Steve's Score:	3 (Out of 5)
Gray's Grade:	3.5 (Out of 5)
Steve Supped:	Elgood Double Swan, Jennings Golden Host, Titanic Silver Spoon, Batemens VE Bitter, Coach House Banoffee Bitter
Gray Gulped:	Elgood Double Swan, Banks and Taylor Two Brewers, Titanic Silver Spoon, Batemens VE Bitter, Coach House Banoffee Bitter
Garden / Facilities:	Huge pub. Nice garden with a seat over looking the canal if you're lucky. Reading's first fully non-smoking pub.
RE-REVIEW:
14 May 2005 Popped in for the Wetherspoons beer festival and to check out the newly done non-smoking pub (the first fully non-smoking pub in Reading town centre). The beer festival is a great idea with different beers in the different Wetherspoons pubs across town. There were about six beer in place of the usual selection and the quality was great. The no smoking thing was weird but very pleasant indeed. Makes a change to smell food and alcohol rather than just cigarette smoke. (probably increases food sales too!) Very refreshing. The pub was still popular despite the new smoking rule. G.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: 16 June 2004
We've already had one of these Wetherspoons jobs before and we covered it then. Nothing much changes. A kind of 'does what it says on the tin' type pub and not bad for it. I particularly liked the tables in the garden with well position legs so you didn't have to straddle them (although tonight’s guest on the mission, Chris, felt he had to anyway as his balls are so large he couldn't sit any other way - I think he was just showing off). S. Thought the garden was excellently done. A nice spot in the town. The pub itself is massive too - you could probably get all the remaining Prudential work-force in here. G.
BEER EXPERIENCE
yes please! S. What do you mean "yes please!" - this is just a cop-out because you got too drunk later to remember anything about the fine beer in this establishment. Whereas I can clearly remember that Double Swan is a seasonal beer produced early summer - a pale premium quality cask ale with a dry final palate. Although I might have just stolen that information from another website. G. Hmmm... those beer festival beers were an excellent batch. The Banoffee Bitter sounds like a girls drink but it was simply delicious - although the rest paled into comparison on the taste test. I started with the Two Brewers on this re-visit but that was a very bland number. The Silver Spoon was good with some serious malt and hops going on. Delicious. G.
VISITOR FEEDBACK [Give Your Feedback]
"Always a good pub for a cheap drink, and beer and burger is such a good deal !!!!!" (Rated 9 out of 10) Donna visited in June 2006 "This pub is literally pure genius! I have not only spent many-a-time eating the trusty £2.99 (£3.29 with a pint of Fosters)Beer and Burger meal WHILE eyeing up all the Reading Student totty that comes her for a cheap couple before hitting town! However, BEWARE! No.1 - This pub is now a NO SMOKING pub. However, if you are a non-smoker like myself it's hilerious to watch the chain smokers go out in the freezing cold to light up!;) AND No.2 - Watch out for the drunk. He sits there and watches you at the bar while you get your drinks, you will know which one he is! I have been in a slanging match with the old boy but do not recommend that unless you are hammered and/or feeling like standing up for students everywhere while HE calls YOU skum!! I would also like to say thanks to Sam the barman who has now left but has served AND ID'd us... well just my mate Tripod Marcus... For many years! Cheers Mate. Now to the ratings; (All ratings out of 10) Feeling : 7 Alcohol Price: 8 Food : 8 Fruit Machine Payout : 78% Itbox Quiz Machine : Yes No. of Regular Drunks : 2 Overall : 9 out of 10" Phil visited in May 2005 "What a pub. Bob's as i know it. Regulary hanut in my Pru days. Lack of music was the only problem with this place but with the drinks very cheap and the atmosphere friendly always made a good starting venue to a night out on the town." Adrian visited in January 2005 "Quality pub for getting drunk cheaply before you go to a club." Scott visited in December 2004 Average Visitor Score: 9.00 out of 10

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