Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Saturday, 29th October 2022
With picture contributions to 5437 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (15 more images)
Detail Pages
The Castle Tap, Reading
Reading
RG1 7RJ
Served areas
Reviews of The Castle Tap (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
paulof horsham left this review about The Castle Tap
On entering the Castle Tap, I was confronted by an overwhelming odour of longstanding damp and a total absence of customers (so service at the bar was not an issue). The barman was taking the opportunity to play his favoured indie tunes (at moderate volume). It has to be said that the pub also looks a bit tatty from the outside.
It's rather more promising at the bar, with an 8-strong keg line-up, several ciders and 4 badged-up handpumps. My Disruption Session IPA was in good nick, and cost just (!) £4.90, the same as the others cask ales - from St Austell, Oakham and Animal.
It's a pub that could do with a little love, both from whoever owns the building and potential punters. Based on my visit, it could be worth it.
On 28th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Castle Tap
Quirky pub set among the faded Georgian spendour on the wrong side of the ring road,it has a very high ceiling ,L shaped interior with a mix of furniture,pew benches,small sofa,upright piano,two darts boards at right angles and a substantial library to the side of the fireplace.The bar is at the rear left and has a fine mirrored bar back.The soundtrack was heavy metal and punk but played at a sensible volume when the pub is quiet ,as it was on my Friday 4pm visit just after opening.
There is a community feel here,with events such as open mic,sea shanties,story telling and so on.
There is a TV room in a seperate shed like structure out the back which then leads to a beer garden of sorts.The screen is large but off during my visit,while the shed was dark and a bit gloomy.
Three real ale in St Austell Proper Job,White Horse Bitter and Dynamite Valley Ambrys (A malty mess in poor nick,NBSS 1.5).There was a single handpump for a real cider,goosberry flavoured plus 4 other ciders advertised but I should have investigated the craft keg options before plumping for a poor real ale.There were 9 keg beer options,7 over 5%ABV with some eclectic styles from respected craft keg brewers.
Swerve the cask,focus on the keg for which it's a decent stop on the way to the Nags.
On 22nd July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Castle Tap
The cask doesn't really shift these days. I've switched to the fridge in which there are some decent Euro choices.
September 2015
Taken on by a combo of ex-Alehouse staff and the Grumpy Goat offy ladies. Has been refurbished inside in tasteful blue tones and now has an additional TV room to the rear (no TVs in the main bar). A number of cask and key kegs available as well as well-sourced wines. Five minutes from the Nags so and a no-brainer to drop into if you're on the wrong side of the IDR.
Feb 2013
Small little watering hole, that has seen some much-needed improvements under the management of the bloke from the (now-ex) Claddagh Ring (and now the very-closed Kennet Arms). Aimed mainly at the Irish side, the interior is fairly functional but fits in a dart board and a real fire in winter. One or two ales on the go at the small bar (Altons or GK IPA are normally on) usually in good-to-middling condition. Live music and loud football are often the order of the day in here. Good to see it surviving.
On 28th February 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
View more reviews of The Castle Tap (9)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Castle Tap - thecastletap.co.uk
- Facebook - Castle Tap
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Castle Tap - 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 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes - Sept - last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Car Park : Yes last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 20 October 2024 by paulof horsham
- Darts : Yes last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes - rear room - last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 02 March 2015 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 20 October 2024 by paulof horsham
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 20 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 20 October 2024 by paulof horsham
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 27 February 2015 by Quinno _
