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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with hondo
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Thursday, 1st December 2022
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Detail Pages
The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon), Reading
Reading
RG1 1EP
Reviews of The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon) (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon)
Located on Reading’s main binge drinking strip, the Hope Tap is a large, shop-converted Wetherspoons with a familiar layout that balances functional design with modest traditional features. The main servery runs along the right-hand wall, while the largest seating area extends down the left, offering a mix of booths, banquettes, and regular tables and chairs. There are more high tables through the middle and a small front alcove with etched glass screens creating some semi-private booths. The interior is decorated with a mix of dark wood panelling, pale upper walls adorned with paintings, local history boards, and assorted modern knick-knacks. Several large TVs were present but turned off during a quiet Saturday afternoon visit, giving the place a slightly subdued feel.
Three regular cask ales and six guests were available, with a pint of Loddon Hullabaloo setting me back just £2.63. The barmaid was cheerful and welcoming, contributing to the pleasant atmosphere. The pub wasn't overly busy, but the service was smooth and friendly and my pint was in decent nick and went down pretty well.
I found this to be a fairly run-of-the-mill 'Spoons with a few points of minor interest, but nothing much that you can't find in pubs like this up and down the country. I appreciated a broader ale range than usual, including a few local options, and felt the service was a notch ort two above the chain's usual standards, but it's not really somewhere that's going to get the pulse racing and with plenty of strong options elsewhere, is perhaps more likely to be somewhere to call by in passing rather than making an effort to visit.
Date of visit: 11th January 2025
On 7th May 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Mild Drinker left this review about The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon)
Pretty standard Spoons. Always difficult to get a seat in here as it's always rammed. The Back of Beyond the other end of town is my preferred choice. Always seems to be plenty of staff on hand. Not the best Spoons by a long shot.
On 8th February 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 108 recommendations about 108 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon)
Little in the way of progress. It's getting really desperate in here now.
October 2014
The least inspiring of the town's Spoons - very functional dark brown rectangular room, decorated from the Spoons 1997 catalogue with a faint whiff of despair added. The wait at the bar is often over 5 minutes at busy times and the place is usually understaffed as a standard feature. I've walked out of here a few times before now. Tim really needs to throw some money at this one.
On 28th February 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
View more reviews of The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon) (12)
Reading - a Friday afternoon by Clive Thompson
Reading 2014 by Quinno _
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- Official page of the Hope Tap - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk
- Twitter - The Hope Tap
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Hope Tap (JD Wetherspoon) - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No - Just the usual 50p vouchers - last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 28 February 2023 by Quinno _
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