Barnlike interior (you can always get a table but there’s no atmopsphere at all!) with a pleasant (apart from the smoke) beer patio overlooking the River Kennet.. The beer selection is not up to Monks Retreat JDW in town, largely due to too many of the taps serving the standard IPA, Abbot etc. However, there’s usually still 4-5 guest beers, often including a local from the likes of Loddon & Rebellion, and beer condition is usually pretty decent. Oddly the prices here are 10-20p more than in the town JDWs, and the service can be a little slow. However, at beer festival time this is the best ’Spoons to visit in Reading, as for the festival period it sets up racks of gravity casks and has more beers on than usual.

Fairly typical Wetherspoon. Bit further out of town than the others so often a bit quieter. 8 handpumps, usually 4 or 5 guests plus the JDW usuals. Normally in fairly good condition.

One of Wetherspoon’s Pubs, same same... Big interior, cheap beer but not cosy. 6 casks, 19 taps and a fridge full of bottles.