The Greyhound, Reading

Situated in just the right place in the picturesque village of Whitchurch on Thames (5 mins from Pangbourne BR), the Greyhound has a lot of the raw ingredients needed to be good village pub. The exterior is characterful and looks well-cared for. The interior is split into two areas, with a forward-facing central bar. Three pumps but only one ale though – a fair pint of Spitfire but not a huge amount else, though a number of clips hanging from the bar trellis suggest that this is hopefully not endemic. There’s plenty of pictures to look at on the walls, as well as what is possibly the smallest pub TV ever plus a decent looking beer garden. Fairly quiet on my visit, just a few old boys watching the golf on miniature TV. We sat in the characterful wooden bucket bay window seating which made me feel rather old fashioned, in a good way. Apparently this place has recently been taken over by the same people who have resurrected the Royal Oak in Tilehurst so hopefully this place can start fulfilling its potential. Whilst not exhibiting a huge amount of obvious pull on the day I rather liked the ambience of the place and would give it another go and hope for a slightly more exciting beer range next time. The potential is definitely there.

This is a pleasant enough old village local. You enter to the bar area with its low black and white beamed ceiling, there are fireplaces at each end, decorated with various brass artifacts, copper kettles etc. Carpeted, there are standard chairs at scrubbed wooden tables plus pew style settles with cushions. There are a few of the usual old pictures around the walls, and I noticed an old Singer sowing table complete with the machine. Around to the left of the bar, a tiled passage leads eventually to a secluded rear garden that catches the sun. A serving hatch with a bell is a nice touch here. Beers are served from three porcelain handpumps, Doom Bar, Black Sheep Bitter, and the third unclipped. A choice of a dimpled jug or straight glass offered.