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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Gann
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Thursday, 14th September 2023
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Detail Pages
The Narrowboat, Reading
Reading
RG1 3EQ
Served areas
Reviews of The Narrowboat (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Narrowboat
The Bel & Gragon brand was purchased by Fullers a few years back and, perhaps inevitably, it is being dismantled with this place having a name change and being Fullerised. A light makeover inside but not too dissimilar to before, whilst the sizeable canalside(ish) garden is now more geared towards topers. A little more emphasis on the drinking side at the bar, presumably in anticipation of the thirsty middle-class hordes who they hope to be descending from the new-build high rise flats over the way. Pints of Hophead (NBSS 4) and Pride (3) were the cask offerings. Might bother the GBG if they keep it up, the new landlady is from the Victoria in Binfield so comes with pedigree (no, not that one).
June 2017
They have extended the bar and there are now usually three local ales on. On a sunny day it's one of the best beer gardens in RG1.
September 2014
Mainly an upmarket restaurant, but gets into PuG due the (recently refitted and extended) bar area which usually serves up a hit-or-miss pint of Pride and/or Rebellion - which goes down nicely in the outside seating area/boat on a sunny day. Beer prices are surprisingly reasonable. Check out the little free museum a bit further up from the boat which features a fully-restored old gypsy caravan from the turn of the century. Takes a bit of finding but is worth a stop on a summer's day.
On 21st November 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Bel & the Dragon
A large retaurant and bar housed partly in a converted church and partly in a newish building tagged on to the side effectivley doubling the size, open-plan and quite modern inside and very much a restaurant,there is plenty of outside seating. There are three hand pumps on the bar,two beers were from Binghams,Brickworks and Marvellous(quite decent), the third beer being Rebellion Blonde.Not normally the type of place I would choose to drink but pleasant enough for a pint sat outside in the sunshine.
On 1st August 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
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- Official site of Bel and The Dragon, contains menu and wine list - www.belandthedragon-reading.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub - whatpub.com
- Twitter - Bel & The Dragon
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Narrowboat - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10%/pint - last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Car Park : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 21 November 2023 by Quinno _
