Mine's a Pint - Summer 2018

TIME FOR SOME REAL ALE
TRAINING!
Reading is one of the South’s major
railway centres with trains arriving
and departing every few minutes
for destinations right across the country as
well as more local towns and villages. Years
ago most larger stations would have had
a buffet or refreshment room which often
would have sold draught beer. Today many
of these old rooms have been or are being
renovated and returned as real ale bars and
where not, there is usually a decent pub close
by.
So, let’s take a look at a few local stations
and the Real Ale pubs which still serve
them. We will start, as you might expect
at READING station itself, where we find
the recently renovated THREE GUINEAS.
Three Guineas, Reading
This is a Fuller’s pub but does offer a good
range of guest ales as well as food and an
underground function room. They have TV
screens showing departures and there are
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seating areas at the front next to
the ticket barriers. The pub has a
modern feel to it, but it once was
the main ticket office for the entire station
and the station clock still survives (this used
to be cared for by local CAMRA members
until recently). Nearby you may also like to
try the excellent GREYFRIAR which has 8
beers available or the unusual BISCUIT TIN
which sells West Berkshire beers.
From Reading we head east on a stopping
service using one of the new Class 387 electric
trains and our first stop is TWYFORD. Turn
right out of the main entrance and at the top
of the road you will find THE GOLDEN
CROSS. This mock-tudor frontage pub
dated back only to the 19th century and
offers a couple of beers from Hampshire
brewer Upham. There are a couple of bar
areas and a garden/patio as well as a darts
board and sports TV. It is open all day and is
family and dog friendly.
Our next stop is MAIDENHEAD which
was once the home of Nicholson’s Brewery
whose name lives on in the shopping centre.
The nearest pub to the station is THE BELL
which serves Doom Bar and/or Greene King
IPA. You may, however, wish to walk a little
bit further (about 5 minutes) along King
Street and try the ROSE (one Rebellion beer
plus Fuller’s London Pride) or the relatively
new OFF THE TAP which offers pizzas and
a selection of craft bottles and cans as well as
two cask beers from Rebellion.