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New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Hotel 1843 x Calico Bar and Eatery, Reading
Reading
RG1 4PS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Hotel 1843 x Calico Bar and Eatery
And lo, it re-opens as an upmarket bar with no hint of the old place remaining.. No cask. £6 a pint reported.
February 2022
Finally re-opened. Appalling beer. Rumour is that is getting a makeover soon, so cheerio to the charming interior.
August 2015
Place now has its own microbrewery and has had a mild refurb. Ale quality varies wildly - the brewer can knock out a fair beer but the staff are clueless as to cellar management (as well as general pub chores, rarely cleaning empties from tables etc). Could be essential in RG1 but isn't.
September 2013
Large Dickensian themed bar, which has been kitted out in a fairly interesting manner - library section, lounge and slate-floored bar. Sadly beer choice and quality is pretty ropey; this could and should be a real destination. Worth a visit for the interior or if you're pre-loading before the After Dark...
On 15th January 2023
- 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 Great Expectations
An interesting interior with a Dickensian theme complete with false Victorian Shop fronts behind which are a couple of seating areas and in one a pool table.On the bar were a total of 9 pumps with five in action on my mid week visit, all from its own in house micro Brewery (Dickens Brewery), beers were Mr Bumble,Sikes,Chuzzlewits Wheatbeer,Artful Dodger and Old Curiosity. I went for the Mr Bumble which although in decent condition I found to be a rather unremarkable Golden Beer. Quinno was spot on in his review regarding clueless staff, taking about 15 pulls to pour my pint the guy behind the bar informed me the gas is playing up,I didn't question his knowledge on this point although he offered the same excuse to a further couple of customers departing to the cellar at one point to "check the gas" I don't know what he found but I expect an empty barrel, he ended up turning the clip around. Despite this incompetence I feel this pub and its beers deserves further investigation.
On 26th August 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]