Back of Beyond (JD Wetherspoon), Reading

This is another old school JDW consisting of a long narrow low ceilinged room with the bar on the right. The choice here was a few ciders, the JDW Trio Of Doom, Caledonian Ithaca Nut Brown, a Marston's Single Hop Beer, White Horse Blowing Stone and Bingham's Total Eclipse Black IPA. I went for the Black IPA (£2.90) which was in first class condition. The beer selection here was better than the other two in Reading but that has to be offset against the high prices (standard guest £2.75). I thought all three were pretty average.

A pretty basic Spoons set up,a large drinking room basically, the available beer selection was quite good ,but it was during one of the festivals so to be expected,there are a lot worse Spoons about and this one was adequate,no better or worse than the Monks Retreat further in town, not really my thing but is convenient so may well return at some point.

I would agree that this is about the best Wetherspoon's in Reading/Caversham.A fairly long and light pub with views over the river and a nice beer garden at the side.A fair selection of real ales were on.

Large 'spoons, with an elongated 'L'-shaped bar. Light at the back, with large windows and a side patio beer garden near the river. All 12 handpumps in operation, with the ex-festival Hopocalypse Vale from Brill (£2.09 and in good form). Overall, the clue is in the name I suppose, but it seems a fairly well run place.