The Highwayman, Exlade Street, Reading

Very remote - you've got to want to come here. I used it as a base for the latest stage of the Chiltern Chain Walk. By the time I returned to "pay for my parking", the car park was near full - so must have something to entice the punters. Nice beer garden - and the sun was shining, even if a bit cold for on a March Afternoon. Restaurant - set with proper cloth napkins and wine glasses. Probably tells you want you need to know. That, and the lunchtime menu does not include sandwiches. Empty little bar, with wood burner having perhaps its last hurrah of an unending winter. Nice to see three Locale ales on - I can recall Marlow Rebellion and my chosen Renegade Good Old Boy. Low scores, as it smelt absolutely rank. There was no issue with getting it replaced, with the owner stating that it was end of barrel. I am narked that he tried to pass it off in the first place. Replacement was fine, as you would expect.

After just visiting the Black Horse at the far end of the village of Checkendon, I was expecting that the Highwayman would be something similar. It's certainly an old building, but one that has been brought well and truly into the 21st century. As you enter, dining areas can be found to the left-hand side and in front to the rear. There is a smallish bar to the right-hand side of the entrance. People were eating in here too. Although there were also some drinkers, myself included. Loddon Hoppit & Rebellion IPA are the regular beers. Guests were South Oxfordshire Mr Toad's & XT 4. There are only 3 handpulls. So, my XT 4 was fetched from the cellar. Another busy place that certainly had some traditional character. But not a patch on the Black Horse.