The Fishermans Cottage, Reading

After a walk down the Thames we found this rather nice looking canal side pub. One hand pull of Hobgoblin on offer, the other three were unclipped. Fairly pricey. Can't imagine it gets too busy due to the location, however I enjoyed a pint by the Thames.

This is a smart riverside pub with an unusual interior comprising a compact cottage that may or may not have once belonged to a fisherman, with a much larger modern extension to one side in what felt like a giant conservatory. You approach the pub along the riverside path, passing through a decent sized tarmac space with ample picnic benches and views of the river, before entering the smart main bar area in the old cottage building itself. The room has quite a cosy feel, despite being opened out into the extension to the rear right, and offers some comfy armchairs in front of a nice old fireplace, some simple tables and chairs in the front window bays and a single high table with bar stools directly opposite the bar. The room has modern floorboards throughout whilst the servery runs along the rear wall, with a deliberately scruffy looking tongue and groove panelled counter front and plain bar back with a blackboard above detailing some of the offers currently available. Some plants along the bar counter add a bit of colour and there is a post at one end of the bar with a rope wound around it, which suggested a possible nautical theme that doesn’t actually materialise. The room opens out to the right into the ‘conservatory, which has a curtained glass roof, timber clad walls and some large UPVC folding doors at the front and rear. Tables and chairs in orderly rows provide the bulk of the rather uninspired furnishings, whilst décor is also a little less interesting than in the bar area, a large Estrella advert being perhaps the pick, along with a few more blackboards and potted plants. There was a reggaeton soundtrack playing rather incongruously in the background during my time here, although it was quiet enough to not feel intrusive. Despite the four handpulls on the bar, only one was clipped, with St Austell Tribute, which came in at a hefty £2.40 for a half. It was in pretty good shape though and the barmaid that served me was very friendly and helpful, despite dropping my change everywhere and having to pick it up from the floor, slop trays and wherever else it might’ve landed. I quite enjoyed this place and thought it was a nice spot to sup a few pints alongside the river on a warm day. The pub also seemed comfortable enough to hunker down in on colder days and the service and decent beer were definitely bonuses, although I would probably need a bit more variety on the handpulls to make a session seem like an attractive proposition.