site yet – it's difficult to see much happening on its own as the site is so small but it could form part of a wider redevelopment scheme in the future. Or it could even reopen as a pub – who knows? The BUGLE on Friar Street has stopped selling real ale. The previous offering of Courage Best had not been selling well enough to keep in good condition. Planning and listed building applications have been made for the closed RED COW on the corner of Crown Street and Southampton Street. They are seeking permission for change of use from pub to restaurant (ground floor) and erection of a single storey extension, together with conversion of the upper floor into three self-contained flats. We were awaiting the council’s decision as we went to press. A change of management at the GREYFRIAR on Greyfriars Road has seen Josh (formerly of Zerodegrees) take over from Andy. The beer quality has remained excellent and six real ales from microbreweries are still on Mine’s a <strong>Pint</strong> 7 offer alongside interesting keg and bottled beers and a wide variety of craft gins. The quiz held every other Monday, now with a new quizmaster and starting at 7.30pm, is recommended and offers generous prizes. Don’t forget that the pub also gives CAMRA members a 10% discount on real ales (show your membership card to get this). The QUEENS ARMS on Great Knollys Street – near the Reading Buses depot – has been off most people’s radar for some time. It's been closed for six months and had a bad reputation before that. Now, though, it's set to see a new lease of life as a drop-in centre for the homeless and disadvantaged. Christian charity New Beginnings has started work to turn the pub into an alcohol-free community hub offering free hot meals and clothes, with estimated opening in July. Grace Gomez, who set up the charity and was once homeless herself, explained that the idea is to bring an empty community building back into use that would offer help to single homeless people, and also homeless families in B&Bs who are “cooped up in one room with children”. She said: “We thought it would be good if they had somewhere to go, they could drop in after school, there will be free food and drink on offer, and there will be a place outside for children to play – just like a pub without the alcohol.” While we’re sorry to see a pub go, it's great that it'll still be CONTINUED OVERLEAF
Page 1: THE MAGAZINE FOR READING AND MID BE
Page 4 and 5: From the Editor The last few weeks
Page 8 and 9: 2 Broad Street Reading, RG1 2BH 011
Page 10 and 11: BREWERY NEWS CONTINUED ASCOT ALES A
Page 12 and 13: The bottles will be available from
Page 14 and 15: Mine’s a Pint 14
Page 16 and 17: Small Beer A roundup of news and in
Page 19 and 20: SMALL BEER - CONTINUED could result
Page 21 and 22: Unfortunately the numbers through t
Page 23 and 24: New Planning rules set to protect p
Page 25 and 26: Why do we do it? Because we really
Page 27 and 28: PUB CLOSURES - CONTINUED issue) whi
Page 29 and 30: HISTORY OF PERRY - CONTINUED 1876-1
Page 31: THE BELL Waltham St Lawrence RG10 0

Mine's a Pint Issue 42

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