Eldon Arms (Wadworth)

No Longer In Business

A decent backstreet boozer. Around eight casks on the go, including some Wadworth and Oakham. Friendly enough service. Darts, board games. Smells like they do fish and chips; but I didn’t eat anything during my visit. Random decor, ranging from dolls to pump clips to African art to porcelain plates (not to mention Christmas decorations, given the timing of my visit). I might include this pub in a comprehensive pub crawl around reading, but it sure isn’t a must-visit location,

Recently taken over by a new landlord & refurbished, this now offers 4 Waddy’s cask ales, 2 guest casks & 2 "real" ciders. Amongst the usual macro kegs there’s also Tucher Pils & Waddy’s rather tasty Corvus Stout, & in bottle they have the Waddy’s Beer Kitchen range. The casks are in pretty decent nick, & it’s a rare outlet for Waddy’s in the area. The refurb has maybe lost a little of the charm (the pub’s been knocked through into one long thin room & I could no longer see the old commode seat that used to grace the bar!). However, unlike many pubs it’s not been over-modernised & it still feels like a back street loccal where the landlord knows everyone. It’s still very quiet though, so bring your mates if you want a bit of atmosphere - or alternative tie in your visit with one of their occasional live music nights. It does have board games, which always endears me to a pub. Didn’t try the food from the small menu on a blackboard but it’s cheap (£5-£6) and features a South African dish. Overall it’s probably an improvement on the old pub, and a couple of my mates were raving about how much they loved it. Would like to see a higher proprtion of guest beers myself, but you can’t have everything I guess.

On a recidential side street, cosy small Pub with separate lounge and public house. 4 casks and 6 taps. Nice elderly pubowner and few locals.

Wadworth beers only, which are rubbish! Very expensive, but average prices for Reading.

An unspoilt back street pub, tucked away near the Royal Berks Hospital. A Wadsworth house with 3-4 of their beers available in cask, plus a cask cider and the usual range of kegs and bottles.

Not the place to go to deliberately for food, but what they serve is just what you need to keep you going while you’re drinking.