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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Griffin, Reading
Caversham
Postal town: Reading
RG4 7AD
Pub Type
Chef & Brewer (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Griffin
Just over the river from Reading, the Griffin is a sprawling, multi-room, riverside pub with a strong food-led feel, especially on entry into the front dining space. Here, smart tile stone flooring, pre-laid tables, and a greeter's stand reinforce the restaurant vibe. Beyond, the pub shifts into more familiar territory, with bare boards, traditional wood beams, and a mix of standard and high table seating arranged around various parts of the bar. Muted lighting, a few fireplaces, and carved wood features contribute to a cosy atmosphere, while mirrors and local photos decorate the walls. A final room at the rear offers more laid-back seating with padded benches, tub chairs, and fairy lights strung across full-height tongue and groove panels.
The cask range included Greene King Hopping Special, St Austell Tribute, and Renegade Good Old Boy (£5.20 a pint), with Greene King Abbot Ale off at the time of visiting. The Good Old Boys was fairly well-kept, and the staff were friendly and attentive. The front room was largely empty on this visit, but the rear bar area had a comfortable buzz, with background music and conversations creating a relaxed and welcoming feel.
This place reminded me a bit of a smart Fullers dining pub, but it's technically a Greene King house under their Chef and Brewer branding. The riverside location, with its massed ranks of swans, is definitely a major draw and I'm sure the food is a factor in encouraging a lot of people through the door, but they've also set aside some pleasant drinking areas and I was comfortable settling down here over a reasonable pint of ale. Definitely worth a quick look if you find yourself crossing the bridge into Caversham.
Date of visit: 11th January 2025
On 7th May 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Griffin
Retains its position as Caversham's premier mid-range eat and drink pub, and is usually busy all times of day. Five cask on with a fairly safe selection though there is a local beer on from either Rebellion or Loddon. Quality is usually in-or-around GBG status.
August 2016
Long-serving licensee Ann-Marie has gone. Still a good ale range but quality a bit more hit-and-miss these days. A fire a few months back mean that the interior has had a refurb, a bit lighter than before and maybe a bit less of the homely feel. Worth seeing what's on but generally expect larger national brands (only Binghams Twyford Tipple not fitting that description the other day).
May 2013
Chef and Brewer foody place that nonetheless has a bit of character and usually four to five ales in fairly good nick (Courage Best and Directors, Adnams and Bombardier usually feature alongside a guest). There's a pleasant outside rear area for smokers. It's a popular destination and gets very busy later on in the week.
On 2nd January 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Griffin
In my experience the traffic in Reading is bad enough at the best of times, so throw into that Henley Regatta and the week long graduation ceremonies of the town’s university and you have all the reasons you need to stay away. So when finally finding myself somehow misdirected and heading out of town across Caversham bridge whilst trying to find a decent place to eat, I wasn’t going to turn round and try and make it back in, and this is the first place you come to across the bridge that looks like a half decent pub.
And as reported below, unlike a lot of the gastro abominations that make up the Chef & Brewer chain, The Griffin is actually quite a good traditional pub. Although it clearly focusses on food, with your usual C&B menu available, it’s not in your face, and the many different traditional wood décor separate seating areas around the main central bar are all comfortable enough just to sit and have a pint.
Five real ales on two banks of pumps on the L shaped bar and although four were the same uninspiring options also reported below (Courage Best and Directors, Adnams Broadside and Bombardier) the available guest was a very passable pint of Otter Amber. And along with some decent meal options off the menu this place certainly hit the spot for the required food stop with a decent pint. Would not hesitate to use it again for that reason when next in the area.
On 8th July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2245 recommendations about 2105 pubs]