Coopers Arms, Newbury

Official site of Coopers Arms - www.arkells.com

Official site of Coopers Arms - www.arkells.com

Coopers Arms was closed not long before 17:00 on a recent Tuesday, but there was a woman sat watching the television in the bar so I assumed that the pub had either just shut or was about to open. I swung by again about an hour and a half later to find the pub open with a handful of ragtag locals in the thin curved L-shaped bar to the left where seating runs along the exterior wall opposite the serving counter and a dartboard sits at the rear. Standard and premium keg were available and one of the three hand pumps was in operation drawing Arkells 3B. I ended up sat under the aforementioned television while an episode of Murder She Wrote blasted out above my head, I could have been sitting in my Nan’s house in the 80s, which isn’t really the vibe I’m going for when I’m out and about. I didn’t venture into the right-hand side of the pub, but I did spy a pool table through the back bar. I think the tenants are mad, nothing wrong with that, but the pub is in need of some serious TLC.

Locals pub with three handpumps two working on my visit, both serving up Arkells beers. The pub dog growled at me upon entry but soon wagged its tail and turned out to be rather friendly as were the present locals.I did quite like it here.