King Charles Tavern, Newbury

The King Charles Tavern has a U-shaped bar that serves standing room at the front entrance, a seating area to the left and a larger bar area to the right. The handful of locals in attendance during a recent Wednesday afternoon visit were all in the right hand side of the pub watching horse racing on the television. On my way to the toilet I spied another small seating area in the left rear and a small outside area out the back door. The bar supports a limited keg range and eight handpumps. Three were unused which left Oakham Ales’ Citra and OPA alongside Goffs Brewery’s Cheltenham Gold, Wadworth’s 6X and GK’s Yardbird. I found the service to be friendly and the OPA was on good form so I would visit here again if passing.

Traditional boozer inside and out - a central bar - some nice cushioned benches and the usual pub tables. Not the usual collection of Greene King Abbots and IPAs - they may have been on but my side of the bar - it was Exmoor Ale, Darmoor Jail Ale and Wickwar Bob. Like being on holiday in the West Country. Perfectly reasonable pub - doing what all pubs should do.

A traditional town boozer which has undergone the Greene King refurb leaving it reaching for the modern and clad with varying shades of grey on the walls. No shades of grey on the GK ale and that was studiously avoided which was perfectly possible as they stock a decent number of guests. Available on our visit were: Greene King Doosra and Back of the Net, King Charles Finest Ale, possibly GK again, Skinners Cornish Knocker, WBB Good Old Boy, Tring Pale +Four and Black Wolf ROK, which was ok. Service was friendly and efficient but there isn't enough of interest to make the place a destination although worth stopping by to see what they have on.