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The Allied Arms, Reading
Reading
RG1 2LG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Allied Arms
Small and really charming,enter via the side door where there are two rooms,the front has a couple of traditional tables and a computer game table with small stools.The servery here proclaims 10 everchanging guest ales but that would only apply if all the handpumps on both sides were drawing different ales. However on my trip the choice was from 6 with Loddon Hullabaloo (regular) and Run the World (NBSS 3.5),Siren Lumina,Shenfield Village Brewery Motueka and Pioneer Stout and Adnams/Deya Boat Trip. A very decent line up with some mix of styles.
The rear room is a bit larger and leads to an attractive beer garden on two levels.There are proper wall mounted juke boxes in both rooms,but when they are not being used the atmosphere is calm.No other modern distractions,the wood panelling is pleasing and there is an occasional pub quiz.Wet led ,this is a proper ,friendly pub and should not be missed when in Reading.
On 22nd July 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Allied Arms
Nice old pub retaining two traditional bars, both accessed via the partly covered side alleyway. Relatively plain wooden furniture and historical prints being the main form of decoration. Also has a patio beer garden at the back. On a Friday afternoon, Windsor & Eton's Knight of the Garter (£5.20), Loddon Dragonfly, Moondance from Triple fff and Sharp's Solar Wave available from various handpumps on each counter.
On 4th June 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Allied Arms
Ithought this was a nice almost quaint sort of pub.Covid rules so i sat in a suntrap rear garden.Not impressed with the quality of my stout but difficult times so give them a pass.No umberellas at the tables so sunburn may be a problem on the one or two days a year we get good weather.
On 15th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Allied Arms
This is a nice traditional two-bar pub, very handy for escaping the town’s nearby retail streets. You enter the pub via a side door, accessed through a passage that suggests this might have once been a coaching inn. The door takes you into a somewhat bare rear bar area in a square room with the servery to the left and, rather oddly, no furniture whatsoever, unless you count a table that was being used for glass collection. A disused TV was mounted on one of the walls and there was an ancient looking juke box that may or may not be capable of blasting out some tunes, but otherwise the room was weirdly empty, essentially just being used as somewhere you can order your drink before moving elsewhere. I did exactly that, doubling back on myself to move through to a smaller front bar which has modern floorboards, dark beams across the ceiling and some mottled white walls, creating quite a nice traditional feel. The servery runs through into this room, again down the left-hand wall, with a dark wood counter and canopy, a stained glass end pane and a pleasant wood panelled bar back with high mirrors. A legend across the top of the bar back reads “The Allied Arms Est. 1828”. Attractive coloured glass lampshades hang from the ceiling and there is a collection of heraldic shields on display, a few old photos on the walls, plus another clapped out old juke box, positioned above an equally knackered looking table top arcade machine. I had the room pretty much to myself, as most customers had decided to sit out in the beer garden, although I didn’t get around to exploring out there myself. A decent indie soundtrack played in the background throughout my visit and there was a steady stream of customers coming and going the whole time I was there.
At the bar, they had four handpulls on the go, offering a choice of Loddon Hullabaloo and Hoppit, West Berkshire Good Old Boy and Tring Citra Session. I tried a pint of the latter, which was in good nick but a bit low on the citra and ultimately not all that enjoyable. The staff seemed to be really on top of their game here and the barman that served me was engaging and helpful to all of the customers he served.
I thought this was a good city centre pub with enough of interest to make it worth checking out. The beer selection was pretty good, there are some nice rooms to explore and the service was great - in fact, it was only really the strange emptied out main bar space and the fact that I didn’t like the beer I chose that let the side down. This place feels like its well positioned between a few of Reading’s must-do pubs, making it an easy addition to any crawl around the town.
On 11th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Allied Arms
Has reduced its ale range after COVID re-opening, down to 3 or 4 most nights but fully justified by the quality, which has been good-to-excellent throughout. Well-worth a visit at the moment.
August 2016
Ancient-looking two-roomed pub that has thankfully survived the post WWII redevelopment of RG1. Up to five ales on the go and the place used to be around GBG status but beer can sometimes be a little tired or off-par, perhaps due to the sky-high pricing of Pride (at least £1.50 cheaper in Spoons) and Loddon (ditto). Best bet is a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night as it's a popular place at those times and turnover is rapid. Interior has had a recent smartening-up, gone are the murky carpets and in their place are stripped and stained floorboards. The beer garden is one of Reading's best. Music from the jukebox is usually good. If the quality of beer was just a bit more consistent day-on-day, it'd be a must-visit for RG1...
On 26th June 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Allied Arms
Visited 23.4.21 and it was our first visit to this pub. Went through the pub to get to the garden which was rather full and a good atmosphere. Missed pub atmosphere so much. All covid regs applied. They asked what we wanted but no beer menu provided but I was allowed into the bar to take photos of the 5 pump clips to make our choice. Beers chosen Sherfield Village TBA and Vale Kitten Kong. Beers food and payment by card.
On 24th April 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Allied Arms
Now an entry in the 2018 Good Beer Guide. Popped in for the tick. Popped back out again when the Black Country Scratchings were £2 a pack.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2yuLhXK
On 6th October 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1344 recommendations about 1330 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Allied Arms
I liked this pub - seemed like a good jukebox on.
Sat out the back and enjoyed an Jail Ale by Dartmoor Brewery.
Will come back to this one.
On 17th May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1344 recommendations about 1330 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Allied Arms
Very expensive
Staff who no nohting about beer
OK for a stop but don't go out your way.
On 30th June 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
picasso 09 left this review about The Allied Arms
One of the better pubs in Reading, traditional two bar pub with five beers available as mentioned before,also as previously noted one of the more pricey pubs,Loddon Hullabaloo 4.2% at £3.60,that aside it was very nice and wont deter me from returning.
On 4th April 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 14 recommendations about 14 pubs]