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The Retreat, Reading
Reading
RG1 4EH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Retreat
This is a lovely smart looking pub after the refurb.4 regional beers on and my Sussex bitter was spot on.Sat outside talking with a few locals so had a pleasant time.
On 26th 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 Retreat
Set slightly out of the town centre, this is a welcoming little backstreet boozer with a very simple two-room layout. The front room is a rather cramped bar area that felt a bit like a micropub when I arrived to find a packed room with barely enough space to get to the bar. The room has some pleasant modern floorboards, half panelled walls painted in a gloomy shade with somewhat warmer upper sections, and the servery along the right-hand wall. Benches along the front, left and rear walls provide the bulk of the seating options, supplemented by a load of low stools and all serving three or four tables. The bar counter is made from the same panels that adorn the walls and has a surprisingly simple bar back that suggests the whole thing has had a relatively recent refit. A large clock on the back wall acts as the room’s focal point, whilst a few old enamel advertisements add a much needed splash of colour. A corridor to the rear left leads you into the rear room which is fortunately a fair bit bigger and therefore acts as a most welcome additional seating area. The room has a tartan carpet and similar paint scheme to the main bar area, with rows of tables and chairs down either side, whilst the walls are decorated with a collection of old brewery mirrors and a TV screen is mounted next to the small servery at the front. Four small tables with metal garden chairs were squeezed into the tiny front paved garden area, which was quite a quiet spot given the pub’s backstreet location. The toilets rank as some of the smartest I’ve seen in a pub for a good long while and the gents had a large photo of someone taking a leak in what I would guess was the old toilet block.
I was a little taken back to find five handpulls in operation when I arrived, giving me a choice from Taylors Golden Best, Brakspear Gravity, Harveys Sussex Best, Otter Ale and Wye Valley Butty Bach. A very friendly and welcoming barmaid served up a decent drop of the Butty Bach which I took out on the pokey front patio given the packed front room and empty rear seating area.
I was aware that this pub had been through a lot of licensees over recent years and was therefore a bit sceptical about what I might find here, but I thought it was a very nicely presented pub, perhaps still needing a little bit more time to fully find its feet, but clearly attracting a good bunch of loyal customers and managing to keep a decent selection of ales on the go as a result. Worth making the short detour to check out.
On 7th 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 Retreat
A comprehensive re-furb here. A bit less cosy as a result, the rear room especially is like drinking in a shipping container (please paint the ceiling a different colour from the dark blue walls!). However the grotty (or 'characterful') toilets are gone, with very nice replacements. Beer quality remains good, enjoyed my pint of Dartmoor Jail the other week.
October 2017
The hopeless holding company were finally ejected and a proper licensee has been in situ for a fair while now. He's doing well - beer choice and quality has started to return (usually 5 on from regionals and the odd micro) and so has a lot of the old atmosphere. The cider range has fallen by the wayside but there is at least now a fairly impressive bottled range. Service is friendly too. There has also been a brightening-up of the place and some new furniture. The live music is also back. Worth heading the extra few minutes out of town for.
+++ANOTHER UPDATE+++
Has been going through licensees as fast as socks thanks to a bunch of spivs who hold the lease but then don't allow the poor bugger in the pub to order beer in. Surely Admiral aren't going use this as a an excuse to shout 'unviable' given it seemed somewhat viable before they essentially blocked Jane & Bernie from a new lease by quoting unrealistic figures...?
+++UPDATE+++
Jane & Bernie gone. New licensee installed. Ales still there but not sure quite how well the imminent addition of Ruddles County will go down with the regulars...we'll see. So far the overall ale quality is holding up. The Belgian beers have had to go and the new licensee is battling with Admiral to get a decent stock of proper cider back on. Has been listed as a Community Asset by the local CAMRA branch which hopefully secures its medium-term future.
October 2011
A take-it-as-you-find-it backstreet local, serving 5 real ales (Ringwood Bitter and Loddon Ferrymans alongside three interesting guests), a good selection of cider/perry and some Belgian gubbins in the fridge too. The beer quality is good and prices fairly reasonable. Toilets are, shall we say, rudimentary. Landlord and landlady are professional eccentrics. Live acoustic sets each week in the back bar. Piano and darts available. Feels like a real community local.
On 26th June 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Retreat
Stopped in for a pint today and the pub appears to be alive and well, four beers available on my latest visit and Robinsons Dizzy Blonde was in great shape. Not as quirky a place as it once was, but well worthy of a visit.
On 15th August 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Retreat
The Retreat is a mid-terrace backstreet boozer with a small bar area at the front with seating and a bar on the right hand wall. There are seven hand pumps that were drawing an interesting array of ales during my visit on a sunny Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. I do not recall seeing any draught taps so this is a pub for fans of real ale.
There is more seating at the rear where there is also a dartboard and table skittles. There are no televisions and there was no background music. This is a small pub, but thankfully it had just the right amount of visitors during my visit to make it very enjoyable.
I found the staff to be friendly and I would make a point of returning here if in Reading.
On 25th July 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5267 recommendations about 5235 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Retreat
This is a terraced pub, with a bench outside. I am not sure how long it has been a pub, the only on the street mapwise is the Beehive on the corner with Eldon Terrace (1880s- 1930s at least). Anyhow, it is in undressed brick, with a later porch (including entablature and pediment), all in the Georgian style. The interior has a a couple of rooms, although it is open plan. The front bar area is in yellow and wood panel and has old photos, jugs and menu boards for the array of drinks they purvey. The rear room is in white and wood. There is a dart board and a table skittles game, with a few mirrors and posters. The service was very friendly and the clientele consists of a general mix - locals and real ale fans that really do see this as a spiritual retreat. I saw no TV and i heard no music, other than the pulling of beer. Beer; usual tap stuff, with masses of continental bottles. On handpull, i had listed; Pedigree, Marston's ashes Ale, Cottage Boundary, Cameron's Mosaic, Deuchars IPA, Sharpes Cornish Coaster and Saddler's Red House. I had the Cameron's and the Cottage - both decent. A great little place - somewhere where you can sit for hours.
On 19th July 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Retreat
This is a good pub to retreat to and enjoy some well kept ales. I had an inclination that this would be a decent pub due to its location and appearance. The front bar was small and the table we sat at was right next to the bar counter. I could literally have just turned round and ordered another pint. I went for the Cottage Boundary, which was superb. I would like to spend a good few hours in here next visit. Note Mon-Thurs 4.30 opening and the rest of the week is 12 noon.
On 17th July 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Retreat
An old school boozer,set in a terrace .The interior is small with the front bar a lively spot ,and there is much banter with the friendly guv'nor.There are a few benches,and in good weather another bench at the front,while the serving bar extends from this front room ,through to the rear lounge.This is where the darts board,table skittles and a rare bagatelle board are all housed.This back room is a lot less hectic than the front,but doesnt have a lot of natural light.
The seven handpumps had a fair selection in Sharps Cornish Coaster,Deuchars IPA,Cottage Boundary,Pedigree,Sadlers Red House(£3.50,OK condition) and Camerons Mosaic.That's a lot of ale for a small pub to shift,but there did seem a reasonable flow of local custom besides the large crawl.It's easy to settle into the relaxed vibe here,and always worth putting on the list when planning an ale tour.
On 14th July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Retreat
Probably the best local pub in reading.
Good chioce of well kept beers of wich most change, great local atmosphere and you are made to feel part of the furniture. A real gem not to be missed.
On 30th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Retreat
Remains a good pub ,very ramshackle and quirky but a very comfortable place to be, with Jane & Bernie set to leave after Janurary not sure if it will remain open or not,will be a big loss to the Reading pub scene.
On 10th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]