The Old Boot Inn, Reading

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about The Old Boot Inn

Has had a lick of paint in the intervening few years and now seems to be a bit more homely. A complete disaster on the ale front though; three were on and the first two were soup. Mexican stand-off with the clearly aggrieved barman (‘must be the weather’ was one excuse). Eventually ended-up with a below-par pint of Rebellion Roasted Nuts (NBSS 2). Oh dear. Sat in an uncomfortable atmosphere for 10 minutes before dumping a third of the liquid and heading off for better.

February 2015
Historic old place, with inlaid wood beam walls. Enter to the main bar, with a small room off to right showing horse racing. To the left is a seating area, leading onto a dining room and conservatory up a step to the rear. Felt a bit sparsely decorated, not helped by the freezing cold despite two log fires, as the cold air from the conservatory was sinking unhindered down to the bar level (hint to landlord – why not put a heavy velvet curtain up between the main part of the pub and the dining area when not a sod is in them?). And you can see why only one set of people were eating, perhaps they brought their own microwave. What lacked in heat was made up for in smoke, someone needs to have a look at the chimney flue. Between the cold and fug we tried the two ales - West Berks GOB (forgettable) and Upham Punter (decent). On first viewing this is not in the same league as the Bull, its nearby neighbour. Rated 5

On 10^th June 2022 - rating: 3
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