The Star, Reading

The Star is an excellent country pub with good beer and food, as well as friendly and welcoming staff. There is a nice garden at the back overlooking open countryside to while away a summer afternoon. I had Sunday lunch there recently with a party of 10 (2 young kids). The food, service and value were excellent, and there was a warm log fire to sit around for a post-prandial chat. Another reviewer refers to "the superlative Bell up the road." Very chocolate-boxy and often with snooty clientele, in my view. I would order my imbibing the other way around from the other reviewer: the Star first and a look in at the Bell if you want to impress a visiting friend from the States.