The Allied Arms, Reading

Central Reading is bustling and noisy outside, but all is calm and quiet in The Allied. The pub website tempts with promises of "up to 10 real ales" and, to be fair, that's what I encountered. The rear bar had just 3 pumps clipped up - a stout and a best from nearby Loddon, along with Asahi's Hophead, with 2 not seeing action, despite this being a Friday. The front bar offered exactly the same 3 (and blank 2). A standard keg range was complemented by Beavertown's Gamma Ray. The Black Darter Stout was in good condition, and I suppose it's April's various tax increases that had me paying a rather astonishing £6.10 for it. Well worth a pint or two of your time, but don't expect a beer festival in a pub, going on my experience.

A hidden gem on the edge of town, you enter the pub via the side door. Once inside the place has a lot of charm. You are greeted by two rooms, and not a lot of space. Friendly service, and hand pulls on offer, I really liked my visit here.

Nice edge of town pub, accessed via the side rather than the front, smallish inside but with larger outdoor space. A number of real ales although the quality wasn't quite there, though it was a very hot day.

Small and really charming,enter via the side door where there are two rooms,the front has a couple of traditional tables and a computer game table with small stools.The servery here proclaims 10 everchanging guest ales but that would only apply if all the handpumps on both sides were drawing different ales. However on my trip the choice was from 6 with Loddon Hullabaloo (regular) and Run the World (NBSS 3.5),Siren Lumina,Shenfield Village Brewery Motueka and Pioneer Stout and Adnams/Deya Boat Trip. A very decent line up with some mix of styles. The rear room is a bit larger and leads to an attractive beer garden on two levels.There are proper wall mounted juke boxes in both rooms,but when they are not being used the atmosphere is calm.No other modern distractions,the wood panelling is pleasing and there is an occasional pub quiz.Wet led ,this is a proper ,friendly pub and should not be missed when in Reading.

Nice old pub retaining two traditional bars, both accessed via the partly covered side alleyway. Relatively plain wooden furniture and historical prints being the main form of decoration. Also has a patio beer garden at the back. On a Friday afternoon, Windsor & Eton's Knight of the Garter (£5.20), Loddon Dragonfly, Moondance from Triple fff and Sharp's Solar Wave available from various handpumps on each counter.