The Reading Pub Conquest
   Reviewing all Reading Pubs and Bars.
  

  Mission Status
  Full Pub List
  Pubs By Category
  The Scores
  Popular Pub Reviews
  Beer Drunk
  Missing Pubs?
  Feedback
  Buy Us Beer! [New!]
  Links


Random Pub Review:
Turks
London Road, RG1 5BJ
Reviewed On: 15 Dec 2004
Review >>

Pub Search
Try a pub name, street, or beer to find matching Reading pubs and bars.

Public Houses in Reading
Berkshire, England.
   
Ha! Ha! Bar
Previous Names / Status:
Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4AE
0.63 miles from Reading station [Map]
Final Score: 6.0 out of 10
Steve's Score:3 (Out of 5)
Gray's Grade:3 (Out of 5)
Steve Supped:Stella
Gray Gulped:Stella
Garden / Facilities:No outside area.

RE-REVIEW:

Update alert!!!! Closed!!!! Original HA HA! now a Tapas bar/restaurant but you can find the delights of the HA HA! brand in the Oracle now. I've not been there but I guess it's pretty similar to the old one. S.
Jan 2010.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
24 November 2004

Been here loads of times in the past but not much recently. I would have scored it more a few years ago but I guess over time the interest has waned and there are more than a few similar bars around, though they are all different in their own way. Quite a laid back place and it's good for an evening out when you want to be able to talk to the people you are with. Nicely done out in the 'I'm a trendy bar' style without being over the top or trying too hard. The food is dead expensive though but you have gotta get some of those skinny chips with mustard mayo, Yum Yum. It also has nice big mirrors over the bar for you to check out the clientele if you are looking for a potential partner, or even if you are just looking to see what your missing (derived from which song?). S.
Haven't got a clue about the song, but Ha! Ha! bar is a very pleasant place to hang out whether you're looking at ladies in the mirrors or not. The place had a very festive feel on our trip as they were just putting out all the Christmas decorations - lots of big purple balls to match the very impressive deep purple walls mixed in with the general whiteness of the place. It's a very neat and tidy place all round from the stainless steel all around the bar and "canteen" area to the leather (well, PVC I guess) sofas and stools all around. Almost clinical in fact, but a bit cosier than it sounds. There's no allowance for anything remotely "pubby" - no pub games, no jukebox and certainly no fruit machines - it's all far too trendy for that. The food is expensive (half the place is reserved for food table service in the evenings) but he's right about the chips - you shouldn't really come here and miss out on them. G.

BEER EXPERIENCE

Nothing exciting going on with the beer - although they did have Red Stripe (which I think might be a recent addition) as well as the usual draught suspects. G.
I didn't spot the Red Stripe - on draught I take it - you should have mentioned something and I would have had that instead of the standard and well worn Stella. That helps a bit, but a place like this (swankyish town bar) should really have a couple of interesting lagers on tap or it's not really up to scratch. S.
Only saw the Red Stripe (yep, on draught) after our Stella order had been placed - I did mention it but I guess you must have been gazing into the mirrors! G.

VISITOR FEEDBACK [Give Your Feedback]

Big Nige visited in June 2005

"A chilled out place to meet, drink, eat and chat! I like the atmosphere and its slightly more classy than most of the other pubs in Reading City centre."

NEIGHBOURING PUBS

The following pubs are within stumbling distance of this establishment:

         
Current Score:
6
Original Score:
6
Traditional Pub?
No
Party Pub?
Yes
Proper Food?
Yes
Real Ale Pub?
No
Pub Games?
No

Ha! Ha! Bar Pub (Reading, Berkshire)
Picture 1 >>
[Feedback] (Give us your feedback on this pub)