please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Narrow frontage - long bar reaching to back of premises. Friendly staff. Good range of ales.
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Many of the locals have returned, the live music has returned (but watch out for the Beginners Ukelele nights!) and a decent and very well kept beer range has returned. Coupled with new furnishings, a general makeover and, last but by no means least, a genuinely friendly landlord, the Retreat is well worth a visit these days. Beers are chosen to provide variety compared to neighbouring pubs and often favour regional breweries.
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Wow! What a transformation. Very friendly landlord and barmaid, good range of beers, and looking great after redecoration - in fact looking better that it's ever looked in the 40 years since I first went there - and it appears many of the old locals are coming back. Highest hopes for this iconic pub's survival since Bernie and Jane left. Keep up the great work, landlord!
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Things have not improved with very few punters frequenting the joint. They won't be able to maintain business at this rate...
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Not before time but the Retreat seems to be on the up and settled under a new landlord, friendly, welcoming and a man who knows what he's doing. Generally five ales available, all guests from respected breweries plus a range of British and European bottled beers. The place is clean and tidy, live music is back and it's good to be able to say that the Retreat is once again well worth a visit.
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How many owners have they been through this year already?
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I have now seen it all; a regular urinating in the sink bold as you like. This sort of thing wouldn't have happened in the Bernie and Jane era although sadly he was a regular then also. It is a disgrace I tell you, an absolute disgrace. I've never seen the like!
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Still one of my top 5 pubs in Reading, but needs a permanent landlord desperately.
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Back street pub that's had a difficult 2013 after the departure of long serving licencees Jane and Bernie. As the year draws to a close, the pub now has its fourth landlord of 2013 - he's only been in charge a few weeks so it's too early to pass a verdict. But there's no doubt the recent history of uncertain beer deliveries and unpredictable choice has affected trade.
Beers today are unlikely to exceed four and will probably be from larger breweries but that does include the likes of seasonals from Thwaites and Tim Taylor's Golden Best. Sharp's Cornish Coaster seems to continue as the regular beer.
A pub in need of more punters!
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great place, and I haven't been for at least 3 years, but remember it well at a black diamonds gig ...................................................
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I love this pub. I loved it when Bernie and Jane were there, I loved it when Bish and Jules were there and I love it now that Tony and Vicky are there. I love it because it's small, friendly and has great beer, friendly customers and great music. I have seen better music in there than in any of the big venues I have been to: world class jazz and blues and plenty of engaging local bands. It is unpretentious and relaxing. It's not for everybody but it's definitely for me.
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Jason I dont think you know what your talking about. The retreat is a lovely pub and ive never seen you in there. You need to actually step foot in a pub before you can review it and when you do review it not mention your own pub. Thats an idiotic thing to do.
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that bish geez was an improvement upon bernard and tarzan as at least he could bat a smile and wasn't constantly up his own ass unlike those two tossers.
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Very disappointed by what is happening here. Thank goodness we have the Eldon Arms!
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Everything wonderful about this place that previous reviewers have written is or has been true. As for the points previous reviewers may have said they didn't like - well, I never saw them. The Retreat deserves to go down in Reading's history - but let's hope it has a fantastic future too!
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What is going on here?! A loved community pub that should be thriving on the mix of real ales, the support of Reading's musical, artistic and student community is now in suicide mode! A heartfelt plea to the 'remote' management - get a grip and grow rather that destroy this blissful place located in the heart of a thriving Conservation area. Music, good beer and good conversation make this place. If we want food, cheap beer, little music and minimal conversation - no problem as loads of pubs providing them already exist nearby!
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The Retreat's third licensees of 2013 are now installed and keeping up the emphasis on good beer. The range may be a bit reduced compared to the old days with five beers generally the maximum on now, a mix of local and regional/nationals. Marstons group have featured prominently on my visits and Sharps Cornish Coaster continues to be a regular. Worth checking out and watching to see how things develop.
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Bish and his rude friend have gone, and the new people seem friendly enough. The beer stays good though.
The community have had the place listed as an asset - mainly through the endeavours of Jane and Bernie.
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Bish, the new landlord has done a brilliant job of cleaning up the establishment. His beers are varied and are always in good condition, Cornish Coaster sells very well. I would recommend a visit on a Sunday afternoon when you can listen to good live jazz and good craic while enjoying a range of varied nibbles from the bar.
BUT what a shame; in the grand tradition of PubComs Bish is having to move on, today I believe.
You will be missed Bish and I wish you well, you have done a brilliant job and I for one sincerley thank you as I am sure all your regulars do.
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I really want the new landlord to succeed, as he clearly knows his beer and puts in a lot of effort. However....seriously let down by the landlady's attitude and demeanour - rude and surly. A simple 'good evening' would be a good start. Jane and Bernie could be a little abrupt but usually humorous with it (at least Jane was). The new lady's attitiude is just plain unwelcoming. I'm sure this is putting others off as well and is losing the pub much-needed custom. Please, new landlady, work on your customer facing skills and I may come back as I've always loved this pub.
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One of Reading's most pleasant and charming establishments run by a real ale connoisseur who clearly knows his stuff. I have yet to find an establishment in the local area that can rival it. Top banana.
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A vast improvement now under new management. The new owners have also managed to swing it so the building is the beer equivalent of a listed building. Something the last lot clearly couldn't manage eh?
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I have to agree with the reviews below, since the rather abrasive previous landlord/landlady left this boozer has vastly improved. The new couple are friendly and have an actual sense of humour; something the last lot clearly couldn't grasp other than when getting dressed that is...
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New licensee seems friendly enough and there were free snacks when I visited. Beer range was still pretty good (Loddon/Ringwood plus a couple of others including Sharps - but not Doom Bar!!) The guvnor appears to like Ruddles which seems odd in a pub like this but he'll get over it. Hopefully the pub will prosper and the live music will remain,so best of luck.
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now they've got rid of the weirdos that ran it previously the retreat isn't a bad little boozer. trumpton.
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Popped into this pub for the first time during an 'away day' pub crawl yesterday and found out the landlord had only taken over the day before. It seems a very good back-street traditional pub and we stayed for three pints each, having only planned for one... it's a place you really should support if you like proper pubs and the landlord wants to hear what beers people would like to see. We had the Rebellion Fat Cat and it was excellent, very well kept. The landlord seems a friendly bloke and a genuine fan of real ale, so this great little pub is well worth a visit. About ten minutes or so from the town centre. Hope it goes well for him.
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It is rumoured the mighty Maggs are taking over this venue which many will concur will be an improvement on the stoic faced eccentric duo who currently (mis)manage it. Onwards and upwards has never rang so true!
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I thought I'd been to the best pubs in Reading, having previously visited the Hobgoblin (now the Ale House) and the Nags Head. But I think this pub just about trumps them both. Behind the small front bar, there is a slightly larger second room which leads through to the toilets. I was surprised to find a bicycle in the gents! Located up a side street, it looks attractive on the outside, whilst the interior is traditional. The local CAMRA magazine is campaigning to save the pub and the landlord confirmed the landlord confirmed they were planning to move out in January. Ales on offer were Sharps Cornish Coaster, Loddon Ferryman's Gold, Youngs Special, Otter Bitter, Binghams Vanilla Stout & Longdog Brindle Bitter. Ciders and perries were Westons Old Rosie, Mr Whiteheads Hampshire Perry & Cirrus Minor & Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze. I really hope this pub is still here the next time I come to Reading. It's an unusual 9/10 from me.
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Get here while you can! Contrary to camra colin's post the pub is alive and doing business at least until New Year. The "crummy couple" are actually a pair of hard working and lovable eccentrics who have made the Retreat what it is today - a busy community local with real ales, cider, Belgian bottled beers and live music several times a week.
Beers include Loddon Ferrymans Gold and Sharps Cornish Coaster with guests tending to be session bitters from local-ish microbrewers and porter or stout at the stronger end of the scale.
Sadly owners Admiral Taverns don't want to build on success and made the landlord and lady an offer they had to refuse. They will leave in early 2013 and will be a hard act to follow.
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Now closed thanks to a wise decision by the brewery. Good riddance to a crummy pub and the crummy couple who ran it. Smirk.
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I only pop into this boozer once in a while but would be very sad indeed to see it close. Surely a few of the well-heeled locals could club together and make the Pubco an offer for the lease/freehold?
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it's been given a stay of exicution until November, but the pub co want to close it, as it's "unviable", all they have to do is make it free of tie and give the landlord and landlady half a chance
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Is it still open? That Jason fellow was posting it is shortly to close...
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Ah, I see the landlord of the Back of Beyond is slandering his competition again, inbetween offering the cheap as chips care in the community to pondlife you wouldn't want to meet on the street or in a pub for that matter....
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yes jason if you want to drink ice cold ale in a barn, then you'd go to 'spoons, if however you want excellent ale in convivial surroundings you'll fight to save this pub
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The Retreat to shortly close it's doors eh? My, oh my now there is a shocker. A little bird tells me the godlike Wetherspoon's chain may be looking to purchase the boozer and I daresay could find work for Jane and Bernie as a couple of pot-washers. Granted that may prove a bit taxing for them as it would entail actually grafting for a living. It would also mean getting out of bed before 4 in the afternoon. I, of course will be really, really sorry to see The Retreat go but as many pundits mention below the (lack of) customer skills and overpriced jollop has clearly led to their downfall. However their greatest failing was being located so near to an establishment they could never hope to compete with in terms of quality service, good graces not to mention a dashing landlord! So for all those disillusioned Retreat customer shortly to be without a watering hole I offer the only advice you need this century. Which is get on down to THE BACK OF BEYOND, 104-108 KINGS ROAD, READING, BERKSHIRE RG1 3BY. You may just never leave!
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If Reading CAMRA let this close then what the f***king point of them!
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I'd sooner see Westminster Abbey knocked down that lose The Retreat!
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this pub is a national treasure, it must not be allowed to close
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The licence has been withdrawn so this backwater dive will shortly be closing. Considering the miserable gits that ran it were hardly inviting the client�le in no real surprise. Good riddance.
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A reasonable enough pint in this smallish bar though it does have a cliquey feel to it.
anonymous - 26 Feb 2012 22:39 |
Have just read chelsea greg's review, not of the pub, please note just the clientele. As one of the aforementioned mentalists I'm presuming he means ' highly developed mental or intuitive abilities'. Open for debate that, however it wouldn't take a whole heap of intuition to establish what breed of buffoon you are Greg.
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a right local yokels type with most of the punters having escaped from fairmile by the looks of it. mentalists the lot of 'em!
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When the barman/landlord takes up a whole table for his laptop thus leaving just 3 tables for the punters in the front bar (all taken when I was there), it's apparent how important the customer is in this pub! The quality of the ale is great but you do pay thru' the nose for it & as we were left with only the choice of the forgotten void that constitutes the back bar, or the single bench outside facing the road, one round was more than enough. Will not be rushing back.
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Jeb_Crane - what nonsense! Always a decent choice here with 7 hand pumps, always in perfect nick too. Add to that a wide choice of ciders and bottled beers.
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A rather characterless venue. The main problem is a very poor and expensive selection of ales. Not one for the real ale brigade I'm afraid.
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A decent local with a great frontage and situated in a smart conservation area that could be in Oxford or Bath - the beer selection is enjoyably catholic. Unfortunately, the ramshackle nature of the pub is both a blessing and a curse - the back room seemed forlorn on our visit and discarded newspapers were strewn across the tables. Gets a 7 on the quality of the beer
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Leave The Retreat for the BOB - day that happens Satan will ski to work!
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Stop smelling goat's cheese at this hillbilly local and get your bad self on down to THE BACK OF BEYOND. Reading's best kept secret can be located at; 104-108 Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 3BY. Oh yeah!
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Fantastic pub with bags of atmosphere and great beer.
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Maybe Lord Jason's like one of the jokers who posts on the Reading Post website - they all seem to live in the BoB.
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Perehaps Lord Jason (yes it's him again) would like to explain exactly what he thinks the "charm" of The Back of Beyond is. The place is a huge drinking cavern with all the charm and subtlety of an aircraft hanger.
I am now wondering if this is a set-up - surely one person could not have had such bad experiences in so many local pubs? (most of which are favoured haunts of a wide cross-secton of drinkers who like other things than the standard JDW offer)
If it's cheap beer your'e after then the BOB is for you but if you want a bit of character; some banter and enjoy being in a proper boozer then Reading does actually have some good pubs worth visiting - despite what the good Lord says!
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what an excellent little backstreet local, friendly landlord and landlady, very good beer, and an old juke box with some stunning old music on it, a range of belgian bottles as well, just wish it was closer to me
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I'm not sure why this drinking hole (in the true sense of the latter) gets such glowing reviews. Ignore the fact you have a pub smaller than a shoebox and a rude landlord with a regulars only attitude and there still isn't much to write home about. It seems to have attracted this 'quaint' image with it's bizarre banjo playing lessons (Deliverance anyone?) and pickled onion competitions. However to pull off quaint you need the decor and charm to match of which The Retreat has neither. As for their prices, if you like paying London Club prices you'll feel right at home and a trip to the bank manager could be required for a good session. There are far better altervatives nearby, the BACK OF BEYOND being the clear winner. Now that does have charm which for a chain pub is rather a novelty. I will however give the pub a 1 for the landlord's beard which did take some clear effort as directly opposed to his customer skills...
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A terrific old pub with a good range of ales and if you don't like the choice of beers on tap It also has an interesting selection of Belgian beers (and ciders). I'm sure if I ran a pub it would end up like this (apparently I'm very untidy and hoard things too?). On this occasion there was a "jazz jam" going on, a bit reminiscent of The Fast Show - greeaaat!!
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Reading's quirkiest pub. An absolute gem and must-visit. Combine it with the Eldon Arms around the corner.
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Great pub , superb range of great ale's , very friendly locals made to feel welcome ( being a southampton fc fan even !) noooo leave the toilets its part of the history iam sure .
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Sadly the toilets have had a facelift. The beer and pub remains great.
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Sadly the toilets have had a facelift. The beer and pub remains great.
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great place, have live music on most days, great beer..as for the toilets...I have never laughed so much while trying to wee!!!!! some great jokes and anecdotes!!!!
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Relaxing, lovely little pub. Some say shabby, I say "lived in" which adds to its homeliness. Pub games. Beautiful little frontage with the flowers. Admittedly the toilets could do with some TLC.
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A black beer that tastes like a smoked sausage! How do they do that? What a great pub, although I agree the toilets were minging.
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This could be such a nice pub if only it were cleaner. The loos clearly haven't been cleaned in decades, and even the main rooms look grubby.
I actually turned down a second pint because I dreaded having to use the toilet again. And that wasn't easy as the selection of beer is second to none!
Please, guys, give the place a good scrub and I'll come back.
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MMmmmm, beer and whiskey. cracking pub that made me feel right at home.
beer is well kept and a good selecton.
worth the walk out of town. this pub and the hobgoblin are worth minute spent in.
Jay73 - 14 Apr 2010 14:03 |
Best pub in reading to my mind, well kept beer, intresting , some might say scruffy surroundings , but so relaxing. well worth searching out.
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Excellent little house with a range of real ciders. The Old Rosie and Troggi were both well-kept.
Go up the hill and turn right for tasty samosas at a corner shop
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Fantastic little gem of a pub. Several beers from local breweries. On the last vsit there were 5 ladies singing American songs from the 1940s - wonderful. Stayed for an extra beer just to listen. In an ideal world there would be a pub like this in every street.
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Cosy little den which smells of good beer. Pool table out back and all. A world away from the busy King's Road that it's located off.
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Was in here recently for the Jazz afternoon and tried all the real ales which were all in excellent condition. The music was brilliant too. A proper pub in my view and the best Real Ale pub in Reading.
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Scruffy but characterful back street pub. Two rooms. Lounge has a band on Thursday evening. 7 handpumps including ringwood, harveys and sharpes beers. Worth a visit!
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Yep its all aready been said. Great pub,friendly staff,excellent ale(though odd pricing policy),lived in,GO THERE.
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One of the 2 or 3 best pubs in Reading. Front bar is like the landlord's living room - a bit scruffy with all sorts of stuff lying around. back room is bigger, also untidy. Toilets basic. The main thing is, good ale! My kind of pub.
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Utterly wonderful - real character, terrific beer. Wish I lived nearer so I could pop in more often!
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Smallish two bar pub in the middle of a terrace in a residential back street slightly to the east of the town centre.
The front bar is quiet and is where the regulars seem to congregate. The back bar is slightly larger and, somewhat unusually, has the slight feel and look of a Social Club. It's dominated by a large snooker table and some rather dubious nude artwork that is offered for sale.
There were 4-5 beers on during my recent visit - the Ringwood Best at � 2.50p was on good form. The pub is a GBG regular.
It describes itself as "Reading's Favourite Back Street Pub" .
It's a rather basic pub that might not appeal to everybody, but I think it's worth seeking out.
Finally, watch out for opening hours - it doesn't open till 4.30pm on Mondays to Thursdays
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Small 2 bar back street pub, smallish pleasant front bar serving well kept local micro brewery beers, mostly from Andwell and Loddon, plus Ringwood. Good range of German and Belgian bottles, plus draught and bottled ciders. The back lounge is a bit scruffy and somewhat odd, there is a decent juke box, pool table and lots of board games etc. piled up on top of the piano. The customers are a mixed bunch and there is a sort of sub hippy atmosphere in the back bar.
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There are enough 'tidy' pubs out there, so it's nice to go to one that's different. It's got about six well kept ales including Loddon Dragonfly, and that's really all I care about, even some of the graffiti in the loo made me laugh.. Will be back for more (ale).
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Saturaday lunch, and I think we where the first customers at nearly 12:30 : not unexpected as it is a bit of the beaten track. A pity, as though to some eyes it will appear shabby, to others it will be inviting. 3 beers tried, Wye Valley - Hereford Pale Ale, White Horse - Village Idiot and Ringwood - Best Bitter. All where excellent and an intended 1 beer visit expanded to the 3. Best pub in Reading for beer, only downside is no food, but as there where few customers lunchtime that's only to be expected.
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Popped in last Friday evening because the festivals bogs were blocked (or something like that). A bit off the beaten trach but well worth the effort. Small, yes, cluttered yes, superb beers - oh indeed. The only downside is that they don't do any food so after one excellent pint of Banks original had to move on.
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If the phrase hidden gem had been penned for a pub it would have been penned for this one. You have the feeling of having entered some eccentric Aunt�s parlour as you step through the door. The whole place has a delightfully disorganised feel to it. Eggs were on sale at one end of the bar and a pot for recycling batteries sat at the other. It�s clearly a �green� bar and a campaigning one judging by the posters decrying beer duty and lambasting Alistair Darling.
Among the clutter of the back bar there�s an old piano, that we didn�t try out, and a �1 a game pool table, which we did. There�s a good jukebox with a lot of old jazz numbers as if to accentuate the step back in time. To round all of this off the beer selection is very good with 6 hand pumps. I had a couple of good Lodden Ferrymaster�s whilst my mates raved over the Old Hooky. They also have an impressive range of bottled beers including Chimay, Rochefort and an interesting smoked German beer that I was tempted to try. Unfortunately, unlike time in The Retreat, we had to move on.
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Difficult to disagree with much that has been previously posted. The beer tends to be very good, but the place is overly cluttered with all manner of junk. This is not "character" - it is simply laziness and untidiness. And why must the landlord be such a stranger to shoes and socks?
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absolute gem of a pub, always some interesting guest beers, real cider and a range of belgian bottled beers as well, just oozes atmosphere of being a proper pub
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Bit of a shambles of a pub, I guess you call it character. That said, it's very likeable and relaxed, and the real ales are always interesting and kept in very good nick.
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Quite simply:
PERFECT
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To combine two of the comments below, the front bar has been recently re-painted and I think the back bar is to follow soon. With regards to the "junk" comment,I know what you mean as one end of the front bar is strewn with "stuff" which, if cleared, could provide a larger serving area or, at the very least, a good glass collection point. Minor details, though, which should not detract from the fine experience that is The Retreat.
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A cracking little pub that would be greatly improved if the licencees would not use it as a store for their junk.
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Went there last Sunday and LOVED EVERY MINUTE! Tried all the selections and they were all top notch, but the best was Chalk Stream by the Ramsbury Brewery.
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Cracking pub with a unique atmosphere all of its own, beer always top drawer
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Has recovered well from its downturn in form and is back to how I was told it was when I first got to Reading � a brilliant community local, with a great selection of ales, ciders and bottled continental beer in top condition.
Bernie and Jane(?) always good for a bit of banter, regulars are a crazy bunch but always good far a chat. Pickled eggs a winner too, as are the board games, community notice board and reading material. It feels like someone�s front room. Which I guess it is really. Music nights are usually good value, and it gets pretty busy.
Inside is pretty grubby, even more obviously so now the smokers fog has disappeared. Some may say it adds to the charm but I think a lick of paint one weekend wouldn�t go amiss. And a new dartboard too while you�re at it, please.
A jewel in the Reading ale circuit.
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fantastic
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last of three pubs I visited in Reading. Lost valuable drinking time finding the place, but rewarded in the end with good beer and company!
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In response to Quinno - I think they had cellar problems about that time. All sorted now, beer top notch. Do try again.
This is a real hidden gem, well worth the effort to find. The landlord and landlady are great characters, they should be on TV!
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Joint winner of "Best Pub in Town" with the Hobgoblin (aka London Tavern) in my view. One of the great back street boozers of Britain. Pity it's not nearer the station, and that's about its only fault.
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Fantastic little two bar pub. Good beer, good company, and very well run. A must on any visit to Reading
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Not easy to spot in the dark, but worth the effort. Long & narrow with the bar along the right and divided into a small front & slightly larger rear room, the latter surprisingly houses a pool table which seemed something of a waste of space on Sat nt, but maybe comes into play when quieter. Very busy, chatty, bustling bar with a great range of beers - Harveys, Ringwood Best, Loddon Ferryman�s Gold, White Horse Wayland Smithy, Grand Union One Hop & Brass Monkeys, Ascot Ales Anastasia�s Exile Stout; and since this was the day�s penultimate pub I think it quite an achievement to decipher my notes to bring you that list. Very good pub.
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Bloody good servic with the staff knowing the beer better than I. A good local with tons of atmosphere.
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Real ale dive bar, old-school boozer in the sense it hasn't seen a new carpet for forty years.
My beer quality was variable I have to admit I was expecting more, but there was certainly plenty of choice including a dark, cider and a number of belgian beers.
I'd definitely come back, but I left feeling just a little disappointed. Perhaps I caught them on one of those 'bad days'?
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The Retreat is fab. Good beer at a decent price, with a mixed, friendly crowd. Can get very hot and smokey, but it's a pub, not a freezer!
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Great beer; they even have Harvey's at times. It can get very smokey though I guess in a few months that won't be an issue.
It's definitely the beer (or cider) you should go for though as it's not the most attractive interior. But if you're just looking for a place that looks pretty why are you going to a pub?
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Brilliant old-school back community local complete with impeccably kept ales, quirky regulars and friendly owners. Alanovich might like to know that Roger Winslet's wife has been a regular winner of the annual pickled onion contest here! Regular music and events. A gem.
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I used to visit Reading quite often and whenever I could, I'd make a point of visiting The Retreat. The beers have never been short of excellent and if you bother to chat to the landlord and landlady, you find that they are very lovely people who are also incredibly knowledgeable when talking about their stock.
It's a very old fashioned pub in many ways, but that really adds to its charm. I really wish there were many more pubs like this - the sort that cater for drinkers who appreciate a decent pint and a peaceful, civilised atmosphere.
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An excellent back street boozer with top quality real ale and a very friendly atmosphere. Last time I was in there, me and a mate struck up a conversation with an oldish guy who introduced himself as "Roger Winslet". I thought: "Odd that he should be giving me his surname". He then went rambling on about his actress daughter, the penny didn't drop until the day after that Kate Winslet is the only famous thing from Reading apart from Ricky Gervais and the prison.....oh, and football fans who say they support Reading but always stick on "And Man Utd/Liverpool/Ch*lsea" as well.
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Tucked away, so much so that it will rarely get too busy here. A bit of a specialist place for drinkers. Certainly you'll get a good range here. And also be able to sample the news and ale magazine
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If you like Ale then this is a good'un!.6+ different Real Ales in good condition, Good range of cider too. A cosy traditional backstreet dive with plenty of character(s), where you can enjoy a beer and fag with frank conversation and no fuss. There's the occasional cobweb but the landlady cleans the windows with premium Indian Whiskey! These are what pubs used to be like, and there should be more of them. Live jazz features regularly.
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Utterly wonderful old-style backstreet pub - great beer, wide range, welcoming atmosphere, friendly landlady. Wish I lived nearer so I could visit more often. (And I'm sure the landlord's dour demeanour is only an act!).
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This is a fantasic pub. No doub the bad reviews have come from people who prefer cavernous and soulless chain boozers, like most of the awful examples on Friar St. I used to live in Reading but never went to the Retreat in those days as I didn't know it was there! Now I pop in whenever I'm visiting as it's the way all pubs should be - great beer, pool, darts, and bags of atmosphere! The only reason i haven't given it full marks is because of the gents - but what can you expect in a traditional backstreet pub!
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Nothing wrong with this one at all as far as I can see. Small yes, but the beer is as good as it comes.
anonymous - 22 Jun 2006 19:47 |
Reading all the poor reviews below makes me wonder if these reviewers all caught this pub on "bad" days...we are regulars in the sense of dropping in once every two or three weeks and have never yet had anything approaching a bad pint. Last Saturday was typical - our pints of Sharp's Atlantic IPA were absolutely top-notch.
The interior is somewhat shabby, but how do you criticise a pub for being "too small"? What do people expect when they see a pub in the middle of a terrace with an exterior no more than 12 feet wide? Tardis-like rooms inside? It's not a Yates Wine-warehouse, it is a back-street public house in the very truest sense and tradition of what thousands of pubs used to be like.
And "intimidating"? In what sense? There are plenty of chain pubs in Reading that are truely intimidating, but the clientele of The Retreat rarely look up from their newspapers long enough to give anyone a menacing glare.
If you want a quiet pint or two in the middle of an afternoon or in the evening, come to that, without having hordes of lads all skinful of 2-for-1s and wanting to stab broken beer bootles into your face, then this is a good place to come.
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Great 'backwater/mid terrace' pub, Everchanging range of well kept real ale and large selection of Belgium bottled beers.
Landlord and Lady friendly and welcoming. A very intimate and homely venue with top pickled eggs and porky scratchings. Live music on Thursdays.
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Grim little beard-hole that invariably stinks of cheap cigars. Poor beer, no room to sit, stand or lean. Terrible service. "Reading's best kept secret"? For a reason, i'd say.
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too small, too cliquey, too smokey, even when empty(and i'm a smoker). As for the beer? don't bother, have a bottled beer instead. Or just go to another pub, probaby easier all round.
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Sorry my review has a crucual flaw. It should read:
Grim bar, dark, intimidating and very very "locals" only. I really wouldn't recommend a drink here, even in the spirit of adventure. Never more.
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Terrible beer, god alone knows how this pub got a top rating from CAMRA. Only time I've ever seen my Father-in-Law leave a pint was in here.
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nice pub for a quiet afternoons drink,varied live music played too,overall a nice old style boozer.
p.s landlord and landlady not bad either.
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Quiet, smoky backstreet boozer with opinionated landlady
Bob - 1 Feb 2005 10:32 |
