The Lyndhurst, Reading

The Lyndhurst is an L shaped bar with an air of pretentiousness. I’m not sure if this atmosphere was emanating from the fixtures and fittings or the indifferent barman. The bar supports five hand pumps that were drawing Fuller’s London Pride, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Adnams Lighthouse, Thwaites Little Bewdy and Bingham’s Vanilla Stout. There was also a selection of premium and standard draught products. My visit was on Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago when the pub was empty apart from the group I was with. Maybe the prices are keeping people away as all the ale was priced at £3.50 a pint and a portion of chips was set at £4. To the left of the bar is a plasma screen that was turned off and I would imagine that this place actively discourages people that would like to watch Sky Sports with their pint. There is a dartboard to the left of the bar. I suppose that this place is ok for a quick pint if passing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here again.

A terraced early Victorian? (that is when the area seems to grow rapidly, including the Berkshire Hospital - it was then the Lyndhurst Arms) corner pub and eatery, with a patio area. It is interesting that the pub isn't marked on any old OS maps, but the Spread Eagle that stood opposite (over Queen's Rd) is - so i assume it may have just been a beerhouse then. The pub is rounded, with a cream upper, with sash windows (some blocked), a green midrift, with a base in white, also with sash windows (modern). The interior has an L-shaped room, which is in white and green, with some brick, a white ceiling and a wood floor. Chesterfield sofas are mixed with wood settles. A few old adverts decorate the walls, along with a dart board and a TV (not on). The background music was general and soft. They do food, but I didn't eat, so can't comment on that. The service was a little functional. Beer; usual tap stuff with London Pride, Doombar, Bingham's Vanilla Stout, Adnam's Lighthouse and Thwaite's Little Bewdy, which was decent enough. I quite liked it in here and would pop back in - but i do agree that it felt a bit pretentious.