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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Blagrave Arms, Reading
Reading
RG1 1PW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Mild Drinker left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Came here on a Friday night. Felt more of a small club than a pub. 3 handpulls with all the clips gone. Was quite cheap for a short which is what I had. Not my vibe really. Apparently they do food but I didn't see any menus. Plenty of lager on offer if you fancy it. Music was playing at a club level during my visit.
On 4th April 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 103 recommendations about 103 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Getting tatty round the edges now, and the single ale on (Andwell) was dire.
June 2017
Usually a couple of local ales on, but quality can be pretty hit or miss.
August 2013
Re-opened as a gay-friendly venue and a thorough internal makeover, white paint, black trim and quite well-done. Even the toilets don't smell now! Two ales, often local and often awful. Hogs Back cider which apparently is a Thatcher's re-badge and isn't 'real' according to my cider-swilling friend. If you go in here with another bloke you get complimentary olives and nuts sped to your table. Maybe sort the beer out first, eh?
Oct 2012
Well Sam has gone, unfortunately he and the PubCo could not agree terms for a licence extension. A real shame as he'd turned this into a destination ale venue. New owners are rather at sea with ale selection and quality, but there is a more local slant emerging.
October 2011
The former Whitley Fight Club is now under new and improved ownership. Sam has made a big effort to turn the place round and back into a proper pub - "no screens or machines" declares the A-board. There are now four real ales (usually two or three local beers) and the quality of them becoming increasingly top-notch. Daily newspapers are available, along with rather nice rolls (£2 - though you can bring your own food from the local takeaways if you want). A dartboard is now up. Watch out for the pub dog, Ralph. There's still some distance left to go (the toilets, for example) but this is fast becoming a regular visit for me. And it's also very handy for the side entrance of Reading BR. Check it out.
On 6th August 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Didn't think it was very swish like Graham.One room,and did notice the black and blue décor.Afternoon visit so didn't get any gay vibe Two cask beer from Sherfield and Lodden served by a friendly barmaid.
On 22nd February 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Swish upmarket bar, tastefully decorated in black and pale blue with candles and chandeliers, presumably aimed at the gay community but providing a welcome change from the usual circuit pubs down the road. Had three interesting ales on pump at time of visit, from Binghams, Hammerpot and Sherfield, however the sampled Hammerpot Double Helix was rather gassy - either needed better venting or might even have been on a cask breather.
On 23rd June 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Blagrave Arms
Chance would have it that I visited the Blagrave Arms a couple of times on Saturday last weekend. The first time was just before lunch when I found myself to be the only customer. The second time was early evening when there were a couple of bouncers on the door and the pub wasn’t much busier.
I used to work in the offices opposite circa 2001 and remember this place being a bit of a dive. It now has the feel of a trendy bar with black leather (?) furniture and black tables. There are also a couple of black high tables and the bar stools are also black. There are a couple of framed plasma screens that were showing muted BBC 24 News, I cannot recall if these were on during my evening visit. During my lunchtime visit there was some depressing background music playing.
The bar is stocked with premium draught products and the two hand pumps were drawing Hogs Back Brewery’s T.E.A and Vale Brewery’s Metroland. Food is available and all of the mains are priced under £10.
I found this to be a characterless bar and I do not plan a return visit anytime soon.
On 21st July 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Blagrave Arms
A very fine frontage but quite sterile interior,done in that trendy bar style.Two doormen outside but about as many punters inside until the remnants of the PuG crawl barrel in.Two handpumps but my only recollection was having a Vale Metroland (half £1.75).I noted a wooden floor and raised banquettes but I am unlikely to darken it's doors again.
On 14th July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Very odd pub and theme nights they appear to do. Rundown and not really worth the visit anyway.
On 29th April 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
picasso 09 left this review about Blagrave Arms
Found it to be rather gloomy and soulless on my recent visit only a couple of other customers in at 4.30 on a Thursday afternoon.Only two real ale offerings available both from Andwells, not a favorite of mine,on this basis I don't intend to return in the near future.
On 29th March 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 14 recommendations about 14 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Unusual sort of place but enjoyable nontheless.
On 11th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Drank London Pride here on a visit. The fact its close to the station makes it a worthwhile trip.
On 8th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]