The Miller of Mansfield, Reading

Official site of The Miller of Mansfield - themillerofmansfield.com

Official site of The Miller of Mansfield - themillerofmansfield.com

More than 10 years since my last visit, and I got a better impression of the pub than previously. A very quiet Thursday night in January, with most villagers tucked up in bed, or whatever they do rather than support their local pubs. Two hand pumps with Landlord and a very nice Amwell Springs Stay Jammy English bitter - similar in style to West Berkshire Good Old Boy, if memory serves. But well over £5 for a 3.8% beer gives me some insight into why everyone else was in bed.

I wasn't expecting to find this pub open. However, it had a soft launch on Monday this week and was fully opened on Tuesday. There were plenty of young staff on hand to assist, both behind the bar and on the customers' side of the bar. There are a couple of seating areas to the right-hand side as you enter, with another to the left. At the rear is a large dining space. It's just the 2 handpulls at the bar. These were clipped with Rebellion IPA & Butcombe Gold today. The pub is certainly well appointed and is obviously designed to attract a well-heeled clientele. But it didn't really do it for me.

A real shame that we couldn't get a pint here to start yesterday's crawl – pub was closed until 19:00, presumably for a private function. We did get as far as the bar, where glasses were being polished in preparation, but the barmaid had to go & check whether she could serve us and unfortunately the answer was no. No-one else there, other than the practising musical trio, so I'm sure it wouldn't have harmed! Anyway, a beautiful old building and very attractive, if small, front bar area with three unusual beers on offer; I can't leave a rating but it would have been very positive, given the chance.