Mine's a Pint Issue 45

ehemoths BREWDOG, who promptly
draped a mega-banner over the front of
the building advising Reading that there
was “hope for the hopless”. Certain
other local pubs may disagree with
that statement, but there’s no doubt
there’s a sizeable audience locally for
the BrewDog style of offering. Brewdog
Reading will feature 20 taps of their own
and guest beers, with burgers and wings
on the food menu. The photo shows the
bar under refurbishment and it’s due to
open on 16 March.
Fans of live music should make sure
they check out the BUTLER’s listings, as
live music is scheduled every Friday and
Saturday night at this Chatham Street
pub. facebook.com/thebutlerpub
Local drinkers have been enjoying
some great meet the brewer and tap
takeover evenings in recent weeks. On
8 February the CASTLE TAP in Castle
Street played host to the brewers from
the Tap Social Movement in Oxford,
while the following week Bath’s Electric
Bear brewery took over the handpumps
in Greyfriars Road at the GREYFRIAR.
Pete Lea is the new manager of the
PHEASANT at the top of Southampton
Street. He has no real ale but has bottled
ale (Doom Bar, Pride and Bombardier).
The long-term intention is to put on
some real ale. Why not pop in and say
hello? This is an area that has lost many
pubs over the last few years (Cambridge
Arms, Woodley Arms, Wellington Arms,
Red Lion, Red Cow) so this one is quite
the survivor.
Talking of the RED COW, planning
applications have been submitted for
extensions and change of use to allow
for a restaurant on the ground floor and
three flats on the upper floor. It’s been
closed for years and appears to be in a
poor state so this is probably a positive
move.
The BALI LOUNGE in Kings Road
appears to have closed. Formerly the
Warwick, this Greene King pub morphed
over time into a Thai restaurant with
a small bar. Earlier this year a notice
on the door simply read “Closed unto
further notices, Bye Bye Bali Lounge.”
RISELEY
The BULL has been under new
management since early October 2017
– Borislav Minkov manages the pub
as well as the Red Lion at Peppard
Common. On offer are Shepherd Neame
beers (Whitstable Bay and Master Brew)
and there’s also a new menu. This is
now the only pub in the village after the
loss of the Dog & Partridge a few years
back and is the only Sheps pub in our
branch area.
Mine’s A Pint
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